New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-16
TREE AND HONEST ELECTIONS

y
To remove the suppression of the suffrage
now practised in open defiance OF the flitcehlh
amendment of the Constitution in the South
ern States. the Republican party Is sacredly
nlodccd TO black and white citizens alike.
lis promise must he redeemed If this Rcpuh-
lican Congress and a Republican President
can fulfil it, But five months OF the session
have nearly elapsed and no substantial prog
ress has been made. Mr.. Lodge has prepared
= hill in The House. but il does not move. SEN
ators sherman and Chandler have submitted
yar;ons hills 70 the senate, hut in committee
they rest. II is even said that the Democrats
have given such unmiStakable notice OF their
determination TO resort to All means of resist
anco whether fair or foul. TO the passage OF
National election laws, that some Rcpubllcans
hesitate TO attempt the passage OF any such
laws But we cannot believe that any such
fatal spirit of timidity prevails.
Il is said that the Republicans as whole
will not consent to a general law regulating
the Congressional elections which in all the
325 districts will take the management OF the
election entirely ont Of the hands OF the state
officers and give it TO new Federal o'hclalS.
The argument is that this would involve an
enormous expense, and constitute universal
interference with State control OF congress
siona elections not necessary III order to rem
edv fraud and violence prevalent III only lew
If tho districts in the special localities where
colored voters reside. II is possible that TINS
objection should he regarded. although we can
not conceive of any price 100 hlgh 1or Il Nc
public to pay if it is necessary TO secure pure
suffrage: and il certainly appears by the clause
in the Constitution giving Congress anS"u'e
power to make regulations for Congressional
elections that it was concentrated that sooner
or later National laws and National officers
should control such elections
But if il is deemed unwise 70 pass any OF
tho broad election laws which have been Of
fo,od There * certainly one method Of relief
70 which no Senator or member, Democrat
or Rcnublican. can object. and that is the cN-
tension into every Congressional district where
its voters may 50 desire Of the present laws
of Congress providing for United states super.
visors 10 watch the election proceedings OF
| State officials. and TO count and certify INC re
sllt of the Congressional ballots. lN''c l.
these laws may now be appealed TO IN every
district, but there is no method provided Tor
having the Supervisors. \ law remedying ems
deficiency and providing new method OF
certifying the result Of Congressional elections
IN the Clerk of the House Of Representatives
will 90 far toward securing fair elections and
rodcominc the promises which have been made
10 the country.
These laws providing supervisors have
worked with efficiency and success IN New
York CITY for nearly twenty years. by 'h'h
aid fraudulent votes in this city in Congress
.;onal and Presidential elections have bccomf
comnarativolv few The constitu'onaiiy oi
the laws and the construction put upon then
and tho mowers which the Chief supervisor
Mr. John l. Davenport, has exercised under
tbem have all been sustained by repeated de
cisions If the courts Thi, machinery for So
curing fair registration and elections mas peer
tried and has never been found wanting. hc
inlorcca in some respects and applied III every
Congressional district where the voters ma!
ask for il. the present Supervisors law cam"
fail 10 do IN immense good and possibly j
NAV urove 2, satisfactory as any broad cleo
ton law which can be devised.
II i. no. for us ~ decide which Legislation
Of all that is suggested may he the best ah'
most expcdicnt and the most easily 10 DC en-
acted. Blu, the very best that Congress cal
do is to give full life to the supervisors laY
which now nominally prevails over the who'll
country. 70 provide for the prompt pay
after they have served OF the officers employed
and 10 enact a method OF counting ana certify
inc the result honestly reached III every as
trc, whore such a method is desired broad
or election law will be gladly received by IN
SUPPRESSED voters: narrower one VIII NOT d
80: r,.4,,v IA tho PcnuhlicanS Of the country
and Congress- which seems 10 have dciaSeu 10
long, should al once proceed to the perform
ance of paramount and sacred duty.