New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-12
rur LEGISLATURE MEETS.
Continued from first page.

N.uYorK City that they nave 10 oeihdhu II a'
-. .or in a general election the fraudulent
.'o,s destroys the power Of an honest one
'o'e IN the same box with It or in one three
S...s-ad miles away. Home rule is in a small
.,A doctrine Of state rights. and has no
80, scope 1t is privilege allowed by all
and cannot be used by that one 20 de-
.,a others Within the limits intended by
-. constitution il is a wise and salutary doc
-. hut when il goes beyond the Constitution.
..ro,s the laws and protects the Individual in
...,r,,e the multitude IL should be brought
% the ground
The sane class which or claims 10 see in
Effective election law The violation of home
81. will also see the image of worse bill in
80 attempt 70 protect the franchise. This
s,o,,, should neither mislead nor deter. Every
co against crime IS 4 force bill. There is one
I a murder. arson and theft. The law upon
s,ssr OF these subjects would be at once
eI.andsd II the amendment would improve II.
o. ,rotest would be raised or needed II il was.
and yet there are, perhaps as many VINO at
Fart oppose force bill against larceny as
there are those who oppose a force bill against
siactlon crimes. The reason why one protest
a. sllen. and he other uttered is because pub
- .on,n1ent condemns one and listens to the
other Those who profit by an evil will raise
false alarms to distract the public mind while
they repeat the dangerous advantage.
MoRE DANGEROUS THAN THEFT.
And vet. q the two crimes. theft is the mder
and less 10 be feared One is crime against
nroperty the other against liberty One be
measured and the damage liked; the other has
no limit and may shatter the foundation or
which all property rights depend. No society
Is safe which fails 10 recognize the magnitude
Of this evil or refuses 70 cut il out. II is the
Great danger threatening The country to-day.
Il any community cannot Or will not prevent
il the State should. When local authorities-s
clothed with duty closely touching ne welfare
~ the whole State, ignore or conrive at its
violation the State itself should intervene. II
should not permit it's seven millions Of people
10 be defrauded At the polls by the few thou
sands who make OF corruption either a pastlne
or an occupation. BY meeting this subject with
Justice and determination the State will perform
q most solemn and imperative ~ and crush
OUT an evil which has brough, upon II injury
ana shame The responsible for Ia y against
crime is not upon those who make Il, b:t upon
those who make Il necessary
NOT A POLITICAL QUESTION
An honest election is not political question.
II is not against a political party. II all parties
are honest. II Is only against a class. the most
degraded and dangerous. BY which society IS
rnenaced. II any political party or Temoers OF
Z, have received or expect benefits from this
class they Will condemn as force bill any law
which restricts the infamous trade in when
that class engages. The state should he for tne
law and against the criminals individuals and
rartes should take whichever side their IN
ierests point out. and they should be forced 10
take II in public 49,.
! have one reluctance IN proposing new legis-
lation and that arises from the necessary Tor
increased expense. But New OK shoulu re-
sDond 10 the Presidents call. her absent soI-
djers should vote and when those votes return
they should be protected sacredly. No cost :
too great necessary 70 these ends All IegisIa-
ton involves expense. The state expehos
millions Of dollars every year for its various
purposes There is not in all this vast expendl-
ture one subject whose influence is so para
mount and clear as the electoral FRANCHISE
ia
abuse Of this franchise than from the war with
Spain All other subjects depend for their
success. and even for their continuance, upon an
honest vote Any expenditure therefore. which
surrounds that vote with additional shields
should be promptly made But IN TINS no arg
expense need be incurred comparatively
eTau number. determined backed by a Just law.
can accomplish much in the way Of prevention.
BY prevention the law should De fulfilled. for
its sole purpose should De 10 stop the comInls-
This question should be dealt with upon the
broad lines OF equal citizenship. No partisan
advantage should be sought or allowed. Fair
La is rule which most men cheerfury OBJ
80 others should be forced TO observe IT,
Legislation should be SO framed that any man
who attacks IL must accuse himself.
BIPARTISANSHIP.
In all elections. where one OF two great par
ties must prevail, bipartisanship is the basic
principle, because there the right to control is
established and in the process Of establishing
II every man VINO mas q flgnl 10 participate mas
q right 10 be represented. This principle Of BIZ
Dartisanship, recognized by the Constitution.
should be incorporated in the law. Wherever
one party is represented both should he, by
precisely the same number IN precisely tne
same way. The law upon this subject should
be confined strictly TO the conduct Of elections
and the preliminary steps which eliminate on
Election Day. Legislation affecting any exist
ing police force except 10 its duties In con-
rection with registration and election. and Of
fences against them, l distinctly decline TO
recommend.
I know you will keep in View reasonable
economy. and yet remember that an honest cleo
ton must be had at any price. That you VIII
act In the full determination 10 be just 10 the
whole people and yet remember that justice
will be but poorly done II you do not so pro-
vide that the votes Of hundreds or brave men
now suffering in the trenches. shall not be de-
stroyed by the crimes OF one degenerate who
has remained at home.
submit 70 you the three questions have
named with full confidence in your wisdom.
FRANK s BLACK