Wiarus. (Winona, Minn.) 1886-1893, 1890-12-11

will enable the postotice department fairly to
test by experiment the advantages OF such a USE
OF the telegraph.
CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS.
Free and Honest Elections the First Es-
sential of National Life.
If any intelligent and loyal company OF Amer
lean citizens were required to catalogue the es-
sential conditions of national life, l 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 a
growing and non-partisan demand for better
election laws. But against tins sign of hope and
progress must be set the depressing and undeni-
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 l suggested that
the development of the existing law providing a
federal supervision OF congressional elections Of
Tered an effective method OF reforming these
abuses. The need Of such a law has manifested
itself III many parts OF the country and its
wholesome restraints and penalties will be use
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 us if
it were a new exercise OF federal power and an
invasion OF the rights OF the states. Nothing
could be turtle 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 n 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 Offering to register; to personally inspect
and scrutinize the registry lists, and to atiN
their names to the lists forthe purpose of identi-
flc;itlon and the prevention CT 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
OF fraudulent practices which may be presented
TO them. The same law provides for the APP
pointment of deputy United States marshals to
the discharge OF their duties and to arrest per-
sons violating the election laws. The provIs-
ions OF this familiar portion OF the Revised
Statutes have been put into exercise by both
the great political parties in the North as well
as i'll the South by the filing with the court the
petitions required by law.
1t Is not, therefore, a question whether we
shall have a federal election law, for We now
have one, and have had for nearly twenty years.
but whether we shall have All effective law. The
present law stops just short of effectiveness, for
it surrenders to the local authorities all control
over the certitication which establishes the
prlna iacie right to a seat i'll the house of repre-
sentatlveS. This defect should be cured. Equal
lty of representation and the parity OF the
electors must be maintained, or everything
that is valuable in our system OF government Is
lost. The qualifications OF an elector must be
sought i'll the law, not i'll the opinions. prejudices
or fears OF any class. however powerful. The
path of the elector to the ballot box must be
Tree from the ambush OF fear and the entice-
ments of fraud; the count so true and open that
none shall gainsay it. Such a law should be alb
solutely non-partisan and impartial. 1t 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
fHll here and not thpra il is NOT haraJSa tho Ia "
Is sectional, but because, happily, crime is local
and not universal. Nor should it be forgotten
that every law, whether relating to 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
hind the law.
One cannot be Justly charged with unfriendli-
ness to any section or class who seeks only to
right. No community viii find lawlessness
profitable. No community can afford to have
1t 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 floods Of laWlcssnesS cannot
be leveled and made to run in one channel. The
killing OF IL United States marshal carrying a
writ OF arrest Tor all election offense is full OF
promptings and suggestion to men who are pur-
sued by II city marshal for q crime against life
or property.
But it is said that this legislation will revive
| ANS> olu oollC ldN c
that when the peaceful methods OF fraud are
made impossible they may be supplanted by in
tlmidation and violence. If the proposed law
gives to any qualified elector, by a hairs weight,
more than his equal influence, or detracts by SO
much from any other qualified e%lector, it is
fatally impeached. But if the law is equal, and
the aiimOsities it is to evoke grow out OF the
TACT that some electors have been accustomed
to exercise the franchise for Others as well as Tor
themselves, then these animOsities ought not to
be confessed without shame. and cannot be
given any weight in the discussion without
dishonOr. No choice Is left to me but to ell
force with Yigor all laws intended to secure to
the citizen his constitutional rights, and to
that inadquacies of such laws be
promptly renedied. If to promote with zeal
and ready interest every project for the devel-
op1nent OF its material interests. its rivers. har-
bOrs. mines and factories and the intelligence,
peace and security under the law OF it's commu-
mites and its homes. is not accepted as sutii-
Gent evidence OF frendlineSS to any state or sec
ton, l cannot add connivance ut election prac-
tees that not only disturb local results. but rob
the electors OF other states and sections Of their
most priceless political rights. The preparation
or the general appropriation bills should be con-
Quoted with the greatest care and the closest
scrutiny of expenditures. Appropriations should
be adequate to the needs OF the public service,
Lut they should be absolutely free from prodi-
gality.
l venture again to remind you that the brief
time remaining Tor the consideration OF the I'M
portant legislation now awaiting your attention
offers no margin Tor waste. If the present duty
Is discharged with diligence, fidelity and courage,
the work of the Fifty-ticst congress may be con-
tdently submitted to the considerable Judgment
OF the people.
BENJAMIN HARRISON.
A NEW COMBINE.