Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1890-12-12

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The Government does not own or operate the
railroads and it should not, | think, own or
operate the telegraph lines. Il does not,
however seem to be quiet practica bic for
the Government to contract with the tele- !
oranh companies. as it does with the rail- |
road companies to carry at specified rates |
such communications as the senders may /
designate FOR this method OF Transmission. |
[ recommend that such legislation be enacted /,
as will enable the POStOfice Department |
fairly TO test by experiment the advantages |
of such a use Of the telegraph.
THE ELECTION LAWS.
If anv intelligent and loyal company Of
American citizens were required to catalogue
the essential human conditions o. narlonal
life do not doubt that with absolute unanl-
nifty they would begin with free and honest
elections" And it is gratifying TO know thaO
generally there is gro wing and non-partlsan
demand for better election laws. But against
this sign of hope and progress must De SET tne
depressing and uudenlabie TACT tnaI elec-
ton laws and methods are sometimes Gun
ninpIv r ,nrrivei to secure minority coItroi,
while Violence completes the shortcomings
Of fraud. ,u.
In NV last annual message suggeste1 that
the development OF the existing law pro'd1
inc a Federal supervision Of Congressional
elections offered an effective netho1 OF re-
forming these abuses. The need OF such
law has manifested itself in many parts OF
the country, and its wholesome eTnaan,
stitutionality of such legislation mas
been affirmed by the Supreme Court;
It's probable effectiveness Is eVidenced
by the character OF the 9Ppo,loaoId
that is made to it, 1t has been denounceu
nc If if were new exercise OF Federal
mower and an invasion Of the rights Oh Inc
States. Nothing could be further from the
truth Congress has already nXed Che Uli11
for the election of members or Congress. Ii
has declared that votes for members OF Con
oress must be by written or printed balIoI;
It has provided for the appointment by Tue
circuit courts in certain cases, ana upon Uue
retitiOn of certain number or cltlZeu5' VI
election supervisors, and made 1t thetr duCy
to slDarvise the registration OF voters con
Quoted by the State officers; 10 cnaIionSo
narsOns offering to register; to personally III
sDect and scrutinize the registry llsUS, anu W
affix their names to the lists for the purpose
of Identification and the prevention OF
frauds. to attend at elections and remain
with the boxes till the votes are all cast anu
counted: to attach to the registry llSC9 an
election returns any statement touching
+he accuracy and fairness OF the reSlSCry
ord election and to take and TRANSMIT
to the Clerk Of the House OF Yep
resentatives any evidence or traunulelO
nractices which may be presented 10 Cnelll.
Tho came aI Droyides for the appolntment
of Denuty United States Marshals to aOUetC
the polls support the Supervisors Ia Uhe us
charge of their duties, and to arrest persons son?
violating the election laws. Inc pro- l9IonS
have been put into exercise by bOth Che Sredl
noliti al narties and in the North as well as
In the South, by the filing with the cOur" VI
the petitions required by the law. ,,--..
It is not therefore, a question: WneCher we
Sbou have a Federal election law, Tor WenoW
have one and have had for nearly twenty
years but whether we snail nave al e lt ~
law The present law stops just suoLC u
effectiveness, for 1T surrenderS C W Cn5 lt
authorities all control over Ine cerIlncaOlon
which asta blishes the Drima tacle rlgnI 10
seat in the House OF RePreSenIlOaClTyitt9 '
This defect should be cured. fqua,lOO
of representation and the parry VI u : 49,,
tors must be maintained or everything qua
is valuable in our system OF government
lost. The qualification OF an elec1ok nus
be- sought in the law, not III 5he opihloLo
preiudices or fears OF any CLASS No" w. =,
powerful The path Of the elector 10 bh'
RalIot box must be free from the amousn
fear and the enticements or traud; Cn9 cou i
so true and open that none Snail sa, ~
say it, Such law snoulu 70
soiutnly non-partisan and Impartial
should give the advantage to honesty an
tho control to majOrities. Surely Inere
nothing sectional about this Greco, anu I = :,
shall happen that the penalties OF laws Al
tnnded TO enforce these rights fal mere all,
not thera tits not because the law IS sectiona
hut hecause happily, crime Is local anu ilo
universal Nor should it be torgoIUeh Clla
every law whether relating to eLecGlonS Oh
any other subject, whether enacCeu ~ ~ ~
the courts the marshal or constable, ID
Dosse comitatus, the prison, are all all
always behind the law. -.
one cannot be Justly charged with III
friendhness to any section or CLASS WI
seeks only to restrain violations OF Jaw gu
of personal right. No community VIII ID
lawlessness profitable. No community %
afford to have It known that tne once
who are charged with the preserV
ton of the public peace and the
,etraint of the criminal classes are JneL
selves the product OF fraud OF VI
lence The magistrate is then WlInouS 4
sDect and the law without sancCloh.
floods Of lawlessnesS cannot De ieVeeu a.
ro.de to RIM in one channel. The killing OF
United States Marshal carrying WrlG
arrest for an election ofense Is tull
prompting and suggestion to men VINO a
nursued by a city marshal for a CRIME agall
life or property. ~
But it is said that this legislation will !
yive race animosities, and some nave eV
suggested that when the peace1ul meUne
of fraud are made impossible they may
suDplanted by intimidation and violence.
the proposed law gives to any quah1
alect0r nv hairs weight, more than
er-1aI influence. or detracts by so mt
fr,n any other qualified elector, IL
fatally impeached. But II the law Is eq
and the animositieS 1t Is to evoke gr
out Of the fact that some eiec0e e 10
been accustomed to exercise the trancn
for others. as we'll as for themselv
these animosities ought not TO
confessed without shame and can
be given any weight in the dlsc
sion without dishonor. No choice Is
to me but to infOrce with VlgOf ali laws
tended to secure TO the citizen his constr
tional rights, and to Recommend thaI
inadeduacies of such laws be promP
remedioG II to promote with zeal {