New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-10

.;,.,;o, q, constitutional amendment max
inn that method permanent Hsne",;ons
chosen in one year upon purely iocai ,nect re-
should nending Presidential contest, n,'. iSyka,
sciud The law for choice upon senelal bg the
and provide for the choice oil eiec,vis the
Tcgslature, and this trick should dets,ih n,biic
result IL is not too much TO say tnhV U.,o
noace might be seriously and widely endangered
THE NEED OF ELECTORAL REFORM
have alluded to tue eerrymandcr" as Affect
;,. tho method Of selecting electors of Presiden'
by Congressional districts, but the primary ih"n'
and eject of this form of political robbery have To
lation 70 the selection of Members 81 the HOUSE u
Ron re,entatives. 1be power of Congress y ample
!" deal with this threatening ana lntolciao" t
The unlaing test oil sincerity III ei.1 m,a, es N
will he found IN Wluighcos y" naoa,res as
remedies and to put into force suoh i'ce'u tho
will most eifcctualy preserve the Iight VI '"'
neopIe ~ free and equal rcDresentation. ,.ss 10
~ hn attempt was made in the last ConeIeo' "
h,ng ~ bear the constitutional powers o. .ds
General Government for the correctioh VI iaa n,v
AGAINST the suffrage. 1t Is lmpoitahC ~ anIlv
whether the opposition 10 sucn sunnosed IN be OBJ
rested in particular features supposeu ~ 1--WE
icctionable o. includes any proportion o,msacv
to the election laws Of the United o.aIs evs
TO the correction Of grave ana acknowtoi noSsibe
+ must vet entertain the hope that IT, ls poosioIs
to secure calm patriotic consideration VI SUI ~
constitutional or statutory changes as @J ~ tho
necessary to secure the choice VI ee ,onments
Government 10 the peoP'e W i"ii "rr
'''I believe il would be possible to constitute
commission nOn-partisan III lts ;nenrtiai men to
comnosed OF patriotic, wise, and impartai nel, T.
whom a consideration Of the question on .io .SodS
connected with our election system oliu Va. - ca
might be committed with good pfos apnoviua OF
| curing unanmity in some plan for removing ~ ~
ou, asstn~ those evils The Constitution would
permit the selection of the commission $50 uetbod
vested in the Supreme Court, II thaS I'u,n''
| would give the best guarantee of impartiauoS
WIFI This commission should he charged with the
dutv Of inGuiring into the whole subject Of tne
law of elections as r fnvernmept with view
to securing to every eect0r q Tree ana ulnio. s'e
exercise of the suffrage and as near an appiooo;
60 an equality OF value IN each oa'io' ca'' CD Is
! attainabe. ,,,,r.
While tho uoicies of the General Government
unon the tariff upon the restoration OF our hier-
chant marine, upon river ana haroor i"pl',o
mcnts and other such matters Of grave ana genera
concern are liable to be turned this way CT that
nv the results OF Congressional elections, and al
ministrative policies sometimes involving Issues
that fond TO peaca or war; to be turned tins way
or that by the results OF Presldentiai eiec.lo,
there is rightful interest in all the states ana ~
every CONGRESSIONAL district that VIII not DE ue.
ceiyed or silenced by the audacious pretence Jhat
the question of the right of any body Of legal voters
in any State OF in any Congressional district 10 give
their sufrages freely upon THESE genera Ts
is matter only of local corcern or control. Inc
| demand that the limitations of suffrage snail ne
found in the law, and only there, is Just G se
mand, and no just man should resent or leeSo o =,
NV appeal is and must continue to be, Tor q con
sultation that shall proceed with candor, cain,
ness and patience upon the lines OF JUSTICE anu
humanity, not of prejudice and cruelty
To the consideration of these very grave aues
tions invite not only the attention OF Congress
but that of all patriotic citizens. we must MOI
entertain the deusion that our people have cease
10 regard free ballot and equal representation az
the price of their allegiance to laws and to ciyl
magistrates. II. 1900
| / have been greatly rejoiced to notice many
evidences of the increased unifcation of our people
| and of a revived national spirit. The vista thai
| now opens to us is wider and more glorious thar
| ever before Qualification and amazement strug
gle for supremacy we contemplate the popuia
ton. wealth, and moral strength of our country
A trust, momentOus in its Influence upon oul
| people and upon the world, is for a BRIEF TINT
committed to u.s. and we must not be faithles
to its 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.
| BENZ. HARRISON.
| Executive Mansion,
December 0, 1891.