The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-03-21


In asy one district 10 three electoral votes, viz the
two cast by the State at large and the one cast by
srsndnspt votes cSst in the city Of New YORK at the
last election could only aect about eight electoral
votes in All instead OF onrS tn nj sscnrp thsse a
they were safe to the Democratlc party without
fraud II is only IN 6stTcs wete nh,o ro Du, one
fraudulent voting can be done su0ng oppositon
viii always prevent H. In s1Gm dStrots t ;roG tnere
their majority did not counteract other majOrities
belonging to outside districts Hence, under the
To fraud almost wholly disappear, but the violent
rancor and heat OF politics in those districts which
are all one way would disappear also.
Herein, il is believed, will be found salts
factory solution of the difficulty. 1t will
confine the effects of fraud within the mar
rowest possible limits, and, practically, rem
der it unayailng. Neitherisit anovelty in our
system, as it was practised in many of the
States during the earlier Presidential cleo
tions, and was continued in Maryland down
to the wear 1888. 1t recognizes also the COM
promises of the Constitution, and, by securing
to the smaller States their two senatorial
votes, obviates the danger of their opposing
the reform.
How can the proposed change be effected?
The clause of the Constitution which confers
the regulation of the subject on the Legisla-
lures of the several States effectually stands
in the way of all Congressional action of
final nature. 1t is futile to hope for any re-
form from the action of individual States, for
it would be Quixotic for any one or more
States of the Union to divide their own in
fluence in Presidential elections so long as
neighboring States insist on preserving theirs
intact. The only remedy, therefore, lies in
a uniform adoption of the system for all the
States alike, through the slow process of
amending the Federal Constitution. This
instrument has been manipulated In so many
respects of late, that there is now q strong
and rapidly growing disposition to
leave it alone for the present. This
is an additional obstacle which must be
overcome. AS usual, in all cases which touch
merely on the general good-in which no
material interest is concerned-it is most diff
ficult to bring party organizations to bear
upon the work. Were this not so, the exist
ing method of choosing the Electoral Colleges
would long ago have been swept away, for
neither this discussion nor the measure of
reform suggested has anything in it of no.
velty. Hamilton early directed his attention
to it. President Jackson, in six consecutive
messages, discussed the subject, and recon-
mended the election of Presidents by direct
popular vote. MIR. Benton kept the matter
almost continually before the Senate
during his thirty years of service
in that body. Preaident Johnson,
Senators Wade, Sumner, and Buckalew, and
various members of the House have all with
equal emphasis condemned the existing sys-
tenn. During the year just past an amend
ment looking to its reform was introduced
into the Senate by Mr.. Morton, passed that
body, and then-went to its long rest. Now,
however, the matter is pressed upon the pub
lie attention from new considerations. 1t is
no longer, as in the days of jackson, a mere
question of theory, but one of practical and
vital importance. The present system has
now been reduced in the sight of all men to
machinery for the encouragement and devel-
opment of the most dangerous of all
forms of political fraud. Those who
have investigated the subject have
arrived at the same practical measure of re-
form. 1t has been quoted from the columns
of the Chicago Tribune; it can be found re-
duced TO the form of a constitutional amend
ment in the report of Mr.. Lawrence, of Ohio,
to the last House of Representatives.
This has, then, been commonplace of life
less discussion almost from time immemorial.
What can be done to make it a subject for
action 2-to forward its adoption? Poll
ticians, caucuses, and conventions cannot be
relied on in this matter. This measure seeks
to remove, not to create, a fountain of COR
ruption. 1t carries with it no political in
| terest, no claim on patronage, no spoils of
victory. 1t is simply measure suggested
| by common sense and common honesty for
| the common good. 1t is in the interest of
| all, and not of faction.
The student of social science seeks ever to
prevent crime, not by repression, but by
| removing the hidden inducement to crime.
| He will seek to protect the ballot by remov-
| ing in SO far as he can, all inducement to
commit frauds through the ballot. He will
| not pass laws to punish fraudulent voting
| if he can prevent fraudulent voting by
rendering it useless. If there is, then, any
public field in which the labors of this asso-
| cation can be made useful, if there is any
political function it can fulfil, it is in putting
| its shoulder to the wheel in aid of a work of
| reform like this, as necessary as it is thank
| less. Somebody must do it, A machinery
in the State, apart from all party organizations,
| aloof from all politics, is greatly needed to
| keep public attention continually awake to
| such subjects as this, or the kindred measure
| of Civil Service reform. To this work the
| Social Science Association proposes more
| especially to devote itself, and to the end
that it may efficiently do SO, it asks the sup
| port and encouragement of all who, wishing
| well to their country, do not themselves
render it that individual service which they
| feel is its due.
would now respectfully suggest that this
| association do memorialiZe Congress on the
| subject l have had the honor of discussing.
CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS, JR.
After the reading of this paper was finished,
it was moved by Mr.. James nj. Barnard as
| follows
| ReSOLoed, That the officers of this associa.
ton be, and hereby are, instructed to prepare
| q memorial to the Congress of the United
| States, in relation to the immediate passage