The Portland daily press., 1890-07-01
Local Self Covernment.

Inc principal argument made by both the
Northern and Southern Democrats against
the election bill is that it is a blow at local
self government. OF course this argument
Is not germane. because as matter of fact the
bill applies to no election in which the oues-
tion OF local self government is concerned.
Ii the Dill becomes law the right to choose
local officers in the Southern States from
Governor downin whatever way the people of
the States desire remains entirely unaffect-
cd. IDe eight ballot box law, by which the ne
groes OF South Carolina are disfrancbised.
VIII remain unrepealed so far as the election
OF all State and local officers is concerned
Inc great privilege of cheating the mig
gers VIII remain untouched except in the
matter OF congressional elections. So as
matter of fact the question of local self
government is not in issue at all.
But it is worth while to examine this arpu-
ment, notwithstanding its lack of applica-
tlon to the bill in issue. and compare it with
the practices of the people in whose behalf
1t Is offered. in order to test their sincerity.
by local self government is meant, of course.
tue right OF the people-that is all the peo-
ple-to manage their own local affairs. This
Is the right which the Southern Democrats
profess to be contending for with great
Venemence. Have the Southern white
Democrats been in the habit of practicing
the doctrines which they now preach. or has
their practice been exactly the reverse,
Before the war, which was the more demo-
cratic section Of the country, the North
or the Southp Where did the people the
more completely manage their local affairs
in Massachusetts or South Carolinap
There Is nobody so reckless, we pre-
sumo, as to deny that the govern.
ments of all the slaye-holding States
before the war were practically in the hands
OF an oligarchy and that the common peopIe
had very little to do with them. Since the war
the situation has not materially changed.
Inc black-man has been enfranchised by the
constitution, but the white oligarchy still in
sist that they are the rulers of the South.
not by virtue of superior numbers, but
by virtue OF Godgiven right.
All legislation since the war in the
Southern States has tended to concentrate
power in the hands of white oligarchy.
This tendency was very forcibly pointed
out by Mr. Haugen Of Wisconsin, in a speech
in the House last week. Mr.. Haugen showed
that in none of the Southern tier of States
was the choice of election officers lodged in
the community in which they were to serve.
In every Instance local elections were guided
and controlled by officers appointed by the
State. In Virginia the legislature usurps To-
cal self government in every county by ap-
pointing three electoral commissioners in
each one. In Maryland the appointment of
all local elections boards is vested In the gov
ernor' In Mississippi an electoral commits
sion consisting of governor lieutenant gov
ernor and secretary of state form the foun.
tain head from which flows the authority IN
supervise and conduct elections. In Ala
bama the power is vested in the sheriff
county judge, and clerk of the court. in
South Carolina it is in the State; likewise in |
Florida and North Carolina; in Arkansas in |
the county judge. I'm short" said Mr.
Haugen, you may look all through the |
Southern States in vain for a discoyerabla |
trace OF the home, town or city government |
the Northwest, inherited by us from New