Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1892-09-16


| IN many thousands of American men
and women, and will each year give en-
! pioyment 70 increasing THOUSANDS Its
repeal would throw thousands out OF
employment and give WORK 70 others
! only at reduced wages. regret that all
! employers Of labor are not just and con-
| siderate and that capital sometimes takes
/ too large a share OF the profits. But | do
! not see that thes7 evils will be amelIorated
| bv a tariff pocy. the first necessary effect
| OF which is severe wage cut, and the second
| d lar ke dininution Of the aggregate amount
of work to be done in this country.
''No INTELLIGENT advocate OF a protec-
tive tariff claims that it is able, o:
wages, without regard to fluctuations in
the supply OF AMI demand for the
products of labor But it is confidently
claimed that protective duties strongly tend
to hold up wages, and are the only barrier
against a reduction to the European scala"
In regard to the Federal Election bill Mr..
Harrison says: In my last annual message
to Congress / said:
We must yet entertain the hope that it is
possible to secure calm. patriotic consider
alton OF such Constitutional or statutory
changes as may be necessary to secure the
choice of the officers of the Government to
the people by fair apDOrtiOnmen and
, free elections | believe it would
be possible to constitute a COM
mission, non-partisan in its men,
|
impartial men, to whom a consideration of
the questions of the evils connected with our
election systems and methods might be com
mitted with goot prospect Of securing
unanimlty in some plan for removing or
mitigating those evils.
The Constitution would permit the saIeo
ton o. the commission to be vested in the
Supreme Court if that method would give
the best guaranty of impartiality. This COM
mission should be charged with the duty of
1DEJ lI~IFN
of elections as related to the choice OF officers
of the National Government, with a view
to securing to every elecoOr a free and IN
molested exercise OF the suffrage and as near
an approach to an equality of va ue in each
ballot cast as is attainable. j. The
demand that the limitations OF suffrage
shall be foVnl in thu law, and only there,
is just demand, and no just man should re-
sent or resist it.
1t seems to me- that appeal to our peo-
pie to consider the question of readjusting
our legislation upon absolutely fair nonpar-
tlsan lines might find soma effective re-
spouse. Many times have had occasion to
say that laws ami election methods designed
to give unfair advantages to the parCv max
ing them would some time be used to per-
petuate in power faction OF party against
the will of a majority o. the people.
Or this we seem to have an illustration in
the recent State election in Alabama. There
was no Republican ticket in tho field. The
contest was between white Democrats. The
Kolb party say they were refused the repre-
SentatiOn guaranteed by law Don the cleo.
ton boards and that when the courts by
mandamus attempted to rig hit this wrong, an
appeal that could not BE- heard until after
election made the wrlts inef 4ctual. Ballot
boxes were thrown out for alleged lrregu-
larties or destroyed, and it is asserted Oh
behalf OF one-half, at least, of the white
voters of Alabama that the officers to whom
certificates have been given were not
honestly elected.
There is no security for the personal or po-
litical rights OF any man in community
where any other man is deprive of his per"
sonal or political rights. The power of the
States over the question of the qualification
of electors is ample to protect them against
the dangers of an ignorant or depraved SUIT
frage and the demand that every man found
to be qualified under the law shall be made
secure in the rights to cast a free ballot ana
to have that ballot honestly counted cannot
be abated.
Our old Republican battle-cry, IA free
ballot and a 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 poIiit-
when the debate is ende1, the Judgment Of
honest majorities is to be reversed by ballot
box frauds aud tally-sheet manipulations in
the interest Of the party or party faction in
power.
These new political movements in the
States and the recent decisions of soma OF
the State courts against unfair appOrtion-
ment laws, encourage the hope that the
arbitrary AMI partisan election laws AMI
practices which have prevailed may be cor
rected by the States the laws made equal
and non PARTISAN, an the elections free and
honest
The Republican Party would rejoice at
such a solution, as healthy and patriotic
local sentiment is the best assurance OF free
and honest elections.
l shall again urge upon Congress that
provision be made for the appointment of a
non-partsau commission to consider the
subject of appointments and elections, in
their relation to the choice Of Federal otti-
GERS.
In conclusion the President remarks: at
is not possible tor me to refer even in the
briefest way, to many of the topics presented
in the resolutions adopted by the convention.
Upon all that have not been discussed L have
before publicly expire 5sed my views.
"A change in the personnel of a National
administration is OF comparatively little
moment. If those exercising public fuuc-
tions are able, honest, dligent and faithful,
others possessing all these qualities
But the changes in the laws and
in administrative policies are of great
moment. When puolic affairs have been
given direction and business has adjusted
itself to those lines. any sudden change in
wolves Il stoppage and new business adjust
ments. If the change Of direction is 50 rad
ical as to bring the commercial turn table
into use the business changes involved are
not readjustments, but reconstructions.
che Democratic Party offers a pro-
gramme of demolition. The protective
policy-to VIII Oh ali business even tlat Of
the importer, is now adjus5ed-the reciproc-
ity policy, the new merchant marine, are all
to be demolished, not gradually, not taken