Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-03-27

pass the Senate IL more uncertain. IL may.
There are nine Democratic senator's weo
will vote against II. but that u not enough
| It will require two more. These two are un;
certain. In other words, ar. MI ano
| Mr.. German vote for the bill It viii pass;
| il they vote against II, IT Will ihii. Inere'
that is what 1t comes to-"
And n IL masses IL cannot become n law.
! II will only give Mr. Harrison chance 70
, veto 1T. Mr.. Harrison. Will. beyond All
question, be the Republican nominee for
the presidency, and his veto VIII make MIN
capital In the eastern States.
$50 what could be more useless, more
damaging to the Democratic perry than to
force the issue upon that question nowy
Tho silver men will gain nothing, tor their
bill will not become a law. The only re-
suit will be heavy damage TO the Democ-
racy. There are at least hundred Demo
Gratis in the House who feel as do about
this: many who not only are opposed 20
free silver coinage per Sc. but are opposn
20 the discussion of tho question at this
unfortunate time; who would have IT put
over until the tariff, which is the real over
shadowing issue. is disposed or aud vet
these same members Will vote tor the
Bland bill because they 80 pledged TO their
constituencies.
THE GREAT ISSUE.
AS to the tariff, that is the great issue
on which 10 make the fight, II il before
the people. Why not 60 on with IL and put
the silver question behind 1t. to be con-
sidered at the proper time ana IN us
order? My views on the tarlh l have ire
ouently expressed. Theoretically am
free trader but of course We cannot now
have free trade in the United States. we
| have got TO raise q revenue from some
source To carry on the government.
We have got TO raise portion OF III
from tariff. Beyond what was necessary
for this purpose | would not have tne
tariff 90. OF course II tarih, no matter
| how small Is put upon any article manu-
| factured i'm this country, 10 just that ex-
tent the manufacturer Is protected. ina,
| il inevitable. unavoidable. But l would
| not have that question of protection, rs
protection, enter IN any wav whatever INTO
The regulation of the tarih L wouin oe
glad, of course, TO see a state OF auaiis
where there was no necessary ioI
tariff. where there would be absolutely
FREQ trade. For the same reason would
be clad TO see the time when no taxation
of apy kind was required for the purpose
of carving on the government. 10 "o.lu
be good thing, | suppose, II sucn weio
the case. But 1t is not. There must oe
revenue for the government, anu POI
ton of that revenue must come iroIn
tariff. but would not have the tarlH go
penny beyond what that revenue de-
manded.
THE BALLOT.
"On the subject of the ballot laws GER
tainly regard il as unfortunate that any
laws should be necessary TO preserve the
puritv of the ballot. | regret that IL
should be necessary for the voter TO pre-
pare and cast his ballot IN secret IN oruer
10 be protected from undue influences.
Now. in Kentucky we have adopted new
| A
modified form of the Australian ballot
system. Just what are the full details
| do not know. We have never yet had
an election under it. Heretofore we have
ALWAYS cast Crd-rOce vote. man went
TO the polls and was called by name ana
asked for whom he voted. de named tne
person and the vote was so recorded'
Sometimes, for convenience SAKE; Wnielee
there were number of offices TO De niied
and a great many persons to be voted Tor.
their names were printed on q slip or
paper. Then John Doe or Richard hoe
walked up to the polls, handed IN the list
and said | vote that ticket Ihen
the name of the voter and the candi-
dates he voted for were read OIL by the
clerk and recorded. In that way all cleo
tons in Kentucky were conducted, WIN
the single exception OF those Tor congress
men. The congressman were voted Tor Uy
ballot. approve OF the Australian sys-
TEN. or some modified form of it, only l
would have 1t as simple and free from com:
plication as possible. so that the man OF
plain understanding would have no diii-
Guilty in grasplng 1t.
II regard as very lamentable thing the
centralizng tendency of later years IN our
government. Why, at one time to be Gov
ernor of q State was greater honor than
to be a United States senator, and men
would resign from the Senate to accept the
governorship. Now all tends toward
Washington. Washington IL the great
central place of powers and of honors. THIS
sinking of the Importance of the state
officers and the abandonment OF direct
management by the people Of their affairs
is not an encouraging thing. l am very,
very sorry to see it"