The Iola register., 1890-08-15
honest ELECTIONS.
Ballot Reform Measures Must Be Adopt,
Sooner or Later.

Ballot Reform Measures Must Be Adopted
Sooner Later.
The campaign against the tariff and
the election bills has been one of lying.
Never before has there been a more
persistent and shameless effort to cre-
ate the false impression that Republic
ans Of influence and prominence in each
house and throughout the country were
| opposed to measures upon which the
majority OF the party had agreed So
completely has this campaign of false
hood taken the place of all reasoning
against either measure that the sole
question would seem to be whether Re-
publican Senators have manhood enough
to represent their party. But in exactly
the same impudent and vociferous way
1t was asserted that each bill would be
defeated by Republicans in the House.
Names were falsely given then, as names
are falsely given now. There is an easy
test If Democrats believe half they say
they have no excuse for wasting time
in speeches or filibustering. Let them
behave like honest men and ask vote
in the Senate at once on each bill
Then it will be seen whether there are
Republican Senators who oppose the
wishes of their party. If so, the sooner
the controversy ends the better for pub
lie interests, and constituents will then
have time to consider whether they are
represented as they wish to be-.
The election bill has been lied about
so persistently that some persons, even
in the Senate, do not seem to know that
it refers to Federal elections, and not
to elections of local or State officers, or
of Legislatures by which Senators are
chosen. The House has exclusive right
to Judge of the qualifications of its own
members. If it should simply require
its clerk to place upon the rolls only the
names of those elected according to
methods it prescribes, and refuse to ad-
NIT any others, what branch of the
Government could object? Logic and
equity justify the expectation that SEN
ators will assent to regulations which
the House deems necessary, as the
House would assent If the Senate
should propose regulations to govern
the election of Senators. r H-.s-.
One man is quoted as saying that ne
grO"s do not ask this bill. Of course
they do not; they have no voice. But
the bill is intended, not for them, but
for protection of the whole people, and
particularly in those Northern States
where Democratic frauds have made
honest elections unknown. Another re-
ports that in some prairie State the
people feel no need of the bill, and
therefore he will not support it. Wise
craftsmanship, truly, that would reject
bill to prevent frauds in Jersey City,
where an honest election has not been
held in ten years, solely because SINH
lar measures would not be needed in
Minnesota. A third gets the impress
sion that business men fear the bill
may interrupt prosperity at the South.
The South will take it's choice If it cares
more for electing members of Congress
by fraud than for its industries, its
prosperity and peace. But there are
thousands of Northern men in every
State who do care for honest elections,
whether some business men do or not,
and the thousands who care will
make themselves felt hereafter when
Senators have to be elected. Next, a
crazy fanatic at the South proposes a
gigantic boycott of all Northern pro-
ducts unless the election of members of
Congress by fraud is suffered to con-
tinue. The very editor who prints this
proposition would be the first to buy
Northern type and paper, ink and
presses for his journal, unless he could
buy cheaper elsewhere. Brag, bluster
and bullying went out of fashion at APP
pomattox. The South will be governed
by such laws as the people of the United
States, through their honestly elected
Congressman, may determine to enact
For this question will not get settled
till it is settled right. Let Southern or
Northern defenders of crime remember
one thing. If the passage of the Lodge
bill be prevented this year, other and
stronger measures will come up at the
next and every other session of Con-
gress until honest elections have been
secured. This Nation of free men has
made up its mind not to be governed by
fraud. If necessary, it will. begin to
elect Senators and Representatives
with that purpose. If anybody is un-
able to stand struggle, or too timid to
battle for justice and free institutions,
he can step aside for stronger or braver
men. The struggle will not stop until
General Grants rule, free election |
and an honest count, is the law of the
land.-N. Y. Tribune.
c0ur,Cpn, O,,rn.-ee