Sturgis advertiser. (Sturgis, Dakota [S.D.]) 1887-1???, 1890-08-14
I'll E ELECTION BILL
Hon. William Mckinley In the House Of Rep
resentativesl

resentativesl
And now, TT. Sreeker, having said
that, want to add that this bill ought
to be passed. have not INDUCED in
this discussion heretofore. This bill may
rot he, in all of it's provisions. what +
would like to have it, but it is bill
looking to ON honest representation on
the floor Of the American House of Rep
resentatives and to honest voting and the
fair counting of votes in every part and
section of the American republic. That
all of the bill, and no honest man can
bject to it, and no 10 yer of fair play can
ford to oppose it.
All, but they say this measure is harsh,
This measure will rest heavily only upon
districts and upon States which violate
the laws AMI the Constitution of our COM
mon country. Let every citizen Of this
republic vote and then see to it that his
vote is counted as it is cast aud returned
as counted, and you never need invoke
any of the provisions Of the bill or sub
ject yourselves to what You term its
harsh provisions. Honest elections will
make the law unnecessary; dishonest ones
should be stopped by the strong arm of
the law.
My friend from Mississippi (Mr. Allen)
quotes from General Grant. Let me
quote from an utterance of his, made in
speaking of the condition of affairs in
Mississippi, the gentleman's own State.
Said Grant:
How long these things are TO continue
or what is to be the final remedy the
great Ruler of the univers only knows,
but l have an abiding faith that the rem-
edy will come, and come speedily, and
earnestly hope it will come peacefully"
Let me quote from him another utter
anc,, made two years before his death.
Speaking of this very question Of the
suffrage, he said it would never lie set
tied until every man who counts, or rep
resents those who do count, shall cast
one ballot, AMI have that ballot counted
precisely as he cast it.
Now, I want to say here to-day, for
have but few moments, that this ques-
tion will not rest until justice is done,
and the consciences of the American
people will not be perm tied to slumher
until this great constitutional right, the
equality OF the suffrage, equality of OPP
portunity, freedom Of political action
and political thought, shall be, not the
mere cold formalities of constitutional
enactment as now, but living birthright
which the poorest and the humbltst,
white or black, native-born or natural
lied citizen, may confidently enjoy, and
which the richest and most powerful
dare not deny.
Mr.. Speaker and gentlemen of the
House, remember that God puts no ma
tion in supreme place which will not do
supreme duty. God keeps no nation in
supreme place which will not perform
the supreme duty of the hour, and He
will not long prosper that nation which
will not protect and defend it's citizens.
It is our supreme duty to enforce the
Constitution and laws Of the United
States and dare to be strong for the
weak" Gentlemen on the other side, ]
appeal to you to obey the laws and Con-
stitution; obey them as we obey and OBJ
serve them; for tell yoq the people of
the North will not continue to permit
two votes in the South to count as much
as five votes in the North.