St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-05-21
which I do with pleasure. NJ. A. G.

abuse of the freedom of the ballot, thu
cornerstone of our republic. Indeed
fraud is now so common in our election
that the system is come to be almost ;
mockery, pretending to be the mean
of self-government to a free people, i
is instead by far too often used only al
a means by dishonest men for the &C
complishment of personal ends. Ant
unless remedy is soon applied, We
may, in the near future, expect to wit
ness the overthrow of our republic, ano
the failure of universal suffrage.
As a partial remedy for the frauds
as now practiced, an invention called
The Anti-Fraud Ballot-bOx is warmly
indorsed, and its adoption strongly
urged by such men as Joseph Cook,
Wendell Phillips and VIM. Lloyd Gar
rison. 1t is a square box with two glass
sides, and movable top and bottom.
Within is a long hook shaped like the
letter U, on which the ballots are strung
like trout on a willow twig; also an
enumerating apparatus, which strikes a
bell like conductors punch, and turns
I'D a new number for each vote. Its
working is as follows: The ballot with
a hole in one end is strung on the point
of the hook, which projects through the
top of the box. Upon the ballot is
placed a washer. A spring is touched,
and as the slides open the washer and
ballot drops inside, the bell rings and
the enumeratOr turns mp the number.
Then the slides close and the operation
is repeated until all have voted. The
box is sealed and can be opened only
by the proper officer after election,
when the ballots, remaining on the
hook, are counted in presence of rival
parties, the returns made out and the
box resealed for future reference. If
the number of ballots does not agree
with the check list, the enumeration,
and the number of washers, the fraud is
easily detected.
While it is evident that the universal
use of this invention would Lemedy il
legal voting, secure a fair count and
correct returns, yet the questions arise,
will it result in any permanent benefit
Will it be the means of raising our pol
itics out of the mire of corruption into
which they are fast sinking9 Strike to
the root of the evil ? In short, can men
be made honest by machinery ? Histo-
ry teaches us that they never have
been, common sense declares that they
never can be.
Unprincipled politicians, rs soon as
they find themselves thwarted in their
fraudulent practices will resort to other
methods for the accomplishment of their
wicked work. This is but fair con-
clusion, for all attempts at reform that
do not reach the heart must certainly
fail. Safes were invented, but the
burglar learned how to open them. An
improvement was made, and again the
burglar learned the combination. Now
the chronometer lock is in use, and the
burglar either blows open the safe,
gags the cashier, or FORCES check.
And so any machine to prevent fraud
at elections will tend to sharpen the
wits of political rascals, for just as long
as dishonesty exists in the heart of man,
so long will it appear at the pole in
spite of machinery.
While this ballet-box does not allow
a man to deposit three ballots-at once,
it does not prevent his buying votes,
nor his using force or brides to keep
men away from the polls, neither does
it impel man to vote who stays away
voluntarily. Yet unless every man is
allowed, and is required to vote, the
will of the people is never expressed in
an election.
Again, while this invention provides
that man shall deposit but one ballot,
and that shall be fairly counted, it does
not provide that it shall be intelligent
Yet it is an acknowledged fact that the
greatest foe to universal suffrage in this
| country to-day is ignorance. Not only
that total Ignorance that prevails in
portions of the South and West, but 8
kind of ignorance that exists all ovel
our country in men otherwise intelli.
gent, who consider politics of too little
Importance to demand their attention
hence they become the willing tools OF
political wirepullers.
Thus while this new remedy would
heal some of the ugly ulcers of corrup
ton that have broken out all over oul
country's fair face, from Maine to Lou
isiana, from New York to California, i
will not expel the poison lurking in hel
system, which if allowed to remain will
surely break out in some other form
If the country is to be cured, this pois
oned blood of dishonesty and corrup
ton which courses through her vein
must give place to the healthy blood O
purity and patriotism.
What the country needs most is not g
patent ballOt-box, with glass sides, will
hooks, bells, washers, springs and seals
but men, honest, active men, men wht
have her interests at heart, men will
characters moulded by the true princi
pies of Christianity, the basis of all true
reform, the agency that has done mos
to civilize and enlighten the world. The
united sentiments of such men would
| form an effective moral machine. a ma.