Wisconsin Afro-American., 1892-11-05

the conference is known We snail tnen De
aDle, intelilgently to readJuSt our financial
/ legislation to any new conditions.
THE GERRYMANDER.
In my last annual message to congress |
said that l must yet entertain the hope that
1t Is possible to secure calm, patriotic
j consideration of such constitutional or
statutory changes as may be necessary to
secure the choice of the officers of the gov
ernment to the people by fair apportiOn-
ments and free elections. | believe that it
would be possible to constitute a commits
sion. nOn-partlSan in its membership p 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 for removing
or mitigating those evils. The cOnStitu-
| ton would permit the selection of the com
mission TO be vested in the Supreme court
| if that method would give the best guar
anty of impartlality. This commission
should be charged with the duty of inQur-
| 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 free and un-
molested exercise .of the suffrage and as
near an approach to an equality of value
! in each ballot cast as is alta nable. The
demand that the limitations or outrage
shall be 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-
tion of readjusting our legislation upon
absolutely fair non-partlSan lines might
lind some effective response.
UNFAIR ELECTION METHODS.
Many times have had occasion to say
that laws and election methods designed
tn tTi fu
ing item would some time be used to per-
peUuate in power faction of a party
against the Will of the majority of people.
OF this we seem to nave an illustration in
the recent state election in Alabama.
There was no Republican ticket in the
field 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-
ficates 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-
praved suffrage, and the demand that every
man" renna C6 ~>be qualified under the law
shall be made secure in-rtTr5e right to cast a
free ballot and to have that ballot honestly 4
counted cannot be abated. Our old Re
publican battle cry, "a free ballot and a
fair count" comes back to us, not only
from Alabama but from other states and
men who differ with us widely in opinion
have come to see that parties and political
debate are but a mcckery, If, when the de-
bate is ended, judgment Of honest majori- |
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
the hope that the arbitrary and
partisan election laws and practices which ,
nave prevailed may be corrected by the !
states, the law made equal and nOn-parti- !
san and the elections free and honest. :
The Republican party would rejoice at
such solution, as a healthy and patriotic :
ocal sentiment Is the best assurance of :
rec and honest elections. / shall again :
lrge upon congress that provision be made :
or the appointment OF anon-partisan COM !
mission to consider the subject of appor- :
iOnmentS and elections in their relation :
% the choice of federal officer.
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
The civil service system has been ex-
ended and the law enforced with vigor ,
md imRartiality. There has been no {
Juggling with the law in any of !
he departments or bureaus as had before
but appointments to the clasSi- !
led service have been made impartIally :
rom the eligible lists. The system now IN !
orce i'll all the departments has for the first
ime placed promotions strictly upon the :
)aSlS of merit, as ascertained by daily i
ecOrd and the efficiency of the force Is
hereby greatly increased. s
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. /
Approval was heartily given by the con-
yentiOn to all whose agencies which con-
rIbute to the education OF the children of
he land, and meets my hearty approval,
Is does also the declaration as to the [
liberty OF thought and conscience and s
separation of church AMI state. The safety '
If the republic is IN intelligent citizenship, I
md the increased interest manifested in
he states in education, The cheerfulneSS
with which the necessary taxes are paid |
Dy all classes and the renewed interest /
manifested by the children IN the national {
lag are hopeful indications that the con- {
ng generation will direct public affairs |
with increased pruden ce and patriotism. {
Dur interest IN free public schools open to {
all children of suitable age is supreme and
0ur care for them will be jealous and con-
Stant The public school system, however
was not intended to restrain the natural
right of the parent, after contributing to |
he public school fund, to choose other
agencies for his children.
FEDERAL,AID TO SCHOOLS.
l favor aid by the general government
TO the public schools, with special view
TO the necessities of some of the Southern
states. But it is gratifying to notice that
many of these states are. with commend
able liberallty, developing their school
systems and increasing their school
revenues to the great advantage of the
children of both races.
WORK FOR THE FARMERS.
The conSiderate 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-firSt
congress, providing for the inspection and
official certiicatlOn of our meats and Civ
ing to the president power to forbid the
into this country of selected
products of such countries as should con-
tlnue to refuse our inspected meats en-
abfed us to open all the markets of Europe
to our products. The result has been not
only to sustain prices by providing new
markets for our surplus, but to add so
cents per hundred pounds to the market
value of the inspected meats. Under the
agreements, special faVors have
been secured for agricultural products,