Thomas County cat., 1890-12-04
POSTAL TELFGgtPHs.


II any intelligent and loyal company
OF American citizens were required 10
catalogue the essential humane condi-
tions of national life, do not doubt that
with absolute unanimity they would be-
gin with free and honest elections, and il
is gratifying to know tha. there is a
growing and non-part:san demand for
better election laws.
But against this sign of hope and prog
ress must be set the depressing and un-
deniable fact that election laws and
methods are sometimes cunningly con-
trived to secure minority control while
violence completes the shortcomings of
fraud.
In my last annual message I suggest
ed that the development OF the existing
law providing q federal supervision of
congressional elections offered an effec-
tive method of reforming these abuses.
The need of such law has manifested
itself in many parts of the country and its
wholesome restraints and penalties will
be useful in all.
The :constitutionality of such legisla-
ton has been affirmed by the supreme
court. Its probable effectiveness is ev-
idenced by the character Of the opposi
ton that is made TO II.
THE OPPOSITION TO IT.
1t has been denounced as if it were a
new exercise of federal power and an in
vasion of the rights of the states. Nothing
could be further from the truth. Congress
has already fixed the time for the cleo
ton of members of congress. 1t has de-
clared that votes for members of congress
must be by written or printed ballots; it
has provided for the appointment
by the circuit courts in certain
cases. and upou the petition of a
certain number of citizens of election
supervisors and made it their duty to
supervise the registration of voters con-
Quoted by the state officers, to challenge
persons offering to register, to personally
inspect and scrutiniZe the registry lists
and to atliy 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 attach to the registry
lists and election returns any statement
touching 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 fraudu-
lent practices which may be presented to
them.
The same law provides for the ap-
pointment of deputy United States mar
shals to attend at 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
exercise by both the great political par
ties and in the north as we'll as in the
south, by the filing with the court of the
petitions required by law.
AN EFFECTIVE LAW NEEDED.
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. The present
law stops just short of effectiveness,
for it surrenders to the local
authorities all control over the ce.tifica-
ton which establishes the prima facie
right to a seat in the house of representa-
tiyes; this defect should be cured, equality
of representation and the purity OF the
electors must be maintained, or every
thing that is valuable in our system OF
government is lost. o.
The qualifications of electors 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 enticement of fraud,
the count 80 true and open that none she II
gainsay it. Such a law should be abso-
lutely non partisan and impartial,
NOT SECTIONAL.
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 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 :he courts, the
marshal or constable, the posse comitatus,
the prisons are al and always behind the
law. One cannot be justly charged with