The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1892-09-28

now soon assemble. When rhe result of
the conference is known We shall then be
able, intelligently 10 readiust our financial
Legislation TO any new conditions.
THE GERRYsANDER.
In my last annual message to- congress /
said that l must yet entertain the hope that
II Is possible 60 secure q calm, patriotic
consideration OF such constitutional or
statutory changes as may be necessary to
secure the choice of the officers of the gov
eminent TO the people by fair appOrtiOn-
ments and free elections. / believe that it
would be possible To constitute Il commits
sion, non-partisan in its membership and
composed OF patriotic, wise and Impartial
men To- which the consideration OF the
question OF the evils connected with our
election systems and methods might be
committed with good prospect OF secur-
ing unanlmlty IN some plan tor removing
or mitigating those evils. The constitu-
ton would permit the selection of the com
mission TO be vested in the Supreme court
III that method would give the best guar
anty of imparhality. This commission
should be charged with the duty of inqulr-
ing into the whole subject of the law of
elections as related TO the choice of officers
OF the national government, with view
to securing to every elector q, free and un-
m0lested exercise of the suffrage and as
near an approach TO an equality of value
In each ballot east as is attainable. The
demand that the limitations or outrage
shall DC found in the law and only there Is
Just demand, and no just man should re-
sent or resist IT, 1t seems to me that an
appeal to our people to consider the ques-
tlon OF readJusting our legislation upon
absolutely fair non-partisan lines, might
find some effective response.
UNFAIR ELECTION METHODS.
Many times have had occasion TO say
that laws and election methods designed
TO give unfair advantage to the party max
ing them would some time be used to per-
peJuatc IN power faction of q party
against the Will Of the majority OF people
Or this we seem 10. have an illustration i'm
the recent state election in Alabama.
There was, no Republican ticket i'm the
held The contest was between white
Democrats. The kOlb party say they were
refused the representation guaranteed by
law upon the election boards; and when
the courts by mandamus attempted TO
right this wrong, an appeal that could not
be heard until after the election made the
wrltS Intellectual. Ballot boxes were
thrown out tor alleged Irregularities. or
destroyed. and it is asserted on behalf of
one half, at least, of the white voters of
Alabama that the officers to whom certi-
fieateS have been given were. not honestly
elected. There is no security for personal
or political rights. The power of the
states over the question of the qualifica-
ton OF electors is ample to protect them
against the danger OF an ignorant or de-
PRAYED suffrage. and the demand hat every
man found TO be qualified under the law
shall be made secure in the right to cast a
free ballot and to have that ballot honestly
counted cannot be aDated. Our old Re-
publican battle cry, "a free ballot and a
far count" comes back to US, not only
from Alabama but from other states ana
men who differ with us widely in opinion
have come to see that parties and political
debate are but mOckery, IL, when the de-
bate is ended, Judgment OF honest MAORI
ties is to be reversed by ballot box frauds
and tally sheet manipulatiOnS in the inter
est OF the party or party faction in power.
These new political movements in the,
states and the action of some of the state
courts against unfair appOrtiOnment laws
encourage the hope that the arbitrary and
partisan election laws and practices which
have prevailed may be corrected by the
states, the law made equal ana non-parti-
san and the elections free and honest.
The Republican party would rejoice at
such solution, as healthy and patriotic
local sentiment Is the best assurance OF
tree and honest elections. l shall again
urge upon congress that provision be made
FOR the appointment OF anOn-partisan COM
mission to consider the subject Of appOr-
tionments and elections in their relation
to the choice of federal officer.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
The civil service system has been ex-
tended and the law enforced with vigor
and impartlality. There has been no
partlsan juggling with the law in any of
the departments or bureaus as had before
happened, but appointments to the claSsi-
fled service have been made impartlally
from the eligible lists. The system now In
force in all the de partments has for the first
time placed promotions strictly upon the
basis of merit, as ascertained by daily
record and the efficiency of the force is
thereby greatly increased.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Approval was heartily given by the con-
ventl0n to all whose agencies which con-
tribute to the education or the children of
the land, and meets my hearty approval,
as does also the declaration as to the
liberty of thought and conscience and
separation of church and state. The safety
of the republic is In intelligent citizenship,
and the increased interest manifested i'm
the states in education, The cheerfulneSs
with which the necessary taxes are paid
by all classes and the renewed interest
manifested by the children IN the national
flag are hopeful indications that the co.u-
ing generation will direct public affairs
with increased prudence and patriotism.
Our interest IN free public schools open TO
all children OF suitable age is supreme and
our care tor them Will be jealous and con-
slant. The public school system, however,
was not intended TO restrain the natural
right of the parent, after contributing TO
the public school fund, TO choose other
educational agencies for his children.
FEDERAL AID TO SCHOOLS.
l favor aid by the general government
to the public schools, with n special view
to the necessities OF some of the Southern
states. But ii is gratifying to notice that
many of these states are, with commend
able libcrallty, developing their school
systems and increasing their school
revenues to the great advantage of the
children OF both races.
WORK For THE FARMERS
The considcrate attention of the farmers
of the whole country is invited TO the work
done through the State and Agricultural
departments in the interest of agriculture.
Our pork products had for ten years been
nearly excluded by the great continental
nations of Europe. All efforts TO secure
the removal OF those restrictions had failed,
but the wise legislation of the Fifty-iirst
congress, providing for the inspection and
official certilicatlon of our meats and Civ
Ing 10 the president power to forbid the
introduction into this country OF selected
products of such countries as should con-
tlnup to refuse orr lnSupctad meats en-