Evening star., 1867-06-10
THE POLICE AND THE ELECTION

BhE TOhlCE AM ELECIlON.
The excellent order maintained on election
day has been the SUBJECT Of general remark
1t was perhaps the quietest snd most orderly
election ever witnessed in this city, tact the
more renaI kable in view of the excited feel
ing prevailing. The value and efficiency Of
our Metropolitan Police were never more
strikingly demonstrated, and were especially
noticeable in contrast with the mischief done
in promoting riot and disturbance by the par.
tlzan police Of years ago.
The thoughtful provisions for the preser-
vation OF order, made by Major Richards,
Superintendent of Police, were admirably
CARED out. Under his direction the LIQUOR
shops were closed, not q drunken man was
to be seen, the police were every where active
and yigilant. and the slightest disorderIv
symptoms were promptly checked. This was
effected by the usual police force and without
resort to the military aid offered in view OF the
danger threatened. Under these circumstan.
ces one would think that Major Richards was
deserving the gratitude, certainly the thanks,
Of the community for preser wing the good
name of the city for order on day Of such ex.
citement, and when any riot or disturbance
would have told to our serious disad vantage
We are satisfied that a large majority
OF the thinking people Of the city do prop
erly appreciate his valuable services; but
we regret to notice disposition m certain
quarters to severely denounce his action
on that day, and especially his course in
restricting the voters to single line Of ap-
proach to the polling presincts. 1t seems that
the colored voters, by going at an early hour
othe polls, had gained precedence Of the white
voters in the line, and q number of the latter,
to avoid the slow process of reaching the polls
by taking their place in line, essayed to form
an independent line, proposing to meet the
original line at the polling window and vote
man for man, alternately, from each line.
Complaint was made to MAJOR Richards that
this order Of voting was unfair to the voters in
the original line, who had stood patiently for
hours waiting to deposit their ballots. Under
the circumstances Major Richards could do no
less than declare that the original line must have
precedence. This Is the old established priu.
ciple Of "frst come first served" adopted at
bank counters, post Offices and for many
years at our election precincts. So necessary
has it been deemed at city elections heretofore
70 maintain the rights of those first in line,
that barriers have frequently been erected to
preserve the original line intact and insure
to voters the right to vote in the order OF
priority. MAJOR Richards would have been
justly open to the charge Of unfairness had
he not decided that they must vote in the
order In which they reached the polls
Had any disturbance followed from the COL
lision OF the two lines. as would have been
almost inevitable, he would have been Sc.
verely blamed. He evidently acted only from
desire to maintain order and preserve i'm.
Partiality and fairness in the voting, and we
are quite certain that had the white voters
been first on the ground in time he would
have taken the same course, and decided that
they were entitled to vote in the order in
which they reached the polling window.