Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-01
THE ANNUAL MESSAGE
IContinsed from Second Pose.1

-
tablishes the pr-;ma Jtacie right to seat in the
House OF Representatives. This defect should
De cured. Equality Of representation and the
parity of the electors must be maintained, or
everything that is valuable in our system Of
government is lost. The qualification Of an
opinions, prejudices. or fears Of any class, how
ever powerful. The path Of the elector TO the
ballot box must be free from the ambush Of
fear and the enticements of fraud; the count SO
true and open that none shall gainsay
1t. Such Law should be absolutely
non-partisan and impartial It should
give the advantage to honesty and the control
to majorities. Surely there is nothing sectional
about this creed. and if it shall happen that the
penalties OF laws intended to enforce these
rights fall here and nor there. Ii is not because
the law is sectional. but because, happily,
crime is local and not universal. Nor should it
be forgotten that every law. whether relating
to elections or any other subject. whether en-
acted by the state or by the nation, has force
behind 1t: The courts, the marshal or consta-
bic, the posse comitdtus, the prison, are all and
always behind the law.
One cannot be justly charged with unfriend-
illness to any section or class who seeks only to
| restrain violations Of law and Of personal right
NO community will find lawlessness profitable
No community can afford to have it known
| that the officers who are charged with the
preservation of the public peace and the re-
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 foods of lawiessness cannot
be leveed and made to run in one channel
The killing Of United States marshal carrying
writ of arrest for an election offense is full
| Of prompting and suggestion to men who are
pursued by city marshal for q crime against
life or property.
But it is said that this legislation will revive
| race animosities, and some have even suggested
| that when the peaceful methods Of fraud nre
made impossible they may be supplanted by
| intimidation and violence. II the proposed
weight, more than his equal influence, or de-
| tracts by SO much from any other qualified
elector, 1t is fatally impeached. But il the
law is equal and the animosities il is to evoke
| grow ont OF the fact that some electors have
been accustomed to exercise the franchise for
others as we'll as for themselves, then these
| animosities ought not to be confessed without
shame. and cannot be given any weight in the
discussion without dishonor. No choice Ia left
| to me but to enforce with vigor all laws in
| tended to secure to the citizen his constitu-
| tional rights, and to recommend that the in
adequacies Of such laws be promptly remedied.
If to promote with zeal and ready interest
every project for the development of its
material interests, its rivers, harbors, mines,
and factories and the intelligence, peace, and
security under the law Of its communities and
its homes, is not accepted as sufficient evidence
| OF frlendllness to any State section, can.
not add connivance at election practices that
not only disturb local results, but rob the
| electors Of other States and sections Of their
| most priceless political rights.
The preparation of the general appropriation
bills should be conducted with the greatest
care and the closest scrutiny Of expenditures.
Appropriations should be adequate to the needs
| of the public service. but they should be abso-
lutely free from prodigality.
venture again to remind you that the brief
time remaining for the consideration of the
important legislation now awaiting your atten-
ton offers no margin for waste. II the present
duty is discharged with diligence. fidelity. and
| courage, the work of the Fifty-frst Congress
may be confidently submitted to the consider
ate judgment Of the people.
BENZ. HARRISON.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, December I, 1890.