The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-05-28
THE REGISTRY LAW.


No HONEST voter, whatever his political predi-
lections may be, can fail to read the opinion
ot Judge Allison, delivered yesterday, sustaining
the Registry law, except with pleasure. That a
Just and equitable law of this kind is needed for
inc protection OF honest men, the experiences OF
| the last elections sufficiently demonstrated; and
IL ls significant fact that the only complaints
against it come from Democratic quarters. If
the Democracy did not find il necessary to re-
sort to fraud a stringent Registry law would not
be more onerous for them than for the Republi-
cans, and the slight Inconvenience that such a
law will occasion to voters who may not wish to
take the trouble to see that their names are pro-
pery placed upon the assessors lists, is more
than compensated for by the additional security
that will be given to the manner of conducting
the elections.
The most important feature in the law is that
which regulates the registration of boarders and
lodgers This touches the Democratic party in its
tenderest point; it effectually puts stop to the
practice of colonization, and it is therefore not
surprising that it has been most viruently as
sailed. There is nothing inequtabe in this sec
ton of the Registry law, and Judge Allison's de-
cision defines its meaning in exact accordance
with the spirit of the whole act, the obvious in
tentions of the Legislature, and the wishes of
As Judge Allison says:-''No one is deprived
of any right by the requirements of the law, for
if there be qualified electors boarding at the
hotels, taverns and boarding houses, ample pro-
vision is made for their assessment Time certain
with abundant opportunity, is provided in the
subsequent provisions of the act, at which their
names can be placed upon the list and the tax
assessed against them" 1t is very certain that
the Democracy will not lose single legal vote by
this Registry law but if it is rigidly enforced the
practice of colonization will be broken up, and
the roughs of New York and Baltimore will be
unable to assist at our elections 1t is just here
that the Democratic party finds the law to be
onerOus, unjust and unconstitutional; and against
it they have brought all their batteries to bear
The clear impartial, and strictly judicial decision
of Judge Allison, however, settles the question
rs to the meaning of the law, and its proprety as
well. The outrageous frauds which were perpe-
trated at the last elections rendered it absolutely
necessary that additional safeguards should be
thrown around the ballot-boX and the whole
manner OF conducting elections. The present
Registry law was carefully drawn, and if the
Democratic party is honest it will bear no harder
upon ii than upon the Republican. Whethert the
law is the best that can be devised can only be
demonstrated by experience and it is possible
that when it goes into operation defects may be
discovered which will require modification. A
stringent law however, is needed for the protec-
ton of voters; and all well-disposed citizens.
without regard TO party, should unite in sup
porting the present enactment, and in assisting
to have its provisions enforced without favor or
partiaty.