The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-10-05

expect on that day the largest bona .fde vote
ever polled in Baltimore Our readers very well
know that we have been the earnest advocates of a
registry law, and we still regret that one was not
passed--not that we do not believe, under the
guards which the present election laws, as at
present administered, have thrown around the
ballot-box, that illegal voting OF any kind will
be almost impossible-but that we wish every
guaranty for honest suffrage in ali the future
which could possibly be suggested with any show
of reason, to he established among us. An abun-
dance of caution on this point altogether
desirable. Still at the coming election we have the
most profound assurance that the vote will be
pure and free, and full. The pleasure of eXer-
cising long lost franchise-curosity to witness
the effect of the precinct system-confdence
in the enforcement of the laws-the proximity of
the polling places 10 every voters home, and the
| knowledge that there is no longer an excuse, and
will be no federation, for disorderly crowds to
| thrust the old and weak and timd from the
window, and keep them standing for hours in the
street, till the more athletic have served them
selves-all these circumstances, TO say nothing of
the mOmentous issues involved, are calculated to
bring out an honest vote never before paralleled.
But in addition to all this, we believe that our
citizens, not blinded by partisan zeal, or inca
rahIe of reflection, are too well apprised of the
| influence to which is due the glorious opportuni-
ty now, for the first time in many years, accorded
them, of fully, freely and conveniently expires
sing their will at the ballot-box, not to seal their
appreciation of what has been effected in the past
by voting so as to consolidate and extend the
same influence in the future. The idea of elimi-
mating party politics from municipal affairs, has
already borne fruits too fair to be abandoned or
lost sight Of for moment. 1t is on this princi-
pie that the Reformers have planted themselves,
and it is this they have carried out hitherto with
a courage, constancy and success, which nothing
but Il profound conviction of its necessity could
have inspired or achieved. We have already
spoken of the men recommended by the Reform
Central Committee for Mayor and City Council.
In every instance in which we can speak from
personal knowledge, these gentlemen are unex-
ceptionable, and in cases in which we cannot
so speak, we have sufficient confidence in the in
telgence and integrity of the Committee to con-
fide in the propriety of their suggestions. We
know of no instance in which man of bad
personal integrity has been proposed by the
Reformers for any position. If we did, we
should be among the first TO denonnce
and to endeavor to defeat him. If there are bad
men to be elected, we wish them TO be CHOSEN by
our adversaries, and not by Re(ormers We pro-
pose, however, to draw comparison between
the Reformers' ticket and those named on the
other side, for the same places. The intelligent
public will read the names both sides, and is
capable of forming a correct opinion as to their
relative standing We will only say that a sus-
picion resting on any man of identifying himself
even indirectly, with the rule of this city for the
last few years-of wishing to continue the prosli-
tuition of the municipal government to partisan
purposes, or to impede or cmbarrass the reforms
so happily inaugurated, is, in our Judgment SUI
hcent cause for his rejection by the people of Bal
timore at this iuncure This is n simple
test, and we trust that it will be vigorously ap.
Piled We oppose and repudiate any other.
As we have said, we have no doubt about the
result The issue is distinctly Reform and anti
Reform. No party, based on national politics. can
gain or lose by the election on next Wednesday
Any party that attempts 10 make capital out of
that election will suffer in the attempt Mr..
Brown heads ticket which personilies and en-
bodies the enforcement of the laws, the safety of
society, and the divorce of the city government
from party politics. He represents all this and
nothing more. Those opposed to Mr.. BRowN and
the other Reform nominees, must be content to be
cassed the advocates Of disorder Of tainted bal
lot-box and perverted and partisan municipality
out, and voters must choose on which side they
will stand. In such a contest, the cause of right
must triumph. Stripped of the elements of their
past success, what have the enemies of reform
to rely? Where are their EDwARDsFs, their
HINEsLEYs, their LEvys, their SHANEys, their BAR
RETTs? Where is their standing army Of va
grants and loafers-their coops and armories-
their affiliated polce-their judges of elections
their yielding and complacent Mayor-their Mag
Court-ther Sheriff. their Grand
and Petit Juries All gone--lost to sight, but
too well remembered to allow any, who have not
taken the pledge of adherence against such men
and such deeds, hope TO rest upon before the
honest voters Of Baltimore. We have no doubt
that much of the old leaven exists and that it may
still strive 10 work. Illegal voting will probably
be attempted but when the penalties provided
for such acts by the new election law are
considered, with the certainty that, under
the system Of blocking the precincts now
carried out by the reformers, the guilty
parties scarce escape detection, and that
arrest and punishment will assuredly follow,
very little danger is TO be apprehended from this
source. The game of intimidation may be tried and
we have heard that threats of violence are already
thrown out against our adopted citizens, but they
must be weak and cowardly indeed, to regard
them; for they and all may rest assured that our
police authorities have accurate information of
every Vaccination, and will crush the spirit of
disallection to the laws no matter what shape it
may assume.
Under these circumstances, then, while they
should not induce reformers to relax their efforts
there is an almost perfect assurance of success
1t will not do 10 rely exclusively on the merit of
their cause, nor to depend on the known strength
of their numbers. If reformers do not vote at all,
themselves, and allow their opponents to vote as
often as they please Mr.. Brown will certainly be
beaten; but if every legal vote, and no illegal
VOTE is polled in this city on Wednesday next, his
majority will, we have every reason to suppose,
be numbered by thousands.