The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-07-01
A MINORITY PARTY's METHODS.

proposed federal election Law had it's
origin in the desire of many good men
to correct admitted sins against the
elective franchise in certain of the black
states of the south, it is also true that
crimes equally great are committed in
nearly every northern state in which the
republican party has been long domi.
nant. Mr.. Hemphill, of South Caro-
lima, made forcible speech in the house
of representatives last week when he
eilenced northern assailants Of the south
by calling attention to the wrongs done
to citizens of the northern states under
the commonly practised system OF gerry
wandering It is startling fact that
the United States senate to-day would
be democratic body were the senators
who represented a majority of the peo-
pie of such states. Since 1871 the state
of New York has been carried at every
election except one, by the democrats.
They have elected their governor three
times in succession and every other can
didate on the state ticket Yet in spite
of that fact the state has kept two re-
publicans representing a minority Of the
people in the United States senate. How
has this been done? Simply by the re-
fusal of the republican legislature to
re-apportion the state SO as to give the
large democratic cities representation in
the same ratio as the rural counties.
New York City and Brooklyn are en-
titled to at least fifteen more represent
atives than they now have in the state
legislature. They cannot get this in
creased representation because the re-
publican party will not let 60 the adj
vantage it enjoys. Year after year ef-
forts have been made to have new ap.
portionment which should base repre-.
sentation on population, but this meas
ure Of justice has been denied by the re-
publicans who forsaw the speedy loss Of
two seats in the United States senate
The same situation exists in Connect
cut. The democrats carried the state al
the presidential election of 1884 anc
again in 1883, and in a majority of the
intervening years. But two republicans
continue to occupy seats in the United
States senate, incorporating major
ity of the people of that commonwealth
Worse than that, the chief executive Of
state under the constitution is compelled
to have q majority of all the votes cast
or failing to receive such majority the
al s,Nfo llfoo, 1ocr;c1n
! ture Under fair system of repre-
sentation the democrats would contro
the legislature and send two democrat.
i to succeed Hawley and Platt in the sen
ate. In the two states named, there
fore, the republicans get four seats in thu
United States senate which rightly be
long to the democrats, and the lattel
apparently have no means of preventing
this fraud upon majority OF the voters
Did this condition OF things exist in an,
southern state, the Indignation of tn.
Hon. Thos. B. Reed and the Hon. George
! Fr;sbee Hoar and other flappers of tht
! bloody shirt would know no bounds
Harsh and unconstitutional measure.
! would be rushed through congress, com
mittees clothed with inquisitorial pow
ers would be sent to the scene of the
crimes, and the whole country woulo
ring with denunciation of the men who
had thwarted the will of the people Il
makes great difference with these
patriots whose OK is gored.
We observe that Mr.. Walter C. Hamr
in the July Forum holds that the demo
] Gratis are guiltier IN respect to the prac
y tice of gerrymandering than the repub
licans. He says that since the arrange
ment OF districts was made after the las,
census the republicans have re- dstrictet
one state only. On the other hand thu
democrats have -districted four state:
with the ayowed purpose of gaining {
partisan advantage in the election O.
representatives in congress. Mr.. Hamu
apparently overlooks the fact to which
we have called attention-that the re
publcans have held their supremacy il
the United States senate by unscrupu
lous suppression of representation i,
state legislatures.
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ANNEXATION TO CANADA.
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