Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1892-09-13


of wheat or a barrel OF pork"
He still clings to the force bill
but his great desire for reelection
has led him TO tone down his ex-
pressions a little. He says
"In my last annual message TO con
gross I said: i must yet hope that it is
possible TO ecure a calm, patriotic con
sideration Of such constitutional or stat
utory changes as may be necessary az 10
secure the choice OF officers Of the gov
eminent to the people by fair apportion-
ments and free elections. I believe it
will be possible to constitute q commits
sion, o PARTISAN in it's membership and
composed Of patriotic, wiBe and impartial
men to whom a consideration Of the
questions Of the evils OF our election sys-
tens and methods might be committed
with a good prospect Of securing unanim-
ity in some plan for removing or mitigat-
ing those evils. The commission to be
vested in the supreme court, and that
method would give guaranty OF Impair
TALLY.
This commission could be charged
with the duty Of inquiring into the whole
subject Of the law OF elections as related
to the choice Of officers Of the national
government, with a view TO securing to
every elector a free and unmolested exer-
else Of the suffrage, and as neal an ap-
prOach to an equality of value in each
ballot cast as is attainable. = The
demand that limitation Of suffrage shall
be found in law, and only there, is a
just demand, and no Just man should
resent or resist It.
1t seemed to me that an appeal to our
people to consider the question of read-
iusting our legislation upon absolutely
non-partisian limit might give some eff
fective response. Many times / have
had occasion to say that the laws and
methods, designed TO give unfair advan-
tage to party, would sometime be used
TO perpotuate a powerful faction or party
against the will OF the majority Of the
people. or this we seem to have an IL
Illustration in the recent state election in
Alabama. There was no republican
ticket in the field. The contest was be-
tween white democrats. The Kolb party
say they were refused the representation
guaranteed by law upon the election
boards, and that when the courts by
manadamus attempted to right this
wrong, an appeal that could not be
heard until after election made the
writs Intellectual. Ballot boxes were
thrown out for alleged Irregularities or
destroyed, and it is asserted on behalf
of one at least OF the white voters Of Al
ALBANIA that the officers to whom certif-
Gates have been given were not honestly
elected.
There is no security for personal poht-
zeal rights. The power of the states over
the question Of the qualifications of
electors is ample to protect them against
the dangers of an ignorant or deprayed
ElAAl NisCg anu VIC AAclllAiAu llluh GNGlN man
found to be qualified under the law shall
be made secure in the right to cast a
free ballot and to have that ballot hon
estly counted, cannot be abated. Our
old republican battle cry, "a free ballot
and fair count" comes back to us not
only from Alabama, but from other
states and from men who, differing with
us widely in opinions, have come to see
that parties and political debate are
but a mockery for, when the debate is
ended, judgment Of honest meiorities is
TO be reversed by ballot box frauds and
tally sheet manipulation in the interest
Of the party or party faction in power.
These new political movements IN the
states and the recent decisions of some
Of the state courts against unfair appor-
tionment laws, encourage the hopo that
the arbitrary partisan election laws and
practices which have prevailed may be
corrected by the states, the law made
equal and non-partIsan andthe elections
free and honest. The republican party
would rejoice at such a solution, as a
healthy and patriotic local sentiment is
the best assurance of free and honest
elections. l shall again urge upon con
gress that provision be made for the APP
pointment OF non partisan commission to
consider the subject of apportionments
aud elections in their relation to the
choice Of federal officers"
The Presidents letter will be
IN excellent democratic campaign
document. His views on the sill
yer question will unity the repub-
licans in the silver producing
states in opposition to him and
his views on the force bill viii
solidfy the south in tho support
of the democratic ticket. Protec.
tionists in the East will read his
declaration in regard to the tariff
and reciprocity with strange fore.
bodings Of impending disaster anC
keep a firm grip on their pocket
books when solicited to subscrib,
to the republican campaign fund
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