St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-12-11
SOME ELECTION PROBLEMS.

SOME ELECTION PROBLEMS.
There is an audacity about the prest-
dents recommendations on the elections
question which is nothing short of reck-
less when it is remembered that the
Democrats have majority of over a
hundred in the lower house. He sug-
gests constitutional amendments with
out limit and the enactment of federal
laws, prescribing a uniform system ac-
cOrding to which the citizens of all the
states shall exercise the right of suf-
frage, and speaks in a tone of serene
confidence on the subject as though the
opposition would have no higher pleas
ure than to further the domination of
the Republican party. The world sup
ports no oreinteresting class of people
than those who always stoutly advocate
the claims of homeopathy when in the
society of doctors of the regular school,
or who advance the arguments for ag-
Mysticism at Christian prayer meetings.
MIR. HARRISON has shown himself a
shining light among men of this sort by
writing partisan message to congress
controlled by those of different faith
from his own.
Everybody believes in free ballot
and fair count, but the Democracy
will leave it to each commonwealth to
provide the machinery necessary to in
sure these things. The cOuntry's ex-
perience with federal soldiers at the
polls has not been such as to commend
the plan which Mr.. LODGE worked for
at the last session, and which the eX-
ecutive now advises in carefully studied
phrases. 1t is true that abuses do exist
when the matter is left to state legisla-
lures, but the dangers and disastrous
consequences which accompany them
are not to be compared with the con-
diti0n of affairs which would follow a
centralizing scheme of the magnitude
the Republican party favOrs. The ire
mendOus area of this country and the
diversity of its population and resources
give to each section local problems
which the national government would
be quite unable to solve. The general
safety must be the guiding principle IN
every instance, and it was wise pro-
vision of the constitution which left the
Independent members of the Union free
to fix whatever restrictions they deemed
wise on the elective franchise.
The presidents great anxiety Oh this
subject seems to have been excited by
the division of the electoral vote of
Michigan, and by the qualifications i'm
posed by some of the Southern states
with view to preventing negro SUI
premacy. The latter are inspired by
motives of the Hottest patriotism with
which every thoughtful man must have
great sympathy. To live in a region
where an ignorant and debased peas
antry, incapable at present of the best
development, has an overwhelming ma
jOrity, is an unenviable lot. Some
measures of a radical and drastic
character have to be taken if business
prosperity and social comfort are to be
enjoyed. The eXaction of a property or
educational qualification in such COM
munities cannot justly be called a
Democratic device. 1t is demanded for
the welfare of all classes and
nothing can vindicate the virtue of the
present method better than the fact
that through the agency of law the
a different system would have to be ac-
complished by force and intimidation.
In general, it may be said, that no man
fit to exercise the suffrage can be per-
manently deprived Of it, and that, as
the negroes grow to the point of intelli-
geDce and moral elevation where they
can safely be intruSted with this valu-
able privilege, they will get it. For a
great many years the Republicans dis
franchised half the population of Rhode
Island by an unjustifable and un-Amer-
lean property qualification. But con-
slant agitation by those who suffered
from it led finally to its abrogation, and
the state under a free ballot has come
over into the Democratic column. The
same will be true of the Southern states
as the lower strata of the population ac-
quire the strength Of character to- de-
mand their rights. Until they get this,
they are better keptin position of sub
ordination.
There is, on the other hand, very lit
tile to apologize for the Michigan plan
or for any other scheme of gerryman-
dering, except the eXIgencies of party
self-preservation. The Republican ma
jority at the last congress in addition to
its other iniquitieS added six votes to
its strength in the electoral college by
the admission of Idaho and Wyoming
to the sisterhood of states. They had
no claim on this promotion, except their
capacity to assist in the election of
Republican president in 1892. They
should not have come in unless Arizona,
Utah and New Mexico were also to.
Their preference was Injustice, but it
was good politics. And this is also the
case with the Michigan plan. 1t does
not lie in the mouth of Mr.. HARRISON,
who makes no recommendation for the
elevation of the remaining territories to
the dignity of statehood, to complain of
a partisan trick by which the Republic
ans nefariOuS hopes have been check
mated. He who criticises the misdo-
ings OF others should have clean hands
himself. The party which bears the
stain of the Idaho and Wyoming episode
is calling the kettle black when it talks
about Michigan.
The subject of the subdivision of the
gresslonal and local legislative elections
is much more complicated than any
other one before the country so entirely
unsolved. The districts for such pur-
poses are, of necessity. artificial in their
make up, and cannot be shaped so as to
conform with any natural arrangement.
In Connecticut the old township system
is still adhered to and West Haven with
5000 population has as many Legislators
as New Haven with nearly 100000.
There is no sense in this, but it is a
survival of primevai theory that the
township was the unit for such uses.
Our own congressional apportionment,
made at the last legislature, is uniyers-
ally admitted to have been a very fair
one, but no one can give any adequate
reason why it should have been made as
it is. There is nothing in the nature