The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-12-10


Of congfesg. All the states a ho
acting freely and separately nd aa
determined IN the chance o. aIec,ee
| by n general ticket az the " # sIs
safest method, and II wo. ssa,S
there e0nld be no objection % co,l
alilutiou9l amendment mai irr 49, I
method permanent. If the j3oisIa'
tors chosen IN one year upos oi,raf,,
local .queat.1na, should, pp ing
presidential contest nest AZ escind
the law for a choice upon q general
| ticket and provide for the choice ~
electors by the legislature and Inv
| trick should determine the result l.
IL not too much to say that the pub.
| lie peace might be seriouslyand vida.
~ endangered. have alluded TO ths
| "gerrymander" as affecting fho
Of the president bv con.
gressonal districts, but tba
primary intent and effect Of this forn,
Of political robbery has a relation to
| the selection Of the members of tbe
house Of Representatives. Tie power :.
Of congress Is ample to deal 18th this
threatening and intOlerabls abuse
The unfailing test Of sincerity IN cleo
ton reform will be found in Wiling
ness to confer az to remedies and 70
put into force such measure as win
most ehectualIy preserve the right of
| the people to free and egual repre-
scntation.
! An attempt wag made in the last
congress to bring to bear the cglstitu.
| tiOnal powers Of the gracTaI
| government for the C. -leclion
/ of fraud against suffrage. J is i'm.
/ portant to know whether til -0Bosi
| ton to such measures is reall vested
| in particular features, EuppOs / 20 be
objectionable, or includes an ropo.
sitiOn to give to the elections avs Of
the United States Adequately o the
correction of grave and acknowledged
evils. / must yet enter INTO the hope
that it is possible to secure q calm.
patriotic consideration of such c0nsu-
tutional or statutory changes as may
he necessary to secure the clolce OF
the officers Of the gOvernmeu To-
the peoble by fair appOEt nment
and free elections. | believe ] would
be possible to constitute con- sion
non partisan in its members and
composed Of patriotic, wise o. I'M.
partial men to whom cOnsiC tiOn
of the questions of the evils co erted
without system and methods nigh,
be committed with good pro sCt Of
securing unanimity in some an Tor
removing or mitigating thos evils
! The constitution would permit The se-
! lection Of the commission 20 be vested
in the supreme court if chat method
would give the best guasante n I'M.
partially. The commission 1oTld
be charged with duty CT in Irving
into the whole subject Of the Jaws Of
elections, as related to the ciag Of
officers Of the national cove meut
with q view to securing to every
elector free and unmolested rcise
of suffrage and as near an apr zach to
an equality of value in each uailOt
east as is attainable, while the policies
of the general government upon
the tariff reform, the restor; ton of
our merchant marine, upon Tiy. ana
harOor Improvements ard other
such matters Of grave and general
concern are liable t. be
turned this way or that
by the results OF cOngre iauaI
elections and administrations, rJ'in'e
sometimes involving issues tina tend
to peace or war, to be turned ID r Wy
or that by the results of presi u,iai
election. There is rightful interest
in all the states and in every cougrcs-
sional district that will net be de
ceived or silenced by the audacious
pretense that the question of the right
of any body of legal voters. iu any
state or in any congressional district
to give their suffrages freely anon
these general questions, is a nut-ar
only Of local concern or control .13
Inr nd hoE hn
suffrage shall be formed in IL law
and the law only is a just demand,
and no man should resent or resist,
My appeal is and must continue 10
be for a consultation that shall pro-
ceed with candor, calmness ana pa
thence upon the lines of justice and
humanity. not by prejudice and
cruelty. To the consideration Of thase
very grave questions, | iaviue nor
only the gentlemen of congress but OF
all patriotic citizens. We must not
entertain the delusion that our people
have ceased to regard a balloL and
equal representation as tie price of
their allegiance to the laws alG civil
magistrates.
L have been greatly reioioed 90 no.
tice many evidences of the inc 1ased
unitica5ion of our people and OF a re-
vived national spirit. The vista that
now opens to us is wider and more
glorious than before. Craft ;ation
and amazement struggle for uorem-
acy, as we contemplate the Iopula-
ton, wealth and massive siren 9Th OF
our country, truest momentous in
it's influences upon our people, upon
the world for brief time comnitted
to us, and we must not be faith ess to
it's first condition. The def nse Of
the free and equal influence If the
people in the choice of public officers
in the control of public affairs.
Signed. BENJAMIN HARRISON.
Executive Mansion, December 9th,
| 1891.
BROWN S IRON BITTERS
|