The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-12-10

| same State. and in some the choice was made by
tne legislature. In others electors were chosen
~ districts. out more generally by the vote OF
the Whole State u,on general ticket. TIC
| movement toward the adoption OF the last
| went steadily forward among the States, and
until IN 1882 there remained but single
state S9uh Carolina. that had not adopted
| uhued 10 choose Its electors by vote OF
the Legislature, but after the war changed Its
method aud confomed to the practice OF the
other States For nearly sixty years ali The
states save one have appointed their electors by
naarv vote upon general tic~et, and for
nearly thirty years this method was universal.
Alter full test of other methods without i'm
poltant division or dissent In any State, and
Without any purpose OF party advantage as wa
must believe, but solely upon tile considerations
that uniformity was desirable and that general
election in territorial divisions not subject to
change was most consistent with the pOpular
character of our Institutions best preserved the
equality OF the voters and effec u1lly removed
the choice of President from The banefuI inf1u-
eDce OF the "gerrymander" the practice of ain
the States was brought into harmony. That this
concurrence should now be broken is, think,
all unfortunate and even threatening episode
aud one that may well suggest whether the
States that still give their approval to the old
ana prevailing method ought not to secure by
constitutional amendment practice which has
had Tie approval Of all.
The Michigan Gerrymander."
The recent Michigan legislation provides for
choosing what are popularity known as the Con
gresslODal electors for President by Congress
sional districts and the two Senatorial electors
by districts created for that purpose. The legis-
lalion was, oil course, accom- anled by a new
Congressional appOrtl0nment and the two statutes
bring the electoral vote OF the State under the
influence OF tile "gerrymander." These gerry
manners Tor Congressional urposes are in most
cases buitressed by gerrymander of the legis-
latlye districts, thus making IL impo ssbe for q
majority OF the legislative voters of the State
to correct the aPp0rtlonment aud edualiZe the
Congressional districts. A minority rule Is es-
tabllshrd that only a political cOnyusiou can
overthrow. have recently been advised that in
n rata Al
for the election OF members OF the Leg
islature are constituted as follows: Ono
has 10000 population, one $4,000 aud
one 10000, While in another county de-
tached non- contiguous sections havt been united
to make legislative district. These methods
have already found effective application to the
choice of Senators and Representatives IN Con-
gress, aud now an evil start has been made in
The direction OF applying them to the choice by
the states OF electors OF President and Vice
President. II this is ACCOMPLISHED we shall
then have three great departments OF the Gov
legislative and executive directly. and the
Judiciary Indirectly, through the power of ap-
pontme ut. Al election implies any body OF
electors having prescribed qualification, each
one OF which has an equal value and influence
III determining the result. So, when the Coustt-
tuition provides that leach State shall appolnt''
(elecD In such manner as the Legislature
thereof may direct, number of electors, ETC.,
an unrestricted power was not given to the
Legislatures In the selection of The methods to
be used.
What the Constitution Guarantees.
A republican form OF government Is guaranteed
by The Constitution by each State, ana the power
given by the same instrument TO the Legislatures
of the States TO prescribe methods fO- the choice
by the State Of electors must be exeried under
that Limitation. The essential features of such
government are the right OF the people 10 choose
their own officers and the nearest practicable
equality OF value in the sutfrages given in de-
terminlng that choice. IL Will not be claimed
that the power given to tile Legislature would
support them III providing that the persons Ie-
ceiY ing The smallest vote should be the electoral,
or law that all electors should be chosen by
Inc voters OF single Congressional dis
tTict: The voters are TO choose; and under
The pretense OF regulating methods the
Legislature can neither invest the right OF
choice elsewhere, nor adopt methods not cou-
fOrmable 10 republican Institutions 1t Is not
my purpose here TO discuss the question whether
equal single districts is choice by the State,
but only 10 recommend such legislation of this
matter by constitutional amendment as Will Sc
cure unlfofmlt and prevent that disgf acelul
partisan juggery to which such a liberty OF
choice, II 1t exists. offers temptation. Nothing
Just now is more important than 10 provide ev-ry
guaranty for the absolutely fair aud free choice
by an equal suffrage, within the respective
States, of all the officers of the National Govern
ment whether that suffrage is applied directly,
as In the choice OF members of the House OF
Representatives, or indirectly, as III tue choice
OF members OF the Senate ana electors Of FTest-
dent.
National Danger.
Respect for public officers and obedience to
law VIII not cease to be the characteristic of our
people until our elections cease to declare the
Will OF majoriies. fairly ascertaiued, without
fraud, suppression or 'gerrymander." Ii / vera
called UPON TO declare wherein our chief ma
tiOnal danger lies, / should say, without hesita-
ton, in the overthrow of majority control by tile
suppression or peryersion OF the popular SUIT
frage. That there Is real danger here ali must
agree, but the energies OF those who see it have
been Chiefly expended IN trying to fix RESPONSE
bllity upon the opposite party rather than ia
efforts 10 make such practices impossible by
either party: 1t Is not possible now to ad-
louTn that interminable and iuconclusive de-
bate, while we take by consent one step In
the direction OF reform by eliminating the
gerrymander, which has ben denounced by all
parties an influence in the election of electors
OF President and members of Congress. All the
States have, acting freely and separately, de-
termined that the choice of electors by general
ticket Is the wISest and safest method, and 1t
would seem there cOuid be no objection 10 a con-
sliutlchai amendment making that method
permanent. If a Legislature chosen In one year
upon purely local questions should, pending a
residue, elect mau of choice upon a general
ticket, and provide for the choice OF electors by
The Legislature, and this trick should determine
tile result, Its peace might be endangered. [
have alluded 10 the gerrymandef as affecting the
m ihod OF selecting electors OF the President by
Congressional districts, but the primary intent
relation 10 the selection of members OF the
House of Representatives. The power of Con-
gress Is ample 10 deal with this threatening and
intoierable abuse.
Test of Sincerity.
The unfailing test OF sincerity of election re-
form will be found In a Willingness to confer az
10 remedies and TO put In force such measures as
Will NEST effectually preserve tile right OF the
people to Tree and equal representation. An at
tempt was made In the last Congress 10 bring TO
bear the constitutional powers of the General
Government fopthe correction Of frauds against
the suffrage. IL is important TO know whether
the opposition 10 such measures is really vested
III the particular feature supposed 10 be object
tlonabe, or includes any proposition to give TO
the election laws OF the United States adequacy
10 the correction OF grave and acknowledged
evils. l must yet entertain the hope that il is
a q In n raj
OF such constitutional or statutory changes as
may be necessary 10 secure The choice OF The Off
GERS OF the Government to the people by fair an
poriiOnment and fee elections. l believe it
would be possible to constitute commission,
non-paltisan IN its membership and composed Of
patriotic wise and impartial men, to whom a
consideration OF the question OF the evils con-
necled with our election system aud methods
might be committed, with good prospect OF Sc
curing unanimity in some plan for relieving or
mitigating these evils. The Constitution would
permit he selection to be vested IN the Supreme
Court II that method would give the best guaran-
tee of imparIlality. This commission should be-
charged with the duty of lnquiring into the sub
] ct OF elections as relating TO the choice OF Off
GERS OF the National Government, with a View
Of securing TO every elector the free and upmo-
Tested exercise OF the suffrage aud near an
approach 10 an equality OF value IN each ballot
cast as Is attana6ie.
Limitations OF Suffrage.
While The policies OF the General Government
upon the tariff, upon the restoration of our mer-
chant marine, upon river aud harhor Improve
eral concern are liable 10 be turned this way or
that by the results of Congressional elections and
Administrations pollcles-sometImes involving
issues that tend 10 peace or war-to be turned
this way or that by the results of Presidential
election there is lghtiu interest in all the States
aud every Congressional district that Will not be
deceived or silencrd by the audaclous pretenseS
that a question of the right of any body OF
legal voters in any State or In any Congressional
district to give their suffrage freely upon
the Sc general questions is a matter only Of local
concern or control. The demand that tie limila-
tons of suffrage shall be found in the law, and
only there, is just demand, aud any Just
man should not resist IL. My appeal is and must
continue to be, for consultation that sbsK
proceed with candoI, camness and patience
upon the lines of justice and humanity, not by
prejudice aud cruelty" ! he cons Iteration OF
these very grave questions invites not only the
attention of Congress, but that OF all patriotic
citizens. We must not entertain the deluson
that our people have ceased TO regard a free bal
lot and equal representation as the price OF their
allegiance TO laws and 10 civil magistrates. L
have been greatly TeiOlced TO notice many EVIL
dences OF The increased unihcaton OF our people
and Of q revived national spiTiI. Tire vista that