Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-11-05

ing. Judge ]. J. Jackson delivered 1t
charge notable for its references to
nolitical matters. The Court, with
comprehensive recognition of the SIT
uation, of the tendency to the cor
rupt use of money, realizing very
fully the growing tendency to the de-
bauchery of the ballot, and citing CO.
piously from the Federal law i'll rela-
tion to the conduct of elections AID
the free and lawful expression Of pub
lie opinion at the polls, sounded note
of warning, which ought to anG VIII
imnress the good citizens of this state.
Judge Jackson well says that judges
ought to have no interest in party pol
itics. unnecessarily disclaims his per-
sonal interest in political affairs, but
announces properly his intention IN
the future. as in the past, 20 enforce
the law without fear or favor, and to
see to it that anyone who lnIrinSeS
the statutes made by Congress to en-
sure purity at the ballot box will be
punished. This determination will be
commended. 1t is high time such
admonitions came from the bench, and
that Judge Jackson will carry out his
announced purpose is undoubted.
Fraudulent voting, the corrupt use Oh
money and kindred matters have no
proper place in popular elections
That the franchise has been abused
and outraged in West Virginia N
times past is unodubted. We should
have no more Of it, and with Judge
on the Federal bench appointed by
Abraham Lincoln the people are as
sured of fair election and an honest
expression of their opinion.
That portion of Judge Jackson's
charge which applies to political mat
ters is here appended in full;
Gentlemen of the Grand Jury-You
have been summoned upon this oc-
casion to review the acts of your fell
low citizens, if any of them have been
charged with any crime or offense
against the Federal 81 The
duty assigned to a graz 7 IS
very important one. You are to pass
first upon any charge or offense that
may be brought before you in order to
determine whether or not the person
who stands charged with the o1fense
shall be indicted and prosecuted. IN
der our institutions this is wise pro-
vision Of the law, because the grand
Jury is supposed to be a body COM
posed of intelligent citizens who can
be relied upon for their Integrity TO
do just what is right and proper be-
tween the government and the cltl-
zen. 1t was originally an English IN
stitution and we have copied 1t from
the English government 1t is wise
institution because it forms a protec-
ton to the rights of the citizen and
if properly administered it is not only
a protection to the citizen, but it is a
protection to the government as well,
in the enforcement of the laws of the
country.
You will possibly have very import
ant matters before you upon this oc-
casion to consider under the various
statutes of the United States; but be-
fore entering upon the consideration
of other business that viii likely come
before you | wish to make some gem
eral remarks TO you in relation to the
rights of the citizens of this country
growing out of the elective franchise
and the exercise of which right is very
soon to take place both under the
laws of the Federal government and
OF the State government.
Importance of Pure Elections.
Have you. gentlemen of the grand
jury, ever weighed and considered how
vital a pure election is to the welfare,
prosperity and happiness of our coun-
try? We live under a governmental
representative government-founded
upon the assent of the people. There
is no government in the world like
ours. There never has been one, so
far as we have any knowledge Of his
tory, that approaches this govern
ment in the protection OF the rights
and liberties of the citizen. | have
Just remarked to you that 1t is found
ed upon the assent of the people. How
is that assent expressed as to who
shall govern the country and execute
the laws? 1t is through the ballot
box When you reflect for a moment
that the source of all powers in this
country, which is granted to the Off
GERS who execute the laws of the land,
from the President of the United
States down, emanates from what
Should be the free and unttrammeled
suffrage of the people of the country,
you can at once reach a conclusion
as to the vast Importance of pure
elections. Whenever the people of
this country become corrupt and the
vote of the country can be turned one
way or another by the use of money;
whenever the free voice of the Amer
lean people can be purchased at the
polls, the first step has been taken to-
wards the decay and destruction of
the greatest republic that has ever
existed in history. ! speak upon this
subject with some feeling because
think / see that this country is COM
mencing to tread, or rather to follow
the path. that led to the downfall and
destruction OF the republic of Rome.
II is said that history often repeats
itself, and such must have been the
observation OF US all. Our government