The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1890-07-04
The LAW is NEEDED.
A Measure of Great and Far.Reackine
National Importance.

National Importance.
Republicans of the House, having
passed a good tariff and safe silver
bill, are now to consider in caucus
what shall be done about an election
law. Democrats represent that the
measure is intended to affect the South
only and that it will be mere sectional
legislation for partisan ends. But
legislation to secure honest elections is
needed at the North, in every city or
State where the machinery of voting is
in Democratic control. 1t would fill an
entire issue of the Tribune to recount
the crimes which have been perpetrated
in Northern States within the last few
years, in order to steal for the Demo-
cratic party power which the people re-
fused to give IL Indictments by the
hundred have been found for these
crimes. Democratic managers, officials
and workers have been convicted for
them in many Northern States. The
frauds in these States, IL not prevented
or defeated, would turn the scale in
every Congressional election, and thus
steal from the people of the United
States their right to have a Govern
ment representing their will.
If the proposed law were to be abso-
lutely imperative or void in every Stase
south of the Potomac and Ohio, it
would be only the more necessary. 1t
ought to be enacted and enforced In
Northern States, even though it were
certain that it would do no good at the
South whatever. But there is no ex-
cuse for refusing to extend over South
ern States the provisions of law which
are required to secure honest elections
at the North. That would be disgrace
to the Nation. 1t would be formal
admission that the United States does
not mean to try to protect Southern
voters in their rights, and consents that
Southern elections should be controlled
by frauds and crimes which it does not
tolerate in Northern States. The
manly and patriotic way is to frame q
measure which will secure an honest
vote and an honest count in Northern
States, and to make that the law for all
States alike. II it can not be enforced
at the South, or can not be enforced
without kind of interposition which
the Government deems inexpedient,
that will be the misfortune of Southern
voters, but not the fault of Congress
When Southern States advance one by
one so far in civilization that laws are
respected and can be enforced, in these
States also the people will recover their
right of self-government
But it is not true, as Democrats as
sert, that a good election law can not be
enforced in Southern States without the
support of troops. When officials of
United States courts are placed in
charge of registration, voting and
counting, in all the States alike,
wherever their supervision is asked &C
cording to law, the Democratic mobs
will either respect their authority or
Will drive them away. IL they are not
permitted todischarge their duties, they
will officially report that no legal cleo
ton was held at such places. The prop
er United States officers will cast up no
returns OF the voting there, and will de-
eide whether elections in entire dis
tricts are made invalid by these illegal
tiles. tits possible that Democrats may
thus deprive themselves of representa-
ton year after year. But they will not
be able to claim the election of anybody
without peaceful elections conducted
according to law. ...
No other measure proposed at the
present session Of Congress is of great
er or more far-reaching Importance than
this. The duty IF Congress to secure
honest elections is one which RepSb-
lican Representatives can not afford to
neglect, for the result in Congressional
districts in many Northern States may
depend upon their action.-N. Y. Trib-
M