The Globe-republican., 1890-12-10
Thu Elections Pill.

If any intelligent and loyal company of
American citizens were required to catalogue
the essential humane conditions of National
life, do not doubt that with absolute unan-
unity they would begin with 'free and hon
est elections" And it is gratifying to know
general desire was a growing and non parti-
san demand for better election laws. But
against this sign of hope and progress must
be set the depressing and undeniable fact
that election laws and methods are some
times cunningly cOntrived to secure minor
ity control while violence completes the
shortcomings of fraud In my last annual
message suggested that the development
of the existing law providing Federal SUI
pervsion of Congressional elections offered
an effective method of reforming these
abuses. The need of such a law has mani
tested itself in many parts of the country,
and its wholesome restraints and penalties
will be useful in all. The cOnsttutiOnality
of such legislation has been affirmed by the
Supreme Court.
Its probable effectiveness is evidenced by
the character of the opposition that is made
to it, 1t has been denounced as if it were q
new exercise of Federal power and an inva
sion of the rights of the States. Nothing
could be further from the truth. Congress
has already fixed the time for the election of
members of Congress. 1t has declared that
votes for members of Congress must be by
provided for the appointment by the
circuit courts in certain cases, and upon the
petition of a certain number of citizens of
election supervisors aud made it their duty
to supervise the registration of votes con-
Quoted by the State officers to challenge per-
sons offering to register; to personally in
spect and scrutinze the registry lists and to
affix their names to the lists for the purpose
of Identification and the prevention Of
frauds to attend elections and remain with
the boxes till the votes are counted; to at
tach to the registry lists and election returns
any statement touching the accuracy and
fairness of the registry and elections, and
to take and transmit to the clerk OF the
House of Representatives any evidence
of fraudulent practices which may be pre-
sentel to them The same law provides for
the appointment Of deputy United states
marshals to attend to the polls, support the
supervisors in the discharge of their duties
and arrest persons violating the election
laws The provisions of this familiar title of
the revised statutes have been put into exer-
else by both the great political parties, and
in the North, As well as in the South, by the
filing with the court petitions required by
law. 1t is not, therefore, question whether
we shall have Federal election law, for we
now have one and have had for nearly
twenty years, but whether We shall have
an effective Law.
iveness, for Is surrenders to the legal au
thorities all control over the certfication
which establishes the prima facie right to
seat in the lower house of representatives.
This defect should be cured. Equality OF
representation and the purity OF the electors
must be maintained every thing that is
valuable in our system of government is lost.
The qualification of electOr must be sought
in the law. not in the opinions, prejudices or
fears of any class, however powerful The
path of the electOr to the ballot box must be
free from the ambush of fear and the entice-
ments of fraud, the count so true
and open that none shall gainsay it. such q
law should be absolutely non partisan and
impartial. 1t should give the Advantage to
honesty and the control to maiOrities. 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 not there, il Is not because the law
is sectional, but because happily crime is
local and not universal Nor should it be
forgotten that every law, waether re-
lating TO elections or to any other sub
iect, whether enacted by the State &c
by the Nation, has force behind the cOu IT'S,
the marshal or constable, the posse cOmua-
tus, the prisons are all ans always befjnd
the law. One can not be justly charged With
unfriendliness to any section or class who
seeks only TO restrain violations of Law and
Of personal right. No community wiz find
lawlessness profitable. No communay can
afford to have il known that the officers who
are charged with the preservation Of tho
public peace and the restraint of tie crimi.
nal class are themselves the product of fraud
or violence. The magistrate is ahen With
out respect and the law without sanction.
The foods of law.essness can not be levied up-
on and made 90 run in one channel. The kill
ing of a United States marshal carrying writ
Of arrest for an election offense Is full Of