The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1891-02-13

National Guard. The maintenance Of the guard
depends upon the patriotism and enthusiasm of
onr young men, and that has been dampened
by the failure of the State TO make adequate
provision to sustain it. 1t has been the pur
pose to enlist large numbers, the appropriation
from the National Government being limited.
and the reduction in numbers was made with
a view to increased efficiency. The guard now
is in amply efficient condition to
meet any demand the State may make for its
services, but there are not adequate means and
facilities at hand to foster and keep alive
general interest. If the military spirit Is to be
fsstered more adequate appropriation should
be made and the Adjutant- General should be
relieved Of the duties of Private Secretary to
the Governor. He has been forced to subordi-
nate the military interests to his other duties
for lack of time properly to attend to both.
With an Adjutant-G General who give un-
divided attention 10 his duties and an appro-
priation sufficient to cover the expenses of an
annual encampment, efficiency OF the Guard Is
assured.
Our system of election laws have already been
found to be defective in some minor details that
can be easily remedied. That their tendency Is
TO secure fairer and fuller expression of in
telligent popular will is already demonstrated,
and they should be cured of such defects as ex-
ist. L call your honorable bodies attention
particularly to the loose provisions respecting
the exhibition of poll-taX receipts. The law
provides that the judges of election must be
satisfied that the citizen Offering his ballot has
paid his poll tax, and 1t is claimed that in some
counties it has been almost altogether evaded,
the judges accepting all ballots presented, tax
ing it for granted the voter has paid his poll
and taking his presentation of his ballot as an
assertion of that fact, with which they profess
to be satisfied. The law should be amended so
as to provide that the Trustee or Assessor shall
make out full list of all persons who have
paid their polls up to a time stated, say the day
,iaI,r !, lfett al
officers, and providing that no man shall be
permitted to vote who is not thus shown to be
eligible.
A conflict is impending between Federal and
and State authorities in the management of
elections, which, in my opinion, if persisted in,
threatens the stability OF the Republic. l have
no fear but that, whatever the temporary dis
position of this question may be, in the end the
intelligence and patriotism of the people VIII
prevail, and the right of the state to the sole
management of elections be maintained. In
the meantime it behoOves us to perfect our
laws with a view to rigid and exact fairness,
and a full, free and intelligent expression of
the will of the people, and boldly maintain and
execute them fairly and impartlally. thus fore
stalIing any reason for Federal Interference and
stoutly maintaining the sole right of the State
to control this, its own affair.
THE WORLDS EXPOSITION.
The Worlds Columbian Exposition to be held
in the city of Chicago in 1898 viii be the grand
est International and national expedition ever
held on earth. Other States are already begin
ing to prepare for a proper represen taGiOn of
their products and resources, and Tennessee
cannot afford to neglect this opportunity to ad-
yertise herself to the world. Apart from the
patriotic motives that should animate US to
sist in making the occasion memorable and
successful, there viii be opportunity to lay
before the assembled intelligence of the world
such evidences of our wealth and capabilities
as will result largely TO our benefit, and the
amount of effort we exert viii be the measure
of the benefits derived. Il large appropriation
for this purpose viii be money loaned at great
interest. 1 present herewith certain sugges-
tions matured by the commission which will
aid your honorable bodies in perfeCting the
initial work, and a copy of a bill carefully
drawn which has been presented to all the states
to secure uniformity of action. They may
serve to guide your committees if you should
determine to act in the premises.
CHICKAMAUGA PARK.
The United States Government has made
provisions for the establishment of a National
military park at the battlefield of Chickamau-
ga at Chattanooga. Ample appropriations
have been made to establish a park that will
be an ornament to the South and viii preserve
for all time the scene of one OF the most
markabie battles in the annals of war, but the
commissioners have proceeded as far as they
can until the State of Tennessee shall cede to
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