The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-12-21

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as Congress shall legislate. In my opinion
the whole subject should be taken into
National control and adequate power given
to the Executive to protect our people
against plague invasions. On the 1st
| OF September last approved regula-
tions establishing q twenty-day quaran-
tine for all vessels bringing immigrants
from foreign ports. This order will be con-
tinued in force. Some loss and suffering
have resulted to passengers, but due care
for the homes OF the people justi6es In such
cases the utmost precaution There Is dam
ger that with the coming Of spring cholera
will again appear. and q liberal appropria-
| ton should be made at this session to enable
our quarantine and port officers to exclude
the deadly plague.
I We are peculiarly subject In our great
ports to the spread Of infectious diseases bY
reason Of the fact that unrestricted emigra.
| tion brings to US out OF European cities, in
the overcrowdei steerages Of great steam
ships, a large number Of persons whose
surroundings make them thu easy victims
as well as those affecting the po-
fitical, moral, and industrial interests Of
our country, lead me to renew the sug.
gestion that admission to our country
and to the high privileges Of It's citizenship
should be more restricted and more careful.
We have, think, fright and owe duty to
our own people, and especially to our work.
ing people, not only to keep out the vicious
the ignorant, the evil disturber, the psuper,
and the contract laborer, but to check the
too great aow Of immigration now coming
by further limitations s.
~ WORLDS FAIR PROGRESS. b
The report Of the WorlIs Columbian Ex-
position has not vet been submitted. That,
Of the Board Of Management Of tha Govern
ment exhibit has been received and is here.
with transmitted. The work OF construction,
and Of preparation for the opening Of the
Exposition in May next has progressed most
satisfactorily and upon scale OF ltberality
and magnihcence that will worthily sustain
the honor Of the United States.
PROTECTION FOR RAILWAY Employees.
In renewing the Recommendation which
! have made In three preceding an
uual messages that Congress should
legislate for the protection Of railroad
employees against the dangers incident to
the old and inadequate methods of brak-
ing and coupling which are still in use
upon freight trains, LIDO so with the hope
that this Congress may take action upon
the subject Statistics furnished BY the In.
terstate Commerce Commission, show that
were AZ different styles Of car couplers re-
ported to be in use, and that during the same
period there were 26o0 employees killed and
26, l49 injured. Nearly 10 per cent. Of the
deaths occurred In the coupling and uncoup-
ling OF cars, and over SO per cent of the I'M
juries had the same origin.
ELECTIONS AND APPoRTIoyMENrs.
have in each Of the three annual mes
saees which It has besn my duty to submit
to Congress, called attention to the evils and
dangers connected with our election methods
and practices as they are related to the choice
OF officers Of the National Government. In
nv last annual message endeayored to III
woke serious attention to the evils OF Unfair
apportionments for Congress. cannot close
this message without again calling attenuon
to these grave and threatening evils. l nad
hoped that 1t was possible TO secure q nom
partisan inquiry, by means o. commission,
into evils the existence Of which Is known to
all, and that out Of this might grow legisla-
ton from which ali thought OF partisan adj
vantage should be eliminated and only the
hieher thought appear Of maintaining the
freedom and purity OF the ballot and the
equality Of the elector, without the guaran--
OF which the Government could never La
been formed and without the continuance . .
which it cannot continue to exist IN peac.
and prosperity. 80
It Is time that mutual chsrgss Of Unfair
ness and fraui between the great parties
should. cease, and that the sincerity OF those
who profess desire for pure ana honest
elections should be brought 10 the test OF
their willingness to fres our leglslatlonl ana
onr election methods from everything that
tends TO impair the public confidence In tho
announced result. The cassity for an In
ouiry. and for legislation by Congress.
lpon this subject Is emphasized BY the
fact that the, tendency t.of the lezisla-,
tion In some States In recent years
has in some important par ticulars been away
from and not toward free and fair elections
and equal apportionments. Is it not time
that we should come together upon the high
nlane OF patriotism while we devise methods
that shall secure the right Of eysry man
qualified by law to cast free ballot AMI give
TO every such ballot an equal value In choos'
ing our public officers and IN d1recsing tae
policy of the Government?
AGAINST LYNCH LAW.
Lawlessness is not less such, but more,
where it usurps the functions OF the peace
officer and Of the courts. The frequent
lynching Of colored people accused OF crime
is without the excuse which has sometimes
bean urged by moos for failure 70 pursue
the 8ppOluGe0 netuouS Aoa WAC
of crime, that the accused havs an
undue influence over courts and juries.
Such acts are reproach to the
community where they occur, and 80
far as they can be made the subject OF
Feieral jurisdiction the strongest represslvs
LEGISLATION is demanded. A public senti-
ment That will sustain the officers OF the
law in resisting mobs and in protecting ac-
cused persons in their custody should be pro-
NOTED by every possible means. The Of
ficer who gives his lie in the bravo dis.
charge OF this duty Is worthy OF special
honor. No lesson neeis to be so urgently
impressed upon our people as this that no
worthy end or cause can be promoteo Dy
lawlessness. .-
This exhibit of the work Of the Executive
Departments Is submitted to Congress am 10
the public in the hope that there will be
found in it due sense OF responsibility ana
an earnest purpose to maintain the national
honor and to promote the happiness and
prosperity Of ali our people. And this hriet
exhibit Of the growth and prosperity OF the
country will Give US a level from which to
nota the increase or decadence thai new
legislative policies may bring to us. Inere
is no reason why the national influence,
power. and prosperity should not observe
the same rate Of increase that have charac-
tered the past thirty yeara We carry the
great impulse and increase OF these years
into the future. There is no reason why In
many lines Of production we should not sur
mass all other nations as we have already
done in some. There are no near frontiers
to our possible development. Retrosresslon
'oNN BENJAMIN HARRISON.
Executive Mansion, December 6, 1892.
THE NATIONS NEEDS.