The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-07-10
A MEASURE FOUNDED IN JUSTICE.
Representative BeIden on the Federal
Elections Bill.
Another Day of 5IIvery EIoquence
With the Senators.
An Attempt to DIscredit the Recent
Samoan Conference.

WASHINGTON, July 0. - Representative
Belden Of New York, chairman of the Repub-
lican Congressional committee, has issued
the following address to the Republican
editors Of the country:
The Republican party. in its several ma
tiOnal platforms, has pledged the country
that, as one Of its fundamental planks, It
would see to the execution of that provision
of the constitution which guarantees to every
lawful voter In federal elections his right to
deposit his ballot and have 1t counted for
the candidate OF his choice. That pledge is
based on Justice and involves merely the ex.
ercise Of the unquestionable constitutional
right OF every American citizen. Neverthe-
less, the gravest election abuses in a large
section OF our country have deprived vast
masses Of their lawful franchise, have. bv
representation in the National House of
Representatives, aud have thus practically
subverted the constitution in some Of its
most important and valuable provisions.
The strict enforcement of this lnalenable
right is demanded as solemn duty. No
question OF negro supremacy, no usurpatiOn
of federal power, is involved in the issue.
The national elections bill, which recently
passed the House, deals only with national
elections, and does not meddle, directly or in
directly. with state elections for state off
GERS or state organizations. The states are
very properly left to work out their own des-
tiny through their own agencies. Why.
then, should this bill not become a law?
AS declared by the Hon. William Mckinley
in recent speech in the House: "The pas
sage Of the federal election bill is the SUI
preme duty of the hour" Its passage can
not longer be reasonably evaded The
House, faithful and active in the fulfllment
of its pledges, Jealous in the performance Of
great public trust, undaunted by the dia.
bolical threats and assaults Of the Demo-
cratic party, has promptly performed its du-,
ty by the passage of the bill. Now it re-
mains for the Republican majority in the
Senate to emulate the House and permit the
President by his signature, tn ratify and
register the will Of the nation Will the
Senate promptly perform this imperative OBJ
legation? The committee is In possession Of
information showing concentrated effort
on the part of the Democratic party to
change the trend of public thought by poi
soning the minds of the people, to the end
that sentiment may be manufactured
deter Congress from passing national law
at this session. l. is believed a favorable ex
preston of opinion at this juncture from the
Republican press all along the line would be
as forcible as timely and would exert whole
some influence and inspire legislators to the
carrying out OF the party's pledges. The
House has performed its part of the WORK to
which the party was pledged. Will you not
do your duty in urging that the Senate shall
respond promptly by the passage of a
measure which the House deems absolutely
essential to the purity OF elections of its own
members?