New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-04-10

the State to clubhouse any body OF the State returning
officers TO dsfranchlse some OF hese tIow out
and fasfyng the reeult OF the peoples ballots when
nave oesn dSy returned Dy tpe or V 20 dopaed by an
oeareby OF perpetual otoe.hoders as 10 saOInlt 10
people of the United States have an interest and right
TO say that they shall not apply 1t to the appoint
ment of P eadenial electors Let us never surrender
trne that renders IL not only practcaDie pu easy 70
surround the returning 3cer Ti o9 b m Of eecoTs
chosen by the people when another BODY OF eeeoi
msress cannot INQUIRE into the fact and however
deplOrable this may be- II Is weak spot I'D our poea
every Kind OF fraud every imaginable species OF cor
rupt nfuencel OF what consequence ISL 10 me, gu
zen Of a state and OF the United States whether
the returning officers of my State or any other are
bribed with money with political prom
,es or TfhT n he be drT faf he Country that
one party should retain than that another should
acquire the Executive object Some OF the greatest
crimes in history have been committed under the con
vcuOu that the pubic good required their commission
another when the rciu ming officers of State make
false OF the popular votes for PRESIDENTIAL elec-
cumstances be inquired into is not that weak spot ia
revealed in electoral system but the whole system
surrendered TO the rapacous the ever sataoc
the ever INSCRIPTIONS, the ever dangerous spirit OF
party, which cOrupts and destroys the liberties OF me
Republic III its most sacred ana It's best guarded lnsu
tons
IMPORTANCE OF TIE PRESIDENTIAL VOTE.
Ny friends the exercise OF the elective franchise in
voting for President Of the United States is the most
lofty farreacng in its consequences of all the
political privileges that have been bestowed upon the
American citizen. Run your thoughts back to the emu
mcration which made Of the powers of that great
Office and then reflect that IN voting TO I'LL yOu act az
am Integral mart of the Nation You exercise function
that elevated more direct and extensive In It's
influence upon public affairs than was ever exercised I'D
anv other republic ancient modern; FOR IN no repuD-
lie IN ancient modern times has there ever been an
uutrammellcd suffrage Of Nation in when
the powers and duties were SO directly held OF
aud for the people, under written Constitution,
as they are III this Office OF President OF the
who hold it, you would guard yOnr life, or your per
sOnal honor Surrender IL 10 no political doctrines that
Will tend in any degree TO Impair IT, lest the une may
when some power viii say TO you as you approach
the polls 90 DO yon see those bayOnels They say 10
you that you may vote, but you must vote IN one way!
Wpat shall we say OF a Nation whose ancestors shed
their blood to establish the right OF inc people 10 APP
point their rulers ana who permit their rulers to he
appointed by fraudulent tampering with their bal OTIS
What shall we say OF a people who wnen they nave
deposited their ballots in the sacred urn OF public bery
hand ii over to jugger to shake out ofU whatever
Our country is the system OF It's Tree
institutions government and III that system the right
the people TO appoint their own rulers Is the imme
date Jewel OF their souls"
IL my life and health are spared 10 another Autumn
and il shan be desired shall with further discus
siOus OF the origin structure and purposes OF our po
cal institutions. Would that could speak with authority
But truth this noble constitutional history 0i ours
in accumulated experience of centuries because
il runs back to the of English freedom, and at
time marked by practical adaptations 10 the
of q people commencing new political existence
this important branch history demands, in him who
undertakes its exposition no other authority thaI tDat
which derived from careful and accurate invesga-
tion from love OF liberty and from reverence Tor Tue
public With faith in human virtue and in the capacity OF
mankind 10 govern themselves.