The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-01-31
THE PURITY OF ELECTIONS.


From the albany Journal
The appearance of Governor Hoffman in
the role of an eleetion-purist is singular and
refreshing spectacle. It stimulates the graft
tying hope that he may yet propose the repeal
of the infamous Erie swindle, to which he
gave life and being. 1t excites new sensa-
tion of delight at the possibility that he may
yet suggest the reform of the Tammany Gov
eminent, with which he has been 80 closely
identified What may not be expected indeed
from one who is capable of such surprises?
When Democratic Governor 80 far emanci-
pates himself from all the associations and
traditions OF his party, as to propose a mea-
sure against corruptions at elections, it means
either the dawn of the political millennium or
nothing at all!
In view of the past career and notorious
character of the Democratic party the mes
sage of his Excellency is probably inspired
by the desire to redeem it, if possible, from
some of the odium of election frauds. The
party is covered all over with the leprosy of
corruption, bribery and outrage-the Gov
ernor would doubtless be glad to hide its
putrid blotches and fetid faint under the
cloak of specious professions. 1t is every
where known as the party of election crimes
the Governor would doubtless like some
thing which should serve as q counterpoise
to these truthful and damaging charges. But
novel as is the spectacle, and suspicious as
are its undercurrents, we gladly hail it for all
it is worth. We heartily welcome any access
sion to the ranks of those who would purify
the ballot.
We shall give a sincere and cordial support
to any proposition, come from what source it
may, which shall be designed and calculated
to lift our elections above the corruptions
and frauds which now distinguish them. The
Governor points out what is unquestionably
a great evil. To arrest bribery at elections,
to check the prodigal use of money and the
common purchase of votes, would be grand
reform. Governor Hoffman has made pro-
position which, whether eficacious or not,
looks in that direction. If he and his friends
sincerely mean reform, if they really desire
to purify our elections, they will not want
for support from Republicans.
But it cannot fail to strike every intelligent
man that this Governor Hoffman who now
talks so finely about the Importance of puri-
flying elections is the same Governor Hoff-
man who, in his annual message, vehemently
denounced a measure already in existence for
the purifcation of the ballot-box. This is no
subject for Janus-faced conduct. A man
cannot be for pure elections and against pure
elections. Governor Hoffman condemns the
purchase of votes, and so far he is right. But
does he not know that this is only one form
of corruption? Does he not know that as
compared with some others, shameful as it is,
it is nevertheless the least OBJ bjectionable? 1t
unquestionably prostitutes the ballot-box
But it at least does not defy the popular will.
Governor Hoffman takes particular pains to
denounce the man who secures public place
by corrupting the electors.
But he has not word to say against the
man who secures public place by trampling
upon the expression of the people, For two
years he himself occupied the Executive
Chair by tenure which rested solely upon
fraud. If he holds the position now by a
more rightful title it is only because the
people had become so habituated to the
reign of fraud and so impressed with the
hopelessness of any effort against its unlimi-
ted resources, that they made no serious at
tempt. Wherein is his position more honor
able when he gains his place through the
stuffing of ballot-boXes and the fraudulent
canvass of votes than the position of another
who gains his place by bribing the electors?
We like Governor Hoffmans proposition,
we repeat, as far as it goes. But we insist
that he and his friends shall go farther, or
else confess that they are dealing only in
claptrap. They cannot impose upon the peo-
pie with the pretense of desiring honest cleo
tions while they uphold the unparalleled sys-
tenn of fraud with which their names are SO
disgracefully associated. So long as they de-
nounce the national law to protect the ballot
box, SO long as they resist every effort
directed against repeating and false counting,
so long as at this very moment they are con-
templating the repeal of the Registry law for
the city of New York, the role of election
reformers very poorly becomes them. We
| are with them in every effort to check bribery
will they go with us in the effort to check
| repeating? We are with them in the desire
to cut off venal voters-will they go with us
in the desire to cut off illegal voters? We
are with them in the movement to get the
ballots honestly into the box-will they go
with us in the movement to get the ballots
honestly counted after they are there? If
| NOT Iet them confesa the hvnocrisv of THAR