Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1890-12-12

iosuo THO essential human conditions OF
national life do not doubt that, with abso-
lutte unanimity, they would begin with free
and honest elections, and it is gratifying to
know that generally there is growing and
non-partisan demand for better election
laws.
But against this sign of hope ara pro-
gress must be set the depressing s,,S upde-
niable fact that election laws ana methods
are sometimes cunningly contriyrd to in
sure minority control while violence COM
Pletes the shortcomings Of fraud In my
development of the existing law providing
q federal supervision of congressional cleo.
tions offered an effective method of REFORM
Ing these abuses The need of such law
has manifested itself in many parts of the
country and its wholesome restraints and
penalties will be useful in all. The constitu-
tionality Of such legislation has been
amrmed BY the supreme court. Its proba-
ole effectiveness Is evidenced by the char
acter OF the opposition that Is made to it.
IL mas been denounced as if 1t were a
NEW EXERCISE
Of federal power and an invasion os tho
rights of the states. Nothing could be fur-
Their from the truth. Congress has already
fixed the time for the election of members
OF congress. 1t has declared that votes for
members Of congress must be by written or
pointment by the circuit courts in certain
cases and upon the petition of
certain. number of citizens, of election
supervisors, and made it their duty to
supervise the registration of voters con-
quoted by the state officers; to challenge
persons Offering to register; to personally
inspect and scrutinize the registry lists, and
and to afiix their names 70 the lists for
the purpose of identification and the pre-
ventlon OF frauds; to attend at elections
and remain with the boxes until the votes
are all cast and counted; to attach to the
registry lists and election returns any
statement touching the accuracy and fair
ness OF the registry and elections to take
and transmit to the clerk of the house
of representatives any evidence of
presented to them. The ' same e' law Us
provides for the appointment of deputy
United States marshals to attend at
charge of their duties, and to arrest per-
sons violating the election laws. The pro-
visions OF this familiar title of the revised
statutes have been put into exercise by
botn the great political parties, and in the
north as well as in the south by the filing
with the court of the petitions required by
law.
1t Is not, therefore, question whether
we shall have a federal election law for we
now nave one, and have had for nearly
twenty years, but whether we shall have
an effective law. The present law stops
just
SHORT OF EFFECTIVENESS,
for 1t sUrroEders to the local authorities
all control over the certitication which
estaDiishes the prlma facie right to n seat
IN the house OF representatives. This de-
1ect should be cured. Equality OF repre-
sehtatlon and the purity of the electors
must be maintained or everything that is
valuable in our system of government is
lost. The qualifications of an elector must
be sought in the law, not in the opinions,
pfe]udlces or fears Of any cllss, However
powerful. The path OF the elector TO the
ballot box must lie free from the ambush
OF fear and the erticVmcnts Of fraud; the
count so true and Cpen that none shall
IutcIy non-partisan and Impartial. o'1 +
Should give the advantage to honesty and
tlie cohtroi TO maJorites. Surely, there IS
nothing sectional about this creed, ard IL it
shall happen that the penalties Of laws in
Tended TO enforce these rights of all hero
ana not there il is not because the law IL
SECTIONAL but because, happily,
CRIME IS LOCAL
and not universal. Nor should 1t be for
gotten that every law, whether relating TO
elections or to any other subject, whether
enacted Snr"a Dy the state or by the nation, has
or constable, the posse comitatus the
prison, are all and always behind the law
One cannot be justly charged with un-
Irlei.ulfhess to any section or class who
NO Oiii1 W restrain NiOlatlOn OF law anu
OF personal right. No community will find
lawIcSsness profitable. No community can
mora 10 have 1t known that the officers
VINO are charged with the preservation Of
lAe public peace and the restraint of the
criminal classes are themselves the pro-
Duct of fraud, or violence. The magis-
tFate Is then without respect and the law
without sanction. The floods of lawless-
ness can be lcveed and made to run I'm one
CHANNEL. The killing of United States
In1TEnnl ,,trft ae Co.
election oifense is full of prompting and
suggestion to men who are pursued by
ci.y marshal for a crime against life or prop
crty. But 1t Is said that this legislation Will
revive race anlinosities, and some have even
suggested that when the peaceful methods
or fraud are made impossible they may
DO supplanted by intimidation and
violence; II the proposed law gives to any
9uaiihed elector by hairs weight more
than his equal influence or detracts by so
much from any other qualified electors It Is
fatally impeached. But il the law Is equal
and the animosities il Is to evoke g.ow out
81 the fact that some electors have been ac-
cnstomed to exercise tho franchise for
others as we'll as Themselves then these
lnmosities ought not to be confessed with
iut shame, and cannot he given any weight
tho discussion Without dishonor. No
noice Is left to me but TO enforce with
viEor all laws intended to secure to the citi-
IN his constitutional rights and TO recon-
uend that the inadequacies of such laws
'r promptly remedied. cannot uphold con-
ilydnce ut election practices that not only
!s.urb local results, but rob the electors Of
Their states and sections of their most
r,coless political rights
The preparation of the general
APPROPRIATION BILLS
iorld be conducted with the greatest care
nd closest scrutiny of expenditures. APP
roprat'ons should be adequate to the
eeds of the public service, but they, should
absolutely free from prodigality.
enture again to remind you that the brief
me remaining for the consideration of the
aportant legislation now awaiting your at
Hntion offers 10 margin for waste. If the
assent duty is discharged with diligence,
it!clity and courage, the work Of the Fifty
tst congress may be confidently submitted
tie considerable Judgment OF the people.
BENJAMIN HARRISON.
Executive Mansion, December 1. 1890.
In