Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1892-09-16
Mr.. HARRLSONS LETTER.

Minneapolis convention rises to
the dignity ola state paper. 1t
is, in fact, a message from the
Chief Executive, not to Congress,
recommending acts Of legislation,
but to the American people, CIV
ing the reasons why they shall
continue to support the economic
policy Of the Republican party.
1t is a summary Of the results OF
that policy for the past four
years as ithas effected thenatlon,
and Of the highest Importance
because of its truth. Though 1t
is long, no one who reads its
5000 words carefully can fail to
be impressed with the thorough
ness and completeness of its pre-
scntation Of the matters in issue
before the American people, and
the magnificent showingitmakes
of progress in the right direction
under the Republican rule.
Nor is it less important when
viewed solely in its political as
poets. 1t is a most powerful pre-
scntation Of the Republican side
of the political controversy, but
trcssed by an array OF facts,
whose truth can not be denied
and whose pcrtinence to the issue
cannot be ignored. Protection
and reciprocity are fully dis
cussed, and points advanced i'll
support of both are plainly and
succinctly given. The doctrinaires
of the Golden club school can
not theories them away, nor
answer the solid facts on which
they are based.
In view of the desperate efforts
of a certain class of Democrats
to ignore the tariff issue by get
ting up scare ovcrthe so-called
"force BILL" the portion of Mr..
Harrison's letter referring to this
subject is of much Importance
1t takes the wind completely out
of the sails of those who are try.
ing to make this an issue. He
suggests no law for federal sup,
crvision Of elections. Instead
he proposes a non-partisan
commission to consider what
changes, constitutional orstatu
tory, are needed to prevent The
admitted evils of gerrymanders
and of unfair election laws. He
reminds the people that each state
has ample power over the quail
ficationS Of voters, and is able tC
protect itself against the dan
gers Of all ignorant or deprived
suffrage He finds i'll a healthy
and patriotic local sentiment thu
best assurance of free and homes
elections.
Mr.. Harrison knows that NJ
effort will be made to pass bill
to put elections under control o
federal supervisors, or "bayOnet
at the polls" as the Democrat
alarmists put it. The failure G
the Lodge bill two years ago, b.
Republican votes, shows that n
such measure can be seriousl
contemplated. No force" is t
be used; but the President ar
peals to the patriotism and hor
esty of the people to the end tina
each state may, if there is neec
enact its own laws to rcstriC
suffrage so as to exclude theig nC
rant and depraved, and the
have absolutely honest elections
SO goes down forever the bog
of the "force BILL" and none bu
the ignorant and foolish can J.
hereafter deceived by the cry.
The money question is treate
briefly but cxhaustively, and a
minor topics entering into IL
campaign received due attention
1t is wonderful that, that in
document of moderate compass
so complete and exhaustive
discussion of the political situi
ton could be given. Mr.. Harr
son long ago won the distinctio
of always saying the right thin