Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1892-10-06

dbA-- lutEill4euif 10 Tta Iilst our lLdACll.i
legislation 10 any new eon iltions.
The GERRYMANDEB.
In my lass annual message 10 congress !
said that 1 must yet entertain the hope that
It is possible 70 secure a calm. patriotic
consideration Of such constitutional or
statutory changes as may be necessary to
secure the cnOlce OF the officers Of the gov
eminent 70 the people by fair appOru0n-
mentS and tree elections. l believe that Il
would be possible 10 constitute a commits
sion. u0n-partlsan IN its membership and
composed OF patriotic. wise and impartial
men 10 which the consideration Of the
question OF the evils connected with our
election systems and methods might be
committed with good prospect OF secuT-
ing unanlmity IN some plan tor removing
or mitigating those evils. The constiCu-
u0n would permit the selection of the com
mission 10 be vested in the supreme court
II that method would give the best guar
anLy Of importantly. This commission
should be charged with the duty of inQuIr-
ing INTO the whole subject OF the law of
elections as related TO the choice OF officers
OF the national government. with view
10 securing TO every electOr free and I'M
mOlested exercise Of the suffrage and rs
near an approach to an equality of value
10 each ballot cast as is attainable. The
demand that the limitations OF suffrage
shall be found IN the law and only there Is
a fAeL uElllUus anu no ttlSI man SHOULD IE-
sent or resist it. it seems TO me that an
appeal 10 our people TO consider the queS.
ton o read listing our legislation upon
absolutely far nOn-parllSan lines might
ind some effective response.
UNFAIR ELECTION METHODS
Many times | have had occasion to say
that laws ana election methods designed
to give unfair advantage to the party max
ing tnem would some time be used to per-
peUuate in power a faction of a party
against the VIII the MA OItv OF a people.
OF THIS we seem to nave an Illustration in
the recent state election IN Alabama.
There was no Republican ticket in the
held. The contest was between white
Democrats The kOlb party say they were
refused the representation guaranteed by
Jaw upon the election boards; and when
the courts by mandamus attempted to
right TINS wrong, an appeal that could not
be heard until alter the election made the
wrlts Intellectual. Ballot boxes were
thrown out tor alleged irregularities or
destroyed, and 1t is asserted on behalf of
one half, at least, of the white voters of
Alabama, that the officers to whom certi-
hcateS 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 that 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 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 ana
men who differ with us widely in opinion
have come to see that parties and political
debate are but mOckery, If, when the de-
H.#aF.
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 appOrtlonment 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 a solution, as a healthy and patriotic
local sentiment Is the best assurance OF
tree and honest elections. | shall again
urge upon congress that provision be made
tor the appointment or non 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
partisan uggilng with the law in any of
the departments or bureaus as had before
happened, but appointments to the claSS-
fed service have been made imparuallv
from the eligible lists. The system now IN
force in all the departments has FOR tile first
time placed promotions strictly "pOn the
basis OF merit, as aSCertalned by a daily
record and the efficiency of the force is
thereby greatly increased.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Approval was heartily given by the con-
yentIon to all whose agencies which con
tribute to the education OF 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 AM state. The safety
OF the republic Is III intelligent citizenship,
and the increased interest manifested in
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 con-
ing generation will direct public affairs
with increased prudence and patriotism.
Our interest In free publ schools open to
all children OF suitable age Is supreme and
our care for them Will be jealous and con-
slant. The public school system, however,
W as IiOb lultluCu W lGSll dllt lllG
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 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 liberahty, developing their school
systems and increasing their school
revenues to the great advantage of the
children of both races.
WORK FOR THE FARMERS.
The conslderate 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,
hut the wise legislation of the titty-first
congress. providing for the inspection and
Official certihca ion OF our meats and CIV
ing to the president power to forbid the
introduction into this country of selected
products of such countries as should con-
tlnue to refuse our inspected meats en-
abled us to open all the markets of Europe