The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1892-12-10
PURE ELECTION METHODS.
The President Urges Fair Ballot and
Honest Count.

nave, IN each three annual messages which
it has been my duty TO submit to Congress
called attention TO the evils and dangers con-
nected with our election methods aud practices
as they are related to the choice of officers OF
the national government. in my last an
nnal message ! enaeavored 10 invoke
unfair apporuonments Tor Congress. | carnot
close this mesSaEe without again calling at
tention 10 these grave and threatening evils. !
HAD hoped that il was possible TO secure IL non
INTO evils the existence OF which is known TO
all, and that ont OF this might grow legs
lalon from which all thought OF
PARTISAN advantage should be ellmi-
uated ana only The higher thought
appear OF maintaining the freedom and purity
OF the ballot and the equality Of the eector,
Iuent could never have been formed, and with
out the continuance OF which il cannot con
tinue to exist IN peace and o~pe1ity.
II IS time that mutual charges OF
uniairness and FRAUD between the great
parties should cease and that the
sincerity ol those who profess II desire for pure
tc>l oil their Willingness 10 free our legislation
ana our election methods from everything that
tends I" impair the pHbic confidence i'll the
announced result. ne necessity Tor inquiry
anu Tor egistation by Congress upon this sub
IeCt is emf haslZcG By the fact that the tenden-
Cy OF legislation in some states III recent Wears
has IN some important particulars been away
from ana not toward tree ana fair elections and
equal apportlonmentS Is II not time that we
should come together upon the high plane OF
patriotism while we devise methods that shall
secure the rig ut of any man qualified by law to
cast tree ballot, and give 10 every such ballot
an equal value in choosing our public officers
and III directing the pOIIcy OF the government :?
Lawlessness is not less such, but more, here
II usurps the functions OF the peace officers
and of the courts The frequent lynchings of
colored people accused OF crime is without
the excuse which has sometimes been urged
by mob> for failure 10 pursue the APP
pointed methods tor the punishment OF crime
that the accused have an undue influence
over courts and jurles. such acts are a re
proaCh to the community where they occur, and
far they can De made subject OF federal
jurisdiction the strongest rcprcS>lye Legislation
demanded. public sentiment that Will sus-
tain the officers OF the law III resisting mobs
and protecting accused persons in their
custody should be promoted by every possible
means. The officer who gives his lire i'll the
brave discharge OF this duty is worthy OF special
honor. No lesson needs TO be 50 urgently inn
pressed upon our people, that no worthy end
or cause cen be promoted by lawlessncss.
This exhibit q the work of the executive de-
partmcutS is submitted 10 congress and To the
public in the hone thai there will be found III
il a due sense of responsibility and an earnest
purpose to maintain the national honor and TO
promote the happiness and prosperity
OF all our people. And this brief eX-
hiDit of the growth and prosperity of the
country Will give Us a level from which TO note
the increase or deCadence that new legislative
policies may bring to Us. There is no reason
W by the national influence, power and prosper
ity should not observe the same rates OF increase
that have characterized the past thirty years.
We carry the great impulse and increase of
these wears into the future. There reason
why in many lines of production we should
not Surpa>S all other nations, as we have al
ready done in some There ale no near iron
tiers 70 our possible Developments RetrOSreS .
sion would DE Il crime.
BENJAMIN HARRISON.
EXECUTIVE MANSION. december ., ls92