The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-09

Tho Charter Elecsisn-Its Grssss.
The election held day before yesterday pre-
sented some novel features In politics which
convey lesson that may be profed by In
the future. Throughout the entire city the
conviction prevails that the system of repeat
ing" was shamelessly resorted TO In some Of
the wards. That in wards particularly desig-
mated bands of itinerant voters visited the
different polling places and voted In each,
without question, let or hindrapce. The pre-
sence Of the police, even the undisguised
fact-patent to all, to the inspectors them
selves-that they were repeaters, did not
deter these parties from voting or having
their votes recorded. Had the contest been
between the candidates of two opposing organi-
cations the resort to this fragrant system of
fraud upon the rights of the citizens, while
it would have been strongly condemned,
might not have been 80 greatly wondered at;
but here, for the first time, perhaps. certainly
for the first time on such an extensive scale,
was this wrong practised upon candidates of
the same party. This arose from the fact that
the republicans, acting as an organization,
permitted the election to go by default,
and the chances thus afforded to demo-
cratic candidates not receiving the regular
nomination to contest the election with the
aid of their partisans and such repub-
lican votes as might be relied on to
be cast in opposition to Tammany.
1t was, perhaps, from the fact that the tight
on Tuesday last was one-sided one that the
extent to which repeating was carried was
80 noticeable and so strongly deprecated within
the democratic ranks. AS it is said that
''curses, like chickens, come home to roost,"
80 it may be said that the curse of repeating
never came SO near home as it did in this case.
1t would, indeed, prove benign visitation il
it opened the eyes of political leaders to the
danger and evil Of the practice, whether or
not it devolves upon the people themselves,
from the experience of Tuesday last, to take
such steps through their representatives in the
Legislature as will secure an immediate sup
preston of the evil in all elections to come
If the citizens do not move in this matter at
the earliest moment and insist upon short,
sharp and decisive action in the premises,
they submit to a voluntary acknowledgements
thousand times more slavish and CALLING
than an enforced one. Mayor Hall, in witty
little speech made by him before the st.
Nicholas Society few evenings ago, alluded
to the habit of repeating" which prevailed in
this city so far back as 1902, and said he sup
posed that the same would be practised till
elections should be no more. But this is o
question for the citizens themselves and they
alone can effectually dispose of it. The lesson
of the hour with regard to this repeating"
business is worth repeating Both parties say
they are anxious to have law expressly
passed to meet and suppress this evil. But
who will take the initiative? The people, as
most deeply interested, ought to do so, and if
they but make concerted movement npon the
Legislature at its next session and compel it
to pass a law meeting oil the requirements Of
the case the lesson taught on Tuesday last will
not be in vain.