Connecticut western news., 1891-12-17

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 the commissioner is of the opinion will be sufh- cient. While these disbursements to the dis abled soldiers of the great civil war are large they do not realize the exaggerated estimates of those who oppose this benefcent legislation. The secretary of the interior shows with great fulness the care that is taken. to exclude fraud ulent claims and also the gratifying fact that the persons to whom these pensions are going are men who rendered not slight but substan- tial war service.
 The work of the agricultural department is highly commended. The census is alluded to only in it's relation to the growth of the new states and territories. A system of town government is recommended for Alaska. The work of the civil service con- mission is very highly commended, and congress is urged to extend it's operations and vote more money thereto. Special leg islation to protect railroad employees is called for very elaborate argument is made in favor of an amendment to the con stitution requiring each state to choose its presidential electors on a general ticket, and the action of Michigan in having them chosen by tickets is inferentially condemned. This part of the message will certainly at tract unusual attention and excite great discussion.
 The president takes high federal ground, alleging the power and duty of congress to take charge of the matter, to abolish "ger- rymanders" and latly denying the power of state legislatures to make arrangements at will. He argues the case thus:
 "A republican form of government" is guar anteed by the constitution to each state, and the power given by the same instrument to the legislatures of the states to prescribe methods for the choice by the state of electors must be exercised under that limitation. The essential features of such government are the right of the people to choose their own officers and the nearest practicable equality of value in the suffrages given in determining that choice.
 It will not be claimed that the power given to the legislature would support a law providing that the persons receiving the smallest vote should be the electors, or law that all the cleo tors should be chosen by the voters of single and, under the pretense of regulating methods, the legislature neither vest the right of choice elsewhere nor adopt methods not con- formable to republican institutions.
 If were called upon to declare wherein chief national danger lies, should say, without hesitation, in the overthrow of majority con. trol by the suppression or perversion of the popular suffrage That there is real danger here all must agree, but the energies of those who see it have been chiefly expended in trying to fix responsibility upon the opposite party, rather than in efforts to make such practices impossible by either party.
 Is it not possible now to adjourn that inter- minable and inconclusive debate while we take, by consent, one step in the direction of reform by eliminating the gerrymander, which has been denounced by all parties, influence in the selection of electors of pre~ident and members of congress? All the states have, acting freely and separately, determined that the choice of electors by general ticket is the wisest and safest method, and it would seem that there could be no objection to 8 constitutional amendment making that meth cd permanent. If legislature chosen in one year upon purely local questions should, pending a presidential contest, meet, rescind the law for choice upon a general ticket, and provide for the choice of electors by the legislature, and this trick should determine the result, it is not too much to say that the public peace might be seriously and widely dangered.
 believe it would be possible to constitute commission nonpartisan in it's membership and composed of patriotic, wise and impartial men, to whom a consideration of the question of the evils connected with our election system and methods might be committed with good pros pect of securing unanimity in some plan for re- moving or mitigating those evils. The consti- tuition would permit the selection of the con- mission to be vested in the supreme court, if that method would give the best guaranty of inlPsr tiaGty
 He adds that while congress legis1ates anu the president acts for the whole country the demand for reform will not be deceived or silenced by the audacious pretense that it is a local matter, and concludes thus:
 Deceived or silenced by the audacious pre- tence that the question of the right of any body of legal voters in any state or in any congress sional district to give their suffrages freely upon these general questions is 8 matter only of local concern or control
 The demand that the limitations of suffrage shall be found in the law, and only there, is 8 just demand, and no just man should resent or resist it. My appeal is, and must continue to be- for 8 consultation that shall proceed with candor, calmness and patience upon the lines of justice and humanity, not of prejudice and cruelty"
 tions invite not only the attention of congress but that of all patriotic citizens. We must not entertain the delusion that our people have ceased to regard free ballot and equal repre- sentation the price of their allegiance to laws and to civil magistrates.
 have been greatly rejoiced to notice many evidences of the increased unifcation of our people and of 8 revived national spirit. The vista that now opens to us is wider and more glorious than ever before. Qualification and amazement struggle for supremacy we con- template the population, wealth and moral strength of our country A trust, momentous in it's influence upon our people and upon the world. is for brief time c1krmitted to us and we must not be faithless to s.s first condition the defence of the free and equal influence, of the people in the choice of public officers and in | the control of public affairs.
 Enpland and Russia May Fight