Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1892-09-08

ton would permit the election OF
the commission to be invested in
tie Supreme Court, if that method
would give the best guaranty OF
impartiality. This commission
should be charged with the duty OF
inquirirg into the whole subject
of the law of elections as related
to choice of officers of the National
Government, with the view to Sc
curing to every elector free and
uninolested exercise of suffrage,
and as near an approach to equal.
ity OF value in each ballot cast as
is attainable. The demand that
the limitation of suffrage shall be
found in the law, and only there,
is a Just demand and no just man
should resent or resist it. 1t seems
to me the appeal to our people to
consider the question OF readJust-
ing our legislation upon absolutely
fair, non-partisan lines might find
some effective response. Many
times / have had occasion to cay
that loose election methods, de-
signed to give unfair advantage to
the party making them, would
sometimes be used to perpetuate in
power a faction of a party against
the will of the majority of the peo'
pie. Ofthis we seem to have illus
tration in the recent State election
in Alabama. There was no Re-
publican ticket in the field; the
contest was between white Demo
Gratis. The Kolb party say they
were refused representation guar
anteed by law upon the election
board, and that when the courts,
by mandamus, attempted to right
this wrong, an appeal that could
not be heard until after the elec~
ton made the writs Intellectual.
Ballot boxes were thrown out for
alleged Irregularities or destroyed,
and it is asserted on behalf of one
half at least OF the white voters of
Alabama, that officers to whom
certificates have been given were
not honestly elected. There is no
security for personal or political
rights of any man ina community
where any other man is deprived of
his personal or political rights.
The power of States over the ques.
ton of qualification of electors is
ample to protect them against the
danger of ignorant suffrage, and
the demand that every man found
to be qualified under the law shall
be made secure in the right to cast
a free ballot and to haye that ball
lot honestly counted, cannot be
abated. Our old Republican bat
tie cry, "Free ballot and a fair
count" comes back to US, not only
from Alabama, but from many
other States, and from men who
differ With us widely in opinion,
who have come to see that parties
and political debate arc but
mockery, if, when debate is ended,
the Judgment Of honest majorities
is to be reversed by ballot box
frauds and tally sheet manipula
tors in the interest of a party or
party faction in power.
These new political movements
in the country, and the recent de-
cision ofeome State Court against
unfair apportionment laws, en-
courage the hope that arbitrary
and partisan election laws and
practices which have prevailed,
may be corrected by State laws,
made equal and non-partisan, and
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 cleo
ton. Ishall again urge upon Con-
gress that provision be made for
the appointment of a nonepartisan
commission to consider the subject
of appointments and elections in
their relation to the choice of Fed
eral officers.
THE TARIFF.
The declaration of the platform
favor Of "The American doctrine
OF protection" meets my most
hearty approval. The Convention
did not adopt a schedule, but a
principle, that is to control all
tariff schedules. There may be
differences of opinion among pros
tectionists as to the rate upon
particular articles necessary to
effect an equalization between
wages abroad and at home. In some
not remote national campaigns the
issue has been, or, more correctly,
has been made to- appear to be, be-
tween a high and a low tariff
both parties expressing the same
solicitous regard for the wages of
working people and for the pross
perity Of our domestic industries.
But, under more courageous lead
ership, the Democratic party has
now practically declared that if
given power it will enact a tariff
law without any regard to its effect
upon wages or upon capital invest
ed in our great industries. The
majority report of the Committee