Morning journal and courier., 1892-09-06

le without representation at washington.
Shrewdly, but not quite fairly, our ad-
'ersaries speak only OF the increased du-
les imposed upon tin, pearl buttons, and
INIT altogether any reference to the great |
md beneficial enlargement of the free list
During the last fiscal year $45S, 200, 772
worth of merchandise, or 55.35 per cent. |
# our total importations, came in free |
the largest percentage in our history, |
While in 1889 the percentage of free i'm |
oortations was only "a AZ per cent.
The placing of sugar upon the free list |
aas saved to the consumer in duties In if
teen months, after paying the bounties
provided for, $97, 900, 600. This relief has
been substantially felt in every household,
upon every Saturdays purchase of the
One Of the favorite arguments against
protective tariff is that it shuts us out from
! participation in what is called, with
swelling emphasis, the ''markets of the
world" If this view is not a false one,
how does it happen that our commercial
are not able to bear with more
serenity our supposed surrender to them
of the "markets of the worlds" And how
does it happen that the partial loss Of our
market closes foreign tin-plste mills and
plush factories that still have all other
markets? Our natural advantages, our
protective tariff and the reciprocity policy
make it possible for us to have large par
ticipation in the markets of the world
without opening our own to competition
that would destroy the comfort and indie
pendence of our people.
THE SILVER QUESTION.
The resolution of the convention in favor
of bimetalism declares, think, the true
and necessary conditions of movement
herence and support. I am thoroughly
convinced that the free coinage of silver at
such ratio to gold as will maintain the
equality in their commercial uses of the
two coined dollars would conduce to the
prosperity of all the great producing and
commercial nations of tie world. The one
essential condition is that these dollars
shall have and retain an equal acceptable
ty and value in all commercial transactions
They are not only medium of exchange.
but q measure of values, and when two un-
equal measures are called in law
by the same name, commerce Is
unsettled and confused and the unwary and
ignorant are cheated. Dollars of unequal
commercial value will not circulate to-
gether. The better dollar is Withdrawn
and becomes merchandise. The true in
terest of all our people, and especially of
the farmers and working people, who can
not closely observe the money market, is
that every dollar, paper or coin, issued OF
authorized by the government, shall ct all
equivalent, not only in debt paying but in
purchasing power of any other dollar. ]
am quite sure that if we should now act
| upon this subject independently of other
nations. we would greatly promote thei1
| interests and injure our own. Tho none
tary conditions in Europe within the last
two years have, think, tended very much
to develop a sentiment in favor of larger
uee of silver, and was much pleased and
encouraged by the cordially, promptnes
and unanimity With which the invitatio.
of this government for an internationa
conference upon this subject was accepted
for, but expect highly beneficial result
from this conference which will now sool
assemble. When the result of the confer
ence is known we shall then be able, in
telligently to read just our financial legis
lation to any new conditions.
FAIR ELECTIONS.
In my last annual message to congress
said: 81 must yet entertain the hope tina
it is possible to secure a calm, patriotic con
sideration of such constitutional or statua
tory changes as may be necessary to secur
the choice of officers of the government t
the people by fair apportionments and fire
elections. believe it would be possibl
to constitute a commission, non partisa
in its membership and composed of patr
otto, wise and impartial men to whom
consideration of the questions c
i the evils connected without elet
ton systoms and methods Nigh
be committed with good prospect {
scouting unanimity in some plan for re
moving or mitigating those evils, Th
constitution would permit the selection {
the commission to be vested in the So
preme court, if that method would Civ
the best guaranty of impartiality. Thi
commission should be charged with til
duty of inqui1ing into the whole subject {
the law of elections as related to the choie
of officers of the national government wit
a view to securing to every election fire
and unmolested exercise of the suffrae
and as near an approach to an equality {
value in each ballot cast as is attainabl,
The demand that the Limitation
of suffrage shall be found in the law an
only there is just demand end no jul
man should resent or resist it.
1t seemed to me that an appeal to on
people to consider the question of reao
justment of our legislation upon absolute
ly fair nonpartisan lines might find SON
effective response. Many times I hay
had occasion to say that laws and electio
methods designed to give unfair adva1
sometime be used to perpetuate in power
faction of a party against the VIII of tt
majority of people. OF this we seem {
have an illustration in the recent stai
election in Alabama. There was no r
publican ticket in the field. The confer
was between white democrats
The Kolb party say they were n
fused the representation guaranteed
law upon the election board, and tn
when the courts by mandamus attemp
ed to right this wrong an appeal tn
the election made the writs il
effectual. Ballot boxes were throw
out for alleged Irregularities or destroye
and it ia asserted on behalf of one-hslf,
least, of the white voters of Alabama tn
the officers to whom certificates have bee
given were not honestly elected. There
no security for the personal or polite
rights of any man in a community whe
any other man is deprived of his person
or political lights. The power of the stat
over the question of qualification of ele
tors is ample to protect them against Il
dangers of an ignorant or depraved sui
rage and the demand that every man four
to be qualified under the law shall be ma
secure in the light to cast q free ballot al
to have that ballot honestly counted ca
not be abated. Our old republican battl
CIV. "a free ballot and q fair count. com
back to us, not only from Alabama, b.
from other states and from M
who, differing with us wide
in opinions have come to g
|. that parties and political debate are but
mocksry, If, when the debate il ended, t
, Judgment of honest majorities is to be I
!. vsrsed by ballot box fraud and tally-she
!. manipulations in the interest of the par
! or party faction in power. These new p
: litical movements in the states and the I
= cent decisions of some of the state cour
j. against unfair apportionment laws enoou
y age the hope that the arbitrary and part
d san election laws and practices which ha'
% prevailed may be corrected by the state
= the laws made equal and non partisan AZ
the elections free and honest. The repu
lican party would rejoice at such a sol
ton, ~ healthy and patriotic local go
timsnt II the best assurance Of free ar