Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-12-02
Checks To Fraudulent Votes or Counts.

OucCAb Az 1IeuuW0ut vOtos VI Oouutss
There is an Italian maxim that. "when
the danger is past the guardian saint is
derided." The Northern voter don't propose
to fight and forgive in tina, cheap way.
The fraudulent system Of voting and
counting. inaugurated and unblushingly
practiced BY the "solid south. IL contagious.
Maine had it "bad" under the Garcelon dy-
nasty. At the recent Presidential election,
in every considerable precinct under "bour-
bon" rule, fraud. force. double voting,
onion-skin ballots. and a false count, we're
the Democratic arguments at the polls.
Already in many Of the States and in
most Of the large cities as well. elections
have become q farce. purity Of ballot an OBJ
solescent term nor can We hope for bet-
ter state Of things until some cauterixed
remedy is applied. and which mus, be APP
piled ere the fabric and foundation of the
government be undermined, or its sover-
eighty be transferred from the hands Of the
people into those Of an odious oligarchy.
1t has been the boas, Of the American
people that no other government was ever
80 wisely designed. or so successful in ac-
complaining its purpose, as tina, under
which we have hitherto had the good for
tune to live. To make the frame of
our political system strong and imperishable,
the people in each state must know that the
elections in other states, in all Of the states.
united for common security. are fairly and
honestly governed.
To secure the end in view We respectfully
suggest to the incoming Legislature that
sundry changes in our Election Laws are
needed.
LIST. That tbs checks" upon the voting
lists shall be made with pen and black ink.
except, that one challenged" and voting.
shall be checked with red ink.
I'd. When the polls have closed the Clerk
shall take possession of the Lists to be by
him recorded-names aud checks-in book
kept for that purpose On the day next
succeeding an election he shall make full
'ranserip, Of the voting list, names. checks,
and ink-colors, to be sent to the Secretary
OF state.
3D. Whenever the number of checks and
the number Of ballots do no, agree. i, being
a fraudulent diferencc-depri,ing a legal
voter Of bis RICH, to vote. being accounted a
fraud-a new election shall be ordered.
ith. II in any nleance the whole number
OF checks be in suspicious ratio to the whole
number Of voters, an investigation be or
dered, resultan, in a new election, If wrong.
doing be developed.
Groundwork for Suspicion
LIST. When the total number on the vo,-
ng-list, either Of voters. or checks. exceed.
that of to I, Of the total population.
I'd When, in interior towns, the total
number Of checks exceed ~ per cent. Of
the total number Of voters.
Sd. When, in maritime towns the total
checks much exceed 80 per cent. Of the
voters total.
~sfs hoNA1
legally eOlonized by operative. and en-
p!o!es, so tina, the proportion OF checks TO
total population be / TO 3 IL.
In the Presidential election Of 1876, Off
eial data Show that the total vote Of Maine.
vas TO the total population. a. | to 1. ;.
The total number of voters, voting. was
s2.3 per cent Of the total voter. of the
State
In the maritime towns, the total voter.
~ere bu, III per cent. Of the ,p,a voters
Says genius, in cartoons and comments,
don't bother the people with the vexed
question in English grammar As TO whether
the United States is or are nation" II
the crushing of the Rebellion did no, make
the final decision, lie, Republican Congress
do so by an absolute rejection of claimant.
to Office whose record is tainted with fraud
or stained with crime. EAST SuRRY.