St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-12-07
ELECTION METHODS.
A Plea for the Resurrection Of the
Force Bill.

| have, In each three annual messages
which it has been my duty TO submit to CON
gress, called attention to the evils and dan
gers connected with our election methods
and practices as they are related to the choice
of officers of the national government In
my last annual message | endeavOred to Ill
woke serious attention to the evils of unfair
apportiOnments for congress. | cannot close
TINS message without again calling attention
10 these grave and threatening evils. | had
hoped that 1t was possible TO secure non
partisan inquiry, by means OF commission,
into evils the existence of which Is known
to us all, ana that out OF this III ight grow leg
islation from which all thought of partisan
advantages should be eliminated, and only
the higher thought appear of maintaining
the freedom and purity OF the ballot and Gle
equality of the elector. without the guaranty
OF which the government could never have
been formed, and without the continuance
OF which 1t cannot continue to exist III
peace and prosperity.
1t ig lime that mutual charges of unfairness
and fraud between the great parties should
cease and that the sincerity of those who
profess desire for pure and honest elections
should be brought to the test OF their willing
ness to free our legislation and our election
methods from everything that tends to I'M
pair the public confidence in their announced
result The necessity for an inquiry and for
legislation by congress upon this subject is
emphasized by that fact that the tendency of
the legislation in some states i'll recent years
has III some important particulars been away
from and not toward free and fair elections
and equal appointments. Is ii not time
that we should come together upon the high
plane of patriotism, while we devise methods
that shall secure the right of any man quail
fed by law to cast q free ballot ard give TO
every such ballot an equal value in choosing
our public officers and in directing the policy
OF the government?
Lawlessness is not less such. but more,
officer and of the courts. i he frequent
lynchings of cOlored people accused of
crime is without the excuse which has some
times been urged by mObs for Il failure to
pursue the appointed methods for the pun
llhment OF crime, that tie accused has had
an undue influence over courts and jnries.
Snch acts are reprOach to the community
where they occur, and SO far as they can be
made subject of federal jurisdiction the
strongest repressive legislation is demanded.
public sentiment that will sustain the otli-
GERS OF the law in resisting mobs and protect
ing accused persons i'll their custody should
be promoted by every possible meaus. The
officer who gives his life in the brave dis
charge vt this duty is worthy of special
honor. No lesson needs TO be so urgently
impressed upon our people as this, that no
worthy end or cause can be promoted by
laWlesSnesS.
department is submitted TO congress and TO
the public III the hope that there will be
found i'll it a due sense of responsibility and
an earnest purpose to maintain the national
honor and TO maintain the happiness and pros
perity of all our people. And This hriet exhibit
of the growth ana prosperity of the country
will give us level from which TO note the in
crease or decadence that new legislative poll
cies may bring to us. There is no reason
why the national influence, power and pros
perity should not observe the same rates of
increase that have characterized the past
thirty years. We carry the great impulse
and increase of these years into the future.
There is no reason why, in many lines of the
production, we should not surpass all other
nations, as we have already done in some.
There are no near frontiers to our possible
development. Relrogression would be
crime. BENJAMIN HARRISON.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Dec. 8, 1892.