The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-10
Popular Acquiescence in the Decision o
the BallOt.BOx.


Popular Acquiescence in the Decision
the BallOt-BOx.
THERE is one thing about our country that
foreigners can never understand, and that is
how it is possible for the people to become so
wrought up with excitement previous to our
elections, and then so instantly to relapse into
quiet when they are over, and the decision is
made. In other countries such a condition
of popular agitation would be the precursor
Of revolution; but with us it merely indicates
the recurrence of our usual and established
occasions for determining the popular will.
Never has this phase of American character
been more sigually illustrated than in the
elections this fall. Probably no previous
elections ever hello in our country we're more
holly contested, or called forth more interest
on the part OF the people. Certainly public
meetings were never more largely attended,
and public and private discussions were never
more sharp and exasperating. But the elec-
tions have passed, and we behold the entire
country return to its accustomed quiet. The
verdict OF the people, lawfully expressed, is
accepted by all parties Our party journals
turn to the discussion of questions OF finance,
public, improvements, literature, art, and the
thousand other things of everyday interest
to the community; our stump speakers cease
their patriotic and inspiring harangues to
the masses; our political clubs lay aside their
torches and tIansparencies uGtil some future
contest shall call them forth; the defeated
candidates philosophically reflect upon the
uncertainty of all mortal affairs in general,
and political affairs in particular, while the
victors quietly "accept the situation" and
enter upon the performance of their duties.
There is something very encouraging in all
this to the believer in popular selfgovern-
ment. 1t shows reverence on the part of
the people for the established methods Of
deciding political questions, which is OF the
highest importance in agovernment like ours.
Indeed, we may say not only that it is i'm
portant, but absolutely essential; for without
this prompt, cheerful, unhestating acqui-
escence in the decisions Of the people at the
ballot-box, popular selt-government is i'm
possible. We have never had, in our whole
history as a nation, but one attempt to appeal
from the decisions OF the people, lawfully and
constitutionally expressed; and that was in
the late Rebellion. The result of that expert
ment should be lesson to all those in the
future who may be teuRted to repeat it.
Our popular elections are vital to our sys-
tenn OF government. The ballot-box is the
palladium of our liberties. Hence, it is to
the interest of every citizen that the utmost
safeguards should be thrown around it. The
popular acquiescence in the result Of cleo
tions, which is SO gratifying feature of our
political character, is due very much to the
general convection of their purity. And as
a great fact. taking the whole country to-
gether, probably no elections are held in any
other country which can compare with our
own in freedom from ali corruptIng influences.
1t is to the interest OF all of us that they
should continue to be so; tor whatever tends
to pollute the ballot-box pours poison into the
very fountains of our civil life.
1t is, perhaps, too much the fashion among
our people to dwell upon that aspect of the
sufftage question In which the elective fran
chise is regarded as right rather than as
apriviege. No doubt it is right, bat it Is
also OF the nature OF solemn trust. No man
has any moral right to use that trust except
for the highest good Of the whole people; and
it is the imperative duty OF che Government
to throw around its exercise such safeguards
as shall the most efIectually secure such use
oft.
In the light Of this discussion. every good
man must deplore certain practices which
are growing up connected with our elections,
such as the use OF money, promises of office,
betting on elections, and the like All OF
these things tend to render our elections less
pure, and to diminish the binding character
of their results upon the people. On the
other hand, we must rejoice at the more
strin gent safeguards, such as registry laws
and the abolition of night hours for receiving
votes, which are now being generally adopted
in all the States. To preserve the purity of
the bauot-bOK ought to be the alm of all par
n A ~