The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-10-12
A Registry Law.

The State election is now over, and
both parties are loud in their mutual
charges Of fraudulent voting. This is
usual as a follower Of every contested
election. The defeated party in every
such election attribute their defeat to
frauds. The successful party always
make the counter charge that their ma
jority would have been greater but for
the frauds of their opponents. Taking
as true what both parties assert to be
fact, and it is certain that fraudulent
voting is thing of common occurrence
at all our contested elections.
II this, then, be fact, it behooves all
we'll disposed citizens OF every party to
concur in the adoption of some statuto-
ry measure to suppress such frauds
upon the sanctity of the ballot-box. 1t
is a common trulsm, that the ballot-boX
is the palladium of civil liberty. The
vote is the highest prerogatiye of citi-
zenship. 1t is the manifestation of the
voters sovereignty; the lawful exer-
else of his indisputable will in the af-
tairs OF State. To permit chat sOyer-
eighty OF citizenship to be thwarted by
fraud is to invade with sacrilegious hand
the very holy of holies ofhuman freedom.
The unlawful voter robs the lawful citi-
zen Of his highest privilege as freeman.
II permitted, the ballot-box no longer re-
mains as the means of declaring or exc
cutting freeman's will. There can be
no higher degree OF usurpation than this.
Is is even worse than violence, which
might be resisted. 1t secretly perVerts
the means provided for the lawful citi
zen's defense, to a means for his over
throw and subjugation to the unlawful
will Of another. There is no arithmetic
that can enumerate or measure the evils
to flow from such fraud as this.
To remedy the mischiefs that musi
proceed from this prostitution of the
ballot-boX, is one of the most sacred du
ties OF legislation. 1t is in no sense a
party question. 1t involves all parties
alike, because it involves the interests
and welfare Of the whole community, oil
all sorts and conditions of men. There
ought therefore to be concurring sem
timent among all the people, without
distinction OF party, to devise and adopt
such measures as might place this com.
mon ard most sacred right beyond all
danger Of fraudulent invasion. To this
end we can see no reason why regis
try law should not be enacted. There
can be neither injustice nor hardship
in such law. To require the registra.
ton of voter as such, is imposing upon
him no burden that he ought not cheer
fully to comply with as q matter of COM
mon security, even to his own rights as
Rvoter.
We have now upon our statute books,
and have long had, stringent penal laws
for the protection of the ballot, and for
Furnishing fraudulent voting, even to the
extent of Imprisonment in the peniten
tiary. This is all well enough; and il
shows the proper solicitude on the sub
ject OF securing the just and true ex
preston of the public will at elections
But it is principle in all sound legisla
tion that the proper measures for the
prevention of a crime are as important
as M asures for its punishment. And
for the prevention of this grave offense
of fraudulent voting we know OF nc
measure more efficient and correct than
in suitable registry law.
IL earlier times when our population
was more sparse and when mutua.
acquaintance among the people OF eact
voting precinct was almost universal
there was less need o! such registration
But circumstances are now changed il
mat regard. Our towns and cities nav
grown to such numbers OF population
that general aequaintanceship becomes
impossible. Hence the true citizen ant
lawful voter is as likely to be challenged
at the polls as is the unlawful and fraud
. ulent voter. A registry would at onc'