Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-12-02

AID % arrest persors violating the election
laws.
The revised statutes have been pat into
exercise BY beth the great political par ies,
and in the North ~ we'll As IN the SCUM,
by the ii.ing With the court OF the pe'luons
required by The law. It is not, therefore,
q question whether We shsll have federal
election law. for we pow have one and
have bad fo. nearly twenty years, but
whether we shall have an efe,,ive law
The presen. isw steps just shors Of effect
iveces,. for i. snrrenders to the lecsi su
,hcriries all control over the certihcsion
which establishes the prims fscie right to
seat in the House of Representa-
tires. This defect should be cnred.
Equality Of representation ard the purity OF
tie elections must ee msintsiasd, or
srsiy;h thing that is valuable in our system et
Government il los, The qualifications OF
al election must be sought in the las,
lot ia The opinions OF preju ,ices, or fears
Of any class, hoyeve. powerful. The path
Of the elec,or to the ballot box mus. be
free from the ambush of fear, and the en-
tcemsa,s Of fraud, the c,unt 80 true and
open that none shall gaiussy il. Such
Law should be sbsolutely non partisan ard
impartial. l; should give the advantage to
honesty aud the cotiroi to msjorities.
Surely there is nothing sec,ional about this
creed, and if it shall happen that the
penalties of the laws intended to elfofce
these rights. fall here and not there, it lie
not becsu.e the Law is sec,ionsl but because
happily, crime 10 local and not universal.
Nor should il be forgotten every law.
~hethee relzting 10 elections or to any
other subjects, whether enacted by the
State or government has force behiud it.
The eoar5s, the inar.hsl or constable, the
posse com;tatus, the prison are sill and al
ways behind the law. One cannot be just
~ charged with u ftieudl.Isss TO sns sec
tioi or clsss who seeks only 10 restrain vi
0is'ions of law and of personal right. No
community will iini ls~ lessaess profitable
No community can afford to have il known
that officers who are charged with the pre-
servs;on of the pablie peace and the re-
strsint of the erimiosi class are themselv
the product of fraud or violence. The
magistrate is then without Tespec. and the
lsw without sanction. The flood of l1S-
lessness cannot be levelled and msds to run
in one chsnnel. The killing Of q United
States msrshal,,csrrying a writ of ares. tor
an election offsnse is full of prompting and
suggestion to men who are pursued by
city marshal for crime sgsinst life or
property. But it is said that this legsls-
ton will revive race animosities and some
have even suggested that when the peac, :
full method, Of fraud are made imposnblr
they may be supplemented by int midst'cn
to any qualified elector by BARS
oil fb,-, INT
detrscis by so much from any other quail
fed elec,or, it is fully impsached. But If
the law is equal, and the animosities it is to
evoke grow out of the fact that some cleo
tors have been accustomed to exercise the
franchise fer others as well as for them
selves, then these animosities ought not 10
be confessed without shame, and cannot be
given any weight in discussion without dis
honor. No choice is left to me but TO
enforce with yigor all laws intended to Sc
cure the citizen his constitutional rights
and to recommend that the inadequacies of
such laws be promptly remejied. If to
promote with ZSal and ready interest
every project for the development
of its material interests, its rivers,
harbors. mines, and factories, and the il
'elligencs, peace and security under the
law of its communities and its homes is not
accepted as sufficient evidence of friendi-
ness 10 any state or section. l cannot adj
connivance at elections, practices that
not only disturb local results, but the
electors of the states aud sections of their
most priceless political rights. The pre-
paration of the general appropriation bill
should be conducted with the greatest care
and the closest scrutiny of expenditures.
The appropriations should be adequate TO
the needs of the public service, but they
should be absolutely free from prodigality
VENTURE again to remind you thst the
brief time remsining for the consideration
of the important legislation now awaiting
your attention offers no margin for waste.
If the present duty is discharged with dill
gence, fidelity and courage, the work Of
the bet Congress may be confidently sub
mit,ed to the considerate Judgment Of the
people.
Benz HARRISON.
Executive Mansion, Dec. ], 1890.