Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-12-05

nuar income or s7ouu; WINE. as nave stated,
we are paying out for the support of the steam
ship line that brings this mail to us only $46 600,
leaving an annual surplus resulting from this
service of $4,000. The tra'ie of The United
States with Australia, which is in a considerable
part carried by these steamers, and the whole of
which is practically dependent upon the mail
communication which they maintain, is largely
in our favor.
Our total exports of merchandise TO Austria
lasian ports during the fiscal year ending June
80 1890 were S11 1866 4S4, while the rot al imports
of merchandise from these ports only
$4,X7 676. If we not willing see this inn
portant steamship line withdrawn, or continued
with Vancouver substituted for San Francisco as
the American terminal, congress should put it in
the power of the postmaster general to make
liberal increase in the amount now paid for the
transportation of this important mail.
The south Atlantic and gulf ports occupy
favored position toward the new and important
tariff act and the postal shipping bill are designed
to promote. Steamship lines from these ports to
some northern port of South America will al
most certainly effect connection between the
railroad systems of the continents long before
any continuous line of railroads can be put into
operation. The very large appropriation made
justified, as it seemed to me- by these consid-
erations. The great northwest will feel the ad-
vantage of trunk lines to the south as well as to
the east, and of The new markets opened for their
surplus food products, and for many of their
manufactured products.
Election Laws.
If any intelligent and loyal company of Ameri
can citizens were required to catalogue the essen
tial human conditions of national life do not
doubt that with absolute unanimity they would
begin with free and honest elections, and it s
gratifying to know that generally there is
growing and non-partiSan demand for better
election laws. But against this 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 suggested that the
development of the existing law providing a
federal supervision of congressional elections Of
fered effective method of reforming these
abuses. The need of such a law has manifested
Itself in many parts of the country. and Its whole
some restraints and penalties will be useful in
all The constitutionaty of such legislation has
been affirmed by the supreme court Its prob
able effectiveness is evidenced by the character
of the opposition that is made to it, 1t has been
denounced as if it were a new exercise OF federal
power and an invasion OF the rights of the states.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Con
gress has already fixed the time for the election
of members of congress. 1t has declared that
votes for members of congress must be by WRIT
ten or printed ballot: it has provided for the
appointment by the circuit courts in certain cases.
and upon the petition of certain number Of
citizens, of election supervisors, and made il
their duty to supervise the registration of veteES
conducted by the state officers; to challenge per
sons Offering to register; to personally inspect
and scrutimze the pegstry lists and to af1x their
names to the lists for the purpose of identified
ton and the prevention of frauds; to attend at
are all cast and counted; to attach to the regis
try lists and election returns any statement touch
ing the accuracy and fairness of the registry and
election and to take and transmit to the clerk Of
the house of representatives any evidence OF
fraudulent practices which may be presented to
them The same law provides for the appoint
ment OF depaty United States marShals to attend
at the polls, support the supervisors in the dis
change of their duties and to arrest persons VIC
latng the election laws. The provisions of this
familiar title of the revised statutes have been
put into exercise by both the great political par
ties, and in the north as well as in the N BY
the filing with the court of the petitions required
by the law.
1t is not therefore question whether we shall.
have federal election law, for we now have one.
and have had for nearly twenty ysaEs bit
Hvhether we shall have an effective law. The
present law stops just short of effectiveness for
it surrenders to the local authorities all control
over the certifcation which establishes the prima
facie right to seat in the house Of representa-
tives. This defect should be cured. Equality of
representation and the parity of the electors
must be maintained, or everything that is valu-
able in our system of government is lost. The
qualifications of an elector be sought in the
law, not in the opinions. prejudices 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 enicements of fraud
the count so true and open that none shall gain.
say it
Such law should be absolutely non partisan
and impartial 1t should give the advantage &c
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 'he>e rights fall here and not there it
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 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 comitatus the prison. are all
and always behind the law.
One cannot be Justly charged with upfriepdli-
ness to any section or class who seeks only &c
restrain violations of law and of personal right.
No community will find lawlessness profitable.
car aft tn hov Er.,x hat
the officers who are charged with the pIeserva-
ton OF the public peace and the restraint of the
criminal classes are themselves the product Of
fraud or violence The magistrate is then with
out respect and the law without sanction. The
foods Of lawlessness 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 sug-
gestion to men who are pursued by city mar
shall for a 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 are
made impossible they may be suppianted by in
timidation and violence Ii 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 eecter it Is IA
tally impeached. But it the law is equal and the
animosties it is to evoke grow out of the fact
that some electors have been accustomed to ex-
erclSe the franchise for others as well as for
themselves then these anmosities 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 enforce with
vigor all laws intended to secure to the citizen
his constitutional rights and to recommend that
the inadequacies of such laws be promptly RENE
died. 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 friendness to
any State or section, cannot add connivance at
election practices that not only disturb local
SUITS but rob the electors of other states and Sec
tions 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. Ap-
preparations should be adequate to the needs OF
the public service but they should be absolutely
free from prodgality
venture again to remind you that the brief
time remaining for the consideration of the i'm
portant legislation row awaiting your attention
offers no margin for waste If the present duty
is discharged with diligence, fidelity and courage,