The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1891-12-18

NUMBER OF electors" etc an un-
restricted power was not given to the legis-
latures In the selection of methods to be
used republican form of government Is
guaranteed by the constitution to each state,
and the power given by the same instru-
ment 20 the Legislatures of the states to pre-
scribe methods for the choice by the state,
OF electors must be exercised under that
limitation Tho essential features of such a
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.
1t will not be claimed that the power given
to the Legislature would support a law pro-
viding that the persons receiving the small
est vote should be the electors of law that
all electors should be chosen by the voters
of single COZ gressional district, and
under the pretense of regulating methods
the legislature can neither vest the
right of chooe elsewhere nor adopt
methods not conformable 70 republic IN
Institutions. it Is not my purpose here
to discuss the question whether q
choice by the legislature or by the
voters OF equal single districts Is
a choice by the state, but only to recon-
mend such regulation of this matter by con-
stitutional amendment as will secure uni
formitv and prevent that disgracefuI par
tisan jugglery to which such liberty of
Nothing just now is more important than to
provide every guaranty for the absolutely
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 directly as in the
choice Of members of the house of rep
resentatives. or Indirectly as In the choice
of senators and electors of president Re-
spect for pnblic officers and obedience to
law will not cease TO bo the characteristics
of our people until our elections cease to
declare the will of majorities fairly ascer-
tanned. without fraud suppression or gerry
mander. II / were called upon to declare
wherein our chief national danger lies
should say, without hesitation, in the over
throw of majority control by the suppress
sion or perversion of the popular suffrage.
That there IL a real dancer here all must
agree. But the energies of those who se-s it
have been chieflf 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 In
terminabie and Inconclusive debate whi @
we take, bv consent one step in the direc-
tion OF reform by eliminating the grrrvman-
der with has been denounced by all parties
as an il :. Ience in the election of electors of
president and members of congress?
All the states have. acting freely and sep
arately, determined that the choice of elect
ors by general ticket Is the wisest
and safest method, an1 1t would seem
there coul b. no objection to q constitu-
tional amendment making that method
permanent. IL a legislature chosen in one
year up,n purely local questions should,
pending presi silentiaI contest, meet, Re-
scind the law for n choice upon a gener al
ticket and provide for tn choice of elect
ors 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 endangered.
have alluded to the "gerrymander'' as
affecting the method of selecting electors Of
president by congressional districts, but the
primary intent and effect of this form OF
political robbery have relation to tho selsc-
tion OF members of the house of represen-
tativss. The power of co lgr-ss is ample to
deal with this threpteniug and intolerable
abuse. The unfahlIg test of sincerity in
election reform will be found in "A wiling
ness to confer "a to remedies and to put into
force such IN easures as will most effectuilly
preserve the right of the p ople to free and
equal representation.
An attempt was made in last congress to
bring to bear the constitutional power Of
the general government for the correction
of frauds ag nst the suffrage. 1t is impor-
tant to know whether the opposition to such
measures Is really vested in particular
featur, supposed to be Objectionable or in =
cludes any proposition to give TO tine ele'-
tIon laws of the United states adequIcv to
the correction of grave and acEnOwledged
evils Unjust yet entertain the hop that it
Is possible to secure a calm. patriotic con-
sideration OF such constitutional or statu-
tory chang = as MAJ be necessary to secure
the choice of the officers of the government
to the people by fair apportionment and
free elections.
believe it would be pos sib!e to constitute
a commission. non partisan in its member
ship and composed of patriotic, wise and
impartial men, t. whom n con liberation OF
the question of the evils connected W tn our
election system and methods might be COM
mitted with a good prospect of securing I'M
animity in some pan for removing or mit-
gatn those evils. The constitution would
permit the selection of the commission to
be vested in the supreme court If that method
would give the best guaranty OF impartial
ity.
This commission should be charged with
the duty of looking into the subj ct of the
law of elections as RELAXED to the choice of
officers OF the national government with a
view to securing to every elsctnr free and
unmolested exercise of the suffrage ami as
near an approach to an equality of value in
e Ich ballot east as Is at.ainable
While the policies OF the gener Il govern
ment upon the tariff. upon the restoration
OF our merchant marine, upon the river and
harbor improven -nt5 and other such mat
ters of grave and z neral concern are liable
to be turned this way or that by the results
of congressional elections and administra-
tive policies, sometimes involving issues
that tend to peace or war, to be turned this
way or that By the results OF a presi-
Dental election, there Is "a rightful interest
| IN all the states and in every congressional
district that will not be deceived or silenced
/ bv the audaciOus pretense that the question
| of any body Of legal voters in any state or in
| any congresSion Il district to give their suf-
frages ire-ly upon these general questions is
| a matt only of local concern or control.
| The demand that the limitations of suffrage
| shlIl be found in the law. and only there, fs
/ a lust demand AMI no Just man should re-
sent or resist it Ny appeal is. and must
| continue to be, for a consultation that shall
proceed with candor. calmaess and pa
| tience upon the lines of justice and human
| ity not by preju lice and cruelty"
| To the consideration of these very grave
questions invite not only the attention OF
| congress, but that of all patriotic citizens
| We must not entertain the delus on that our
| people have ceased to regard free ballot
| and equal representation as the price oi
their allegiance TO laws and to civil mass
| trates.
| L nave Deen AcJOASCd " hOtiSe
| many evidences of the increased unification
| of our people and of revived national
spirit The vista that now opens to US Is
wider and more glorious than ever before
/ Qualification and amazement struggle for
supremacy as we contemplate the popula'
i tion, wealth and moral strength of our coun'
try. A trust, momentous in its influence
upon our people and upon the world Is FOL
| n brief time committed to Us and We mus
not be faithless to its first condition-the
/ defense of the free and equal inruence oi
the people in the choice Of public officers
and in the control Of public affairs
| BENJAMIN HARRISON.
] Executive Mansion, Dec. 8. ts9l