The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1890-12-04
CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS.
Free and Honest Elections the First Es-
sential of National Life.


If any intelligent and loyal company of Amer
lean citizens required to catalogue the es
sential conditions OF national life. do not
doubt that with absolute unanimity they would
begin with Free and honest elections" And it
is gratifying to know that generally there is
growing and non-partsan demand for better
election laws. But against this sign Of hope anG
progress must be set the depressing and undemi
able fact that election laws and methods are
sometimes Cunningly cOntrived to secure minor
ity control, while violence completes the short
COmingS OF fraud.
In my last annual message | suggested that
the development OF the existing law providing
federal supervision OF congressional elections of
fered effective method OF reforming these
abuses The need OF such q law has manifested
itself in many parts OF the country and its
wholesome restraints and penalties will be-use
ful in all. The constitutionality Of such egisla-
ton has been affirmed by the supreme
court. Its probable effectiveness is evil
denced by the character Of the opposition
that is made to it. 1t has been denounced AS II
it were new exercise of federal power and an
invasion OF the rights of the states. Nothing
could be further from the truth. Congress has
already fixed the time for the election OF mem
bers of congress- 1t has declared that votes tor
members OF congress must be by written or
printed ballot; 1t has provided for the appoint
ment, by the circuit courts in certain cases and
upon the petition of certain number OF citi
zens, OF election supervisors, and made it their
duty to supervise the registration Ct voters con
Quoted by the state officers; to challenge per
SOILS OlIeflGlg 10 register; TO inspect
and scrutinze the registry lists and to affix
their names to the lists for the purpose OF ident
hcatlOn and the prevention OF frauds; to attend
at elections and remain with the boxes till the
votes are all cast and counted; to attach to the
registry lists and election returns any state
ment touching the accuracy and fairness
OF the registry and election, and to
take and transmit to the clerk of the
house of representatives any evidence
OF fraudulent practices which may be presented
to them. The same law provides for the APP
polntment of deputy United States marshals to
attend at the polls, support the supervisors III
the discharge OF their duties and to arrest per-
sons violating the election laws. The provls
ions OF this familiar portion OF the Revised
Statutes have been put into exercise by both
the great political parties i'll the North well
as in the South by the filing with the court the
petitions required by law.
One cannot be Justly charged with unfriendli-
ness to any EectiOn or class who seeks only to
restrain violations OF, laws and OF PERSONAL
right. No community wi find lawlessness
profitable. No community can afford to have
1t known that the officers who are charged with
the preservation OF tho public peace and the IT,
straint OF the criminal classes are themselves
the product of fraud or violence. The magis-
trate Is then without respect and the law with
out sanction. The floods of lawlessness cannot
be leveled and made to run In one channel. The
killing OF United States marshal carrying a
writ oil arrest for an election offense Is full OF
promptlngs and suggestion to men who are pur-
sued by city marshal for a crime against life
or property.
venture again to remind you that the brief
time remaining for the consideration of the i'm
portant legislation now awaiting your attention
offers no margin for waste. II the present duty
1s discharged with diligence, fidelity and courage,
the work OF the Fifty-tirst congress may be con-
tidently submitted to the considerate judgment
of the people, ..
Executive mansion, Dec. /. 1890.
BENJAMIN HARRISON.