Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1892-12-10
and niagnifcence that will worthily sustain
the honor of the United States

the honor OF the United States
PROTECTION FOR HALLWAY EMPLOYEES
In renewing the Recommendation which
! have made in TIRES precsiing au-
nual messages that Congress should
iegislate for the protection Of railroad
employees against the dangers incident to
the old and inadequsts methods Of brak-
ing and coupling which are still in use
upon freight trans, l do so with the hope
that this Congress may take action upon
the subject, Statistics furnished by the Iu-
terstate Commerce Commission show that
during the year ending June 80 1891, there
were Al different styles of car couplers re-
portei to be in use, AMI that during the same
period there were $3.50 emp Dyes Killed an
20, IA injured. Nearly l6 per cent. of the
deaths occurred in the coupling aud uncoup-
ling of cars. and over So per cent Of the in
juries had tie same origin,
ELECTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS.
Ibave, in each of tue three annual mes
sages which it has bssn 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 choics
OF officers OF the National Government. In
my last annual MESSAGE | endeavored to Ia
woke seroui att sntiou TO the evils OF unfair
appointments for Congress. cannot closs
this mess lge without again calling attention
to these grave and threatening evils. l bad
hoped that it was possible to secure q non
partisan inquiry, by means o, commission,
into evi the existence of watch is known Co
all, and that out OF this might grow legisla.
ton from which all tn ou yht Of partisan ad-
vantage should be eliminated and only the
higher thought appear of maintaining the
freedom and purity of the blllot aud the
equality of the elector, without toe guaranty
OF which the Government could never have
4 ,,,A NJ
which it cannot continue to exist IN peacs
and prosperity.
1t is time that mutual chargas of unfair
ness and frau | between the great parties
should cease, ami that the sincerity OF those
who profess a desire for pure and honest
elections should be brought to the test OF
their willingness TO fres our legislation and
our election methods from everything that
tends to impair the public conf fence in the
announced result. The nee .ssity for an in
quiry, AMI for legislation by Congress.
upon this subject Is emphasizs1 by the
fact that the tendency of the leZisla-
ton in some States in recent years
has in some important particulars been away
from and not toward free and fair elections
and equal appointments. Il it not time
that we should come together upon the high
plane of patriotism while we devise methods
that shall secure the right of every man
qualified by law to cast fres ballot ami give
TO every such ballot an equal value in choos-
ing our public officers AMI in directing the
policy of the Government
AGAINST LYNCH LAW.
LawIessness 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
been urgei by mo5s for failure to pursue
TOD rt1a nr3S for fha ptrn ianf ant
of crime that the accused havs en-
undue influence over courts and juries.
Such acts ara a reproach to the
community where they occur, AMI 30
far as they can be maze the subject OF
Federal jurisdiction the strongest repressive
legislation is demanded. A pu bic senti-
ment that will sustain the off .ers Of the
law In resisting mobs and in protecting ac-
cused persons In their custody should be pro-
NOTED by every possible means. The o.
fcer who gives his life in the brave 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 promoted by
lawlessuess.
LAST WORDS.
This exhibit Of the work OF the Executive
Departments is submitted TO Congress ami 10
the public In the hope that there will bl
found in 1t a due sense of responsibility an |
an earnest purpose to maintain the national
honor and to promote the happiness and
prosperity OF all our people. AMI this briei
exhibit of the growth and prosperity of the
country will give us a level fro n which 70
note the increase or decadence that new
legislative policies may bring TO US. There
is no reason why the national influence,
power, and prosperity shouli not observe
the same rate of increase that have charac-
terizei the past thirty years. We carry tn
great impulse aud increase of these years
into thu future. There is no reason why in
many lines Of production We shout not sur
pass all other nations as VS. have already
done in some. There are NJ nelr frontier
to our possible development. Retrogressiou
would be crime.
BENJAMIN HARRISON.
Executive Mansion, December 6. 1892.