The Washington herald., 1916-06-02

at least that a change Of parties in the
administration meant no jeopardy to the
government itself. The choice between
parties bad become once more a choice
between policies merely, and affairs wore
Il normal aspect again-such an aspect Of
peace and businesslike quiet as they had
not worn since the painful shock of the
Kansas-N ebraska Act. one by one the
statutes which had marked the era of
war and reconstIuc had disappeared
from the statute book; some because an
nulled by the Supreme Court, others by
expiration. still others by repeal Even
the Tenure of Office AC. had been quietly
repealed after Mr. CicEelands refusal to
submit his reasons for removals to the
Senate's scrutiny and review.
In 1883 the legislature of Massachusetts
had adopted a method of balloting al
elections borrowed directly from Aus
tralia. indirectly from England itself
which. as it spread from State to State
gave a noteworthy impetus to the puri.
| fcation of elections. The main features
| of the reform were. the facilitation oi
! INDEPENDENT nominations for office out.
| side fixed party lines the official printing
| of the ballots to be used. their distribu'
tion to the voters only by sworn officers
Of election. and the isolation of the voter
while preparing his ballot, in order per
! A'Ntis ~ lAONSNN us pllNoSs oAiN hiNNPNA4
dence.
Opinion approved the change at once
and legislature after legislature hasteneC
to adopt what opinion unmistakably de
manded. 1t was one of the signs of the
times. Opinion was slowly freeing itself
as much as possible not only from the
older party prejudices, but also from the
I too inQuisitiye management of politicians
The foreign affairs of the government
h.. -
land came into office. The hostility OF
the Senate to his administration had ren.
dered it impossible for him TO bring any
matter of negotiation 10 a satisfactory
conclusion.
The only matters of capital importance
II had fallen TO him to consider had con.
/ cerned the fishing rights of the United
States on the two coasts of the conti
nent. Dissatisfied with the operation oi
those clauses of the Treaty of Washing
tion which dealt with the Canadian fish
cries. Congress had instructed the Pres
ident in 1888 to give the required notice tC
Great Britain OF the desire of the United
States to abrogate them. and on the Isl
Of July, 1855. pursuant to Mr.. Arthur.
notice. they had gone out OF effect
In February, ISIS, under Mr.. Cleveland
a new treaty regarding the fisheries haC
been negotiated; but the Senate had re,
I leClSu IL lie GfleSIOn "nlCn arose or
the other side OF the continent concerned
the rights Of the United States over the
seal fisheries OF the north Pacific.
The United States claimed that the pur
chase OF Alaska from Russia in 1857 hac
brought with it the right TO protect tht
! seals of Bering Sea against capture o.
! destruction. having brought with IL eX
! elusive Jurisdiction over that sea Eng
| land denied the right and the iurisdiC
! Al
Mr. Cleveland's hands before the matter
could Je brought TO defnitive formula
/ tion and issue.
| 1t passed to Mr.. Harrison along will
all other pending questions of policy anc
! administration.
! Tomorrow A New Sectionalism.