The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1891-12-16

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These gerrymanders for Congressional pur-
poses are in most cases buttresssd by a gerry
mnnder Of the Legislative districts, thus max
ing il impossible for a mSi1rity Of the legal
voters OF the State 70 correct the t.,J,pCrtion-
ment and equalizs the Congressional dis
tricts. A minority rule is established that
only d political convulsion can overthrow.
have recently been advised that in one county
of certain State three districts for the cleo
ton of members OF the Legislature are con-
stituted as follows: One has 65, 0JJ popula-
ton; one, Is, 900, and one, 10000; while ih
another county, detached, noncontiguous
sections have been united 10 make legisla-
tive district.
These methods have already found effective
application TO the choice of Senators and Rep
resentatives in Congress, and now an evil
start has beer ma in the direction of apply
ing them to the choice by the States of cleo
tors of President and Nice-President. IL
this is accomplished, we shall then have the
three great departments Of the Government
in the grasp Of the "gerrymander,' the leg
islative and Executive directly AMI the
Judiciary indirectly through the power Of
appointment.
An election implies a body of electors hav-
ing prescribed qualifications, each one of
whom has an equal value and influence in
determining the result. So when the Con-
stitution provides that leach State shall
appoint teectl, ''iu such manner as the
Legislature thereof may direct, a number Of
electors" etc; an unrestricted power was
not given to the Legislatures in the selection
of the methods to be used. "a Republican
form of Government is guaranteed by the
Constitution to each State, and tile
power given by the same instrument to
the Legislatures of the State to prescribe
methods for the choice by the State, of
electors must be exercised Under that limi-
tation. The essential features of stch a
ora ha iobt Of 40 nannln ffr
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 law pro-
viding that the parsons receiving the small
est vote should be the electors, or a law that
all the electors should be chosen by the
voters of a single Congressional district.
The State is to choose, aud, under the pre-
tense of regulating methods, the Legislature
can neither vest the right Of choice
elsewhere nor adopt methods not con-
formable to Republican, institutions. 1t is
not my purpose here to discuss the question
whether choice by the legislature or by the
voters Of equal single districts is choice by
the State, but only to recommend such reg
ulation of this matter by constitutional
amendment as will secure uniformity and
prevent that disyraceful partisan jugglery
to which such liberty of choice, il it exists
offers temptation.
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 Off
GERS of the National Government, whether
that suffrage is applied directly as in the
choice of Members of the House OF Represen-
tatives, or indirectly, as in the choice OF
Senators and electors Of President. Re
spect for public officers aud obedience
to law will not cease TO be the char
acteristics of our people until our elections
cease lu tit,,;c thc -Till Of ma iorities fairly
ascertained, without fraud, suppression or
gerrymander II 1 were called upon to de
clare wherein our chief National danger lies,
! should say, without hesitation, in the over
throw Of majority control by the suppression
of perversion of the popular suffrage. That
there is a real danger mere all must agree,
but the energies of those who see it have
been chiefly expended in trying to fix re-
sponsibility upon the opposite party, rather
than in efforts to make such praatices inn
possible by either party.
Is il not possible how to adjourn that in-
termnable and inconclusive 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 influence in the selection OF electors OF
President and members of CongressY All the
States have acting freely and separately, de-
eral ticket is the wissst AMI safest method,
and it would seem there could be no objec-
tion to n constitutional amendment making
that method permanent. IL a legislature
chosen in one year upon purely local ques-
tions should, pending the Presidential con-
test meet, rescnd the law for a choice upon
a general ticket, and provi for the choice
of electors by the Legislature, aud this trlck
should determine the result, it is not too
much to say that the public peace might be
seriously and widely endangered.
Ibave alluded to the "gerrymanler' as af-
fecting the method of selecting electors OF
President by Congressional districts, nut the
primary intent and effect OF this form OF polti.
cal robbery have relation 70 the selection OF
members of the House of Representative The
power of Congress is ample TO deal with this
threatening and intolerable abuse, The un'
failing test of sincerity in election reform VIII
be found in willingness to confer as to rem
edes and TO put into force such measures as
/ will 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. IL is important
| to know whether the opposition 70 such
| measures is really rested in particular tea
| lures supposed to be Objectionable ortncludes
! any proposition to give 10 the election laws
| of the United states adequacy 20 tho cQrrec,
/ ton of grave and acknowledged evils.
! must yet entertain the hope that IL IS possl
/ BILE 10 secure calm patriotic consideration
of such constitutional or statutory change,
rs may be necessary to secure the choice OF
/ the officers of the Government TO the people
10y fair apportiOnments and free elections.
! / believe it would be possible 20 constitute
/ a commission, nOu-pnrtisan IN its member
/ ship. aud composed of patriotic, wise ana Inn
! partial men, 10 whom consideration OK tut
! question OF the evils connected wlth oul
! election system and methods might be com
| mtted with good prospect OF securing unan
! unity in some plan for removing or mitlgat
| ing those evils The Constitution would per
/ Ia Rf hn
| vested in the supreme Court, IL that method
| would be the best guaranty Of imparuaity
This commission should be charged with INT
| duty OF inquiring into the whole subject OF ln'
| law of elections as related % the choice of OH
! GERS OF the National Government, with view
| 70 securing 10 every electpr a lfte ana uulho
Tested exercise OF the suffrage ana rs nelt m mau
approach % an equality OF value ln cach pallol
cast as Is attainable.
While the politics or the General Govern
meut upon the tariu, upon the restoration ol
our merchant srine, upon river aud harbol
| improvements, and other such matters ol
| grave and general concern are liable 70 b'
turned this way or that by the results OF con
| gressiOnal elections ana administrative Poll
cies, sometimes involving issues that tend "a
peace or war, to be turned this way or lhat bl
the results of a Presidential eleeluh' theie u
a rightful interest I'm all the states ana u
! every Congressional district that viii not u'
/ deceived or sileuccd by the auidciuus prelens'
that the question of the right Of any BODY %
legal voters u any State or i'm uuy OonsrCs
| siOual district 90 give their suhrages treell
upon these general questions i matter onll
of local concern or control, Ine demand INA
the limitations of suffrage shall be found II
| the law, ana only there, is a Just uemlud, anl
no Just man shall resent or resist IT, MY ap
peal Is, and must continue 90 De, Tor consul
| tatiOu that shall proceed with candor, calm
/ ness and patience upon the lines OF justlci
and humanity not OF prejudice and cruelty
To the consideration of these very graV
questions 1 invite not only the attention o
/ Congress, but that of all patriotic citizens
We must not entertain the deluston that on