, 1860-03-01
3orcsa aNUrihtt1tc.
THURSDAY, MARCH !, 1850.
THE PURITY OF Tk11s ELECTIVE
FRANCHISE.

THURSDAY, MARCH !, 1860.
TIE PURITY OF TklIs ELEsC1lEE
FRANCHISE.
The freedom Of the press is justly regarded
:ls1lie palladium Of our ibcrties-' In I'LL Inc
wide world TINT liberty is cnjoyed only where
floats tie flag Of England's Queen and Inc
stars and stripes Of tho American Union =
free Press, free Bible and tree Schools are
iuse,,arably connected. The one has never
existed without the other, md it may be DOUBT
ed whether in the nat,trc Of things sepasate
existence Of either would be possible. b"t
while these three great elements o. enf1s'iAa
civilization ere common to England and tue
rui.cd Suites. ,1,cro is one thing in which
America has boldly gone beyond her venerable
mother on the other side ofthe Atlantic, Tue
ability Of man to govern himself under the ap-
solu.c equality Of the elective franchise Is tie
pros,lera for which America has undertaken 10
furnish, a favorable solution. Tho 1undamen-
tai theory lying ut tie base Of all our political
institutions, is that mau has right 70 vote |
because he is MAN, and not on account ol
his wealth or his social position. European
statesmen hare generally regarded this as
most difficult aud dangerous problem; but the
genius Of America, young vigorous, and SELL
reliant, must now solve it, Or perish IN tho
attempt.
The elective franchise according to Amerl-
can IDEAS gives every man who is citizen
the right to vote. He may vote once ut each
election. To do ynore than that is not only
.-rieyo,s y;rong, but the man becomes one OF
the worst enemies 70 the peace and the per
petui:r Of our free institutions. What shall
we say then Of those political partisans who,
10 advance their own interests, import scores,
nav, hundreds Of voters from neighboring
towns to carry the city elections? The purity
OF the ballo. box is scarcely less important
than the freedom Of The press. 1t is not pos
siblc for the leaders Of the Democracy aud
their party friends in life time to atone for
the wrong sahey would perpetratc, il they
should secure the election by wholesale import
alton Of illegal voters Some Of the Democratic
leaders are men Of property and social stand
ing, aud they should trcmble lest that very
power which +hc= have nos7 invoked to carry
out their schemes may, III very 1ew years
burn their dwellings, or hang them or then
children to lamp.post
The whole s:slcm Of ballot-box, stutGne
worked out its Legitimate fruits in San Fran
cisco. Tie fearful riots in that city should b
warning to all good citizens, 10 maintain tl
purity Of the elective franchise, at all hazards
The anarchy that must follow its prostitution
is Of all things most to be dreaded The Law
though they lie unjust and oppressive, woul
be quietly endured if passed by majorlt
legltimately Obtained. Americans know ho'
to right euch wrongs, hut when confidence
the fairness Of our elections is once dcstroye'
society must very soon dissolve itself into i
original elements, and tho reign Of the pist
and the bowie-knife is Q. once established.
Now that the whole city is deeply agitate
and the fact is admitted that vast numbers
foreign voters have been brought to the cit
we ask our readers to pause and reflect with
these things lend? We ask The leaders
:he Democracy who have undertaken to pl
with these "cdgc-tools. whether they arc
doing work they will deeply regret, when
no distant day in the future its fearful con!
quences come to stare them in the face?
ask, also, our Republican friends, whether
any real OR supposed grievances they are "
ing to a;a aad abet cause whose friends be
to triumph By such means? Is it not til
when all persona! considerations should he C
aside, and we should labor earnestly for
principles which arc at stake in this conf1i'
4 candid and careful examination Of our dtl
we arc persuaded, will bring our Republic
hosts in solid phalanx to the polls to rcbt
the treason to liberty and the purity Of
ballot box with which ctr city is now thEe
ened.