The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-02
FREE AND HONEST ELECTIONS.


the advan rages OF sneh use of the telegraph.
FREE AND honest ELECTIONS.
Senate should Pass the Pending Bill.
Though the south Protests.
IL airy intelligent aud loyal company of
Amerif an citzsns we're quired to GAIA ogus
the essential human conditions OF national lie.
do not doubt tnas, with sosolut, uuanimiry,
they would begin wi b siree and honest cleo
TONS" and IL is gratifying to know that ge1er-
ally there is q growing and non partisan de-
ma1c for better election laws. Bat against this
sign of hope and progress must be set the de-
pressing and undeliable fact that election Laws
and methods are somstimes cuaningly con-
nivei TO insure minority control, while VIC.
leuce completes the shortcoming Of fraud. In
my last annual message / suggested that the
sdaptment OF the existing law proyitiag fed
ersl supervision Of congressional cleo
tons offered an effective mode OF
reforming these Abuses. The need
of such q Jaw has manifested itself
in many parts Of the country, and its wholesome
restraints and penalties will BE- useful in al.
The constitutionslity OF such legislation has
been affirm d by toe supreme court, ana lis
probable q ctiyeaess Is evidenced by the cnar-
actef of the oppositioa tnat 10 made TO 1t IL has
been denounced - III il 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 fxsd the time for
the election OF members of congress. II has de-
cIared that the vote Tor the members ios con-
gress must be by written printed ballot. 1t
has provided for the appointment by the circuit
courts in certain cas- 8, and upon the petition of
certain number of citizens. OF election
supervisors, and made it their duty
TO SUPERVISE the registration OF voters
conducted by the state officers; - challenge
persons Offering TO register 70 personally inspect
and scrutInize the registry lists. and afix
ma n IN Ifsfs fnpf no al
LITIGATION aud the prevention of frauds, to a.
tend at elections and remain with boxes until =
votes are eli cast and counted: TO attach TO the
registry lists aud election returns any statement
touching the accuracy and fairness OF tae regis
try and elections, and to take ana transmit to
the clerk of the House of Representative any
evidence Of fraudulant practices which may re
presented them. The same law provides for the
appointment OF deputy United states marshas
10 atteni at the polls, TO support the superv sors
In the discharge OF their duties and to arrest per-
sons violating the election laws The provisions
OF this familiar title OF tue revised statutes have
been put into exercise by Doth the great politi-
cal parties, aud in the North, a. wei as in the
south, by the fling with the court of the petit
tons required by laws
1t 10 not, therefore, q question whether we
shall have o general election law, for we now
have one and have had for nearly twenty years,
ont whether We shall have siI effective law.
The present law stops just short OF effectiveness
Tor 1t surrenders TO the local authorities all
troll OF the certifcati0n which establishes the
prima facie right to q seat In the House of Rep
resentatives- This defert shoHl1 be cured.
Equality Of representation and che purity OF
the 81. clors 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, preja-
dices or Tears of any class. however powerful.
The path OF the Ell ctor to the ballot box must
be free from the ambush of fear aud the en-
Elements OF fraud; the count so true aud open
that none shall gsinsay if. such q should
be abso uteiy non-psr san and impartial. 1t
should give the advantage to honesty and the
control 70 majofites Surely there is nothing
sectional about this creed, aud If 1t shall hap
pen that the penalties OF laws intended to en-
force these rights fall here ami not there, IL is
not because the law is sectional, but because
happily crime 10 local and not universal.
Nor should 1t be forgotten that every law,
whether relating 10 elections or to any other
subject, whether enacted by the state or by the
nation, has force behind it. The courts the
marshal or constable. the posse comitatus, the
prison, are oil and always behind the law. One
cannot be justly charged with unfriendliness to
any section or class who seeks only to restrain
violations OF law and OF persoual right. No
community will find lawlessness profitable. No
community can afford to have 1t known that
the officers who are charged with tine preserv-
ohSV VI Shc puoiC pceS9 duu the (ebtIStnt Oh
the criminal classes are themselves the product
OF fraud or violence. The magistrate Is then
without respect and the law without sanction.
Tue floods OF lawlessness can be leyeled and
made 10 run in one channel The killing of
United States marshall carrying q writ of arrest
for an election off nse 10 full Of prompting and
on nse to men VINO are pursued by city mar
shall for a crime against life or property.
But II is said that this legislsti viii revive
animosity, and some have even suggested that
when the peaceful methods OF fraud are made
impossible, they may be supplanted by intimi-
daton and violence. Ii the proposed law gives
10 any qualified elector, by hairs weight, more
than his equal influence, or detracis by so much
from any other qualified elector, il is fatally
mpeacned: but II the law ie quail, and the ami.
mosilies 1t evokes grow of the fact tn t some
electors have been accu.tomed 10 exercise tha
franchise for others as we'll as themselves, then
those animosifies ought not to be confessed
without shame ami cannot be given any weight
in the discussion without dshonor. No choice
Is left to me but to enforce with vigor all laws
intended to secure to the citizsn his eonsti,u.
tional rights, and recommend thar tne made.
qnacies OF such laws be promptly remeded.
III 10 promote with zeal and ready interest
every effort for the developmeat of its material
tnieres Its rivers, haTbors, mines and actories
ana the Intelligence. peace and security under
the law of its communities and lis homes is not
accepted as sufficient evidence OF frendliness To
any state or section. cannot add connivsnce at
election pra' tees that no; only disturb local re-
suits, but rob tue electors of oiher states and
sections OF their most priceless political rights.
THE APPROPRIATION BILLS
The preparation OF the general appropriation
bills should be conducted with the gre atest care
and the closest scrutiny of expenditures. Ap.
propris,ions should be ad. quaie 10 the needs OF
the public service. but they should be absolutelv
free from prodigalty.
venture again to remind you that the brief
time rem aiming for the consider alton of the I'M,
portsnt legislation now awaiting Your attention
offers no margin for waste Ii the present duty
Is discharged with diligence fidelity aud eour
age, the work OF the Fliry-frst congress NAV he
confidently submitted to the considerste inap.
ment OF the people.
BENJAMIN HARRISON, President.
Executive Mansion, Washington City, Decem.
Der /, 1880
ISLANDS AT THE WORLDS FAIR
The San Juan Comfy Road - rs