The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1891-12-10
THURSDAY EVENING. DECEMBER 10. 1884,
Combined from .arst paqe.l

Continued from .frst page)
c0mpanied by new Congressional apporti0n.
Inent aud fhc two STATUTES bring the electoral
vote of the state under the inilGcnce. Of the
gerryfnander.
These gerrymandors for congressional pnr.
poses are in most cases huttressed by d gerry
mander Of fbe Legislative districtA, Tins max.
ing it impossible for a majority OF the legal
voters q the state % correct the appointment
minority rule Is established that only ii poilti-;
cal conyulslon can overthrow. l have recent
~ been advised that in one county of n certain
state three districts for the election Of mem.
beers of the legislature are constituted MS fol.
lows: One has $1,000 population, one 1000, and
one 10000, while In another county, detached,
noncontigu0us sections have been united 10
make a legislative district,
Now an evil start has been made Id the di.
rection OF applying this 70 the choice BY the
states Of electors Of president and vice prcaia
dent, II this is accomplished, we shall then
have the three great departments Of the gov.
eminent In the grasp of the ..gcrrymnnder.r
the legislative and executive directly, and the
Judiciary indirectly through the power OF ap-
When the constitution provides that each
state shall appoint etc. an unrcstricsed
power was not given 70 the legislatures in the
selection OF the methods 10 be used.
"A republican form Of governmentr Il guar.
anteed by the constitution 70 each state. and
the power given TO the legislatures must be ex.
IL will not be claimed that the power given
90 the Legislature would support a law provid-
ing that the persons receiving the smallest vote
should be the electors 4 law that all the
electors should be chosen by the voters of
single congressional district. Tho state IL to
choose, and the legislature can neither vest the
right OF choice elsewhere nor adopt methods
not conformable 70 republican institutions. II
Is my purpose here only TO recommend such
regulation OF this matter by constitutional
amendment as will secure uniformity and pre-
vent disgraceful partisan jugglery.
Nothing Just now II more Important than te
provide every guarantee for the absolutely fair
and free choice by nm equal suffrage, within
the respective states. OF all the officers Of the
national government. Respect for public on.
GERS and obedience to law will not cease to be
the characteristics OfSour people until our cleo.
tions cease To declare the will 81 fnajoritiet
fairly asccrtained, without fraud, suppression
or gerrymander.
Ii were called upon to declare wherein ouI
chief national danger lies. should say. with.
out hesitation, in the overthrow OF majority
control by the suppression or pervcrsion of tile
popular suffrage. That there Is q real danger
here all must agree, but the energies of those
who see IT have been chiefly expended In try
ing 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-
minahle and incOnclusve debate while we
take by consent, one step in The direction Of
reform by eliminating the gerrymander, which
has been denounced by all parties. as an influs
ence in the selection of electors Of president
and members Of cOnEressf All the states have.
the choice of electors by general ticket Is the
wisest and safest method. and 1t would seem
there could be No objection to constitutional
amendment making that method permanent
il a legislature chosen in one year upon purely
local questions should, pending a presidential
contest. meet, rescind the law for choice
upon u general ticket and provide for the
choice OF electors by the legislature and this
trick should determine the result, ii is nofStoo
much to say that the public peace might be
seriously and widely endangered.
have alluded to the ''gerrymander'' as af-
fecting the method of selecting electors Of
president by congressional districts, but the
primary intent and effect Of this form of polit-
seal robbery have relation to the selection Of
members Of the house of representatives The
power Of congress Is ample TO deai with this
threatening and intolerable abuse. The UNI
failing testOf sincerity in election reform will
be found in a willingness to confer as to reme-
dies and to put into force such measures al
will most effectually preserve the right of tho
people 70 free and equal representation.
An attempt was made in the last congress-
Tor the correction Of frauds against the suf-
frage. must yet entertain the hope that ii Ii
possible TO secure calm, patriotic considera-
ton OF such constitutional or statutory changes
as may be necessary to secure the choice OF the
officers Of the government 10 the people by fair
appointments and free elections.
believe it would be possible to constitute a
nonpartisan commission To whom the question
might be committed with a good prospect Of
securing unanimity IN some plan for removing
or mitigating those evils. The constitution
would permit the selection of the commission
70 be vested in the supreme court. If that meth 1
% would give the best guarantee Of impartial
tty.
While the policies of the general government
upon Tue tATlH. merchant marine and other i
matters OF general concern are liable 10 be
turned this way or that by the results OF con
gresaonal elections, and administrative poll
Giles, sometimes involving issues that tend to
peace or war. To be turned this way or that by
the results ~ presidential election. there Ia 4
yightfui interest IN all the states that win not
De silsnced By the audacious pretense that the
question IL matter only of local concern or
sSontrol.
We must not entertain the ielusion that our
people have ceased to regard q free ballot and
equal representation ~ the price OF their ale
glance To laws and IN civil magistrates.
have been greatly Fei0iced to notice many
evidences OF thn ncn-ssesd nnifcatiOn OF our
people and of q revived national spirit. Graft
ncat1on and ainazcmeni struggle for supreme
cy - we contemplate tiIA population, wealth
and moral strength II our country A trust.
momentonN III influence upon our people
and upon atla, is for 4 brief time com
mlttea = ~ we must not be faithless TO
rs MS g9se A4A tar defense Of the free and
eqnal Influence IN the people In tile choice OF
pubic 1n4cers and ii the control OF public
afitirs BENJAMIN HARRISON.
ExefiiiFe Mansion. Dec. .. 1891.