Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1891-12-18

district, the voters to choose anu unu .'s
| LEGISLATURE can neither vest the rlRht OF
choice elsewhere nor adopt methods not
conformable to republican institutions. IL
is not nv purpose here to discuss the ques-
ton whether a choice by the Legislature OF
nv the voters of equal single districts ID
n cho;ce bv the state but only to recon-
mend such regulation of this matter py
constitutional amendment as Will secure
uniformity and prevent that disgracetul
partisan iugglery to which such liberty
of choice, if it exists offers temptation
Nothing just now is more impo POI ian . .n
lutelv fair and free choice by an equal
suffrage within the respective states OF all
the officers of the national government,
whether that suffrage is applied dlrectly,
as in the choice of members OF the mousse
of representatives, or indirectly as III the
| choice of senators ana presAaen'iaA
! electors
Respect for public officers and obedience
| to law will not cease to be the character
istic of our people until our electlons cease
to declare the will of majorities fairly as
certained, without fraud, suppression or
gerrymandering.
If | were called upon to declare wherein
our chief national danger lies l should
saw, without hesitation. in the overtime"
of majority control by the suppression, or
perversion of the popular suffrage; mat
! there is a real danger here all must
agree. But the energies of those
who see it have been chiefly eX-
pended in trying to fix the responsible
ity upon the opposite party, rather imam III
efforts to make such practices lmpossioie
by either party. Is it not possible to
adjourn that interminablc and inconclu-
sive debate while we take by consent one
step in the direction of reform by climln-
ating the gerrymandcr, which has been
denounced by all parties, as an lnflu-
ence in the election of presidential cleo
tors and members of congress-! All the
states have, acting freely and separately,
electors by general ticket
is the wisest and safest method, and
there could be no objection to constitu-
tional amendment, making that method
permanent
have alluded to the gerrymander as
affecting the method of selecting electors
of the president by congressional districts,
but the primary intent and effect of this
form of political robbery have relation to
the selection of members of the house OF
representatives. The power of congress is
ample to deal with this threatening and
! intolerable abuse. The unfailing test OF
sincerity in election reform, will be found
in willingness to confer as to remedies
and to put in force such measures as VIII
most etfectually preserve the right OF the
people to free and equal representation.
An attempt was made in the
last congress to bring to bear
the constitutional powers of the
general government for the correction
of frauds against the suffrage. 1t is i'm
portant to know whether the opposition to
such measures is really vested in particu-
lar features supposed to be Objectionable
or includes any proposition to give to the
election laws of the United States ade-
quate power for the correction of grave
and acknowledged evils. | must yet en-
tcrtain the hope that it is possible to Sc
cure n calm, patriotic consideration of
such constitutional or statutory changes
as may be necessary to secure the choice
of the officers of the government to the
people, by fair apPortio,nm1ient and ID
would be possible to constitute commits
sion, non partisan in its membership, and
composed of patriotic, wise and impartial
men to whom Il consideration of the ques-
ton of the evils connected with our cleo
ton system and methods might be com
mitted with 4 good prospect of securing
unanmity in some plan for removing OF
mitigating those evils. The constitution
would permit the selection of the commits
sion to be vested in the supreme court, il
that method would give the best guaranty
of impartality. This commission should
be charged with the duty of inquirlng
|
the choice of officers of the national gov.
: eminent, with Il view OF securing to every
clcctor free and unmolcsted exercise OF
the suffrage and as near an approach &c
equality Of value in each ballot cast as is
tainable.
: While the policies of the general gov
eminent upon the tariff upon the reStora
: ton of our merchant marine, upon the
river and harbor improvements, ant
other such matters of grave and genera
concern, are liable to be turned this wa.
/ or that by the results of congressiona
, elections and administrative policies
sometimes involving issues that tend t.
pence or war, TO be turned this way
OF shat by thu results of presidential
election, there is I, lawful interest in all o
the states, and in every congressional dis
L trict that will not be deceived or silencet
I by the ;udacious pretcnse that Il question
OF the right of any body of legal voters il
c any state or in any congressional distric
: to give its suffrage freely upon these gen
e eral questions is Il matter only of loca
+, concern or control. The demand that tn,
G limitations of suffrage shall be found i,
\ the law, and only there, is just demand
y My appeal is. and must continue to be
e for Il consultation that shall proceed witt
8 candor. calmness and patience upon tn
/ lines of justice and humanity"
n To the consideration of these very grav
g questions | invite not only the attention O
/ congress. but that OF all patriotic citizens
$ We must not entertain the delusion tina
Il our people have caused to regard Il FIRE
S ballot and equal representation as tn
Il price of their allegiance to laws and I
:" civil magistrates. L have been greatly re
Q joiccd to notice many evidences of the in
G creased unitication of our people and @
l. n revived national spirit. The vista tina
$ now opens to us is wider and more gloriou
T. than ever before. Qualification an
! anlazement struggle for supremacy as w
II contemplate the population, wealth an
u ! strength of country. A trust, mo
q mentous in its influence upon our peopl
q and upon the world. is for brief tin,
a committed to us and we must not be faitl
less to its first condition-the defense
e the free and the equal influence of tn
IS people in the choice of public officers an
5 i'll the control of public affairs.
70 BENJAMIN HARRISON.
! Executive Mansion, December9, 1891.
." Not Writer,' Crann.