The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1880-01-24
Fer the NEw JOHNSTON.
SAVE THE SHIP.

ems to wreck our glorious ship OF
State; we allude to our loose and de-
fective election laws, not only of this
State, but it seems of most or all OF
our sister States also. There is but
one other danger so great as this, in
our judgment, and that is the incli-
nation in the minds of many to favor
a military Imperialism in this coun-
try, rather thar democratic Repub-
lie, as made by our fore fathers; and
lit. must be apparent to all careful
observers that these twin evils are
now in the field as allies, and are, in
fact. but one and the same in intent
and effect, for if our election laws
are not so framed as to secure to the
suffrigan the benefit of his vote as
he gaze IL, and to the recipient of
such votes the benefit thereof, as SO
but each and both are al
lowed to be defrauded through the
forms of law, and men installed into
office who. were not put there by the
votes of the people; then, indeed,
will the people conclude that the
ballot is a farce and a fraud
and prefer imperial stray, where ia
vors come directly from the throne.
Orr experience as a people, for the
last four years, has shown us our
danger in this respect-it began in
Louisiana, and has ended in Maine.
The latter may be regarded as the
echo of the former; hence it shows
that the pernicious influence of that
high handed crime against right and
civil liberty has diffused itself over
this continent, until it now threatens
the very life of our form of Govern
ment. Can this sad catastrophe be
avoided? And if so, how? We think
it can and win be; if we are wise;
and the way to do it is, in our opin-
ion, to lose no time in so amending
our election ldps in each and all the
States, as to secure the modus oper-
andi aud effect of all popular cleo
tons against the possibility QfJraud
or imposition. Such laws, in their
whole length and breadth, should be
precise, and get compact-nothing
should be left to chance or mere dis
erection. The whole question should
resolve itself into this: $50
saith the loac." 1t is not safe to rely
too much upon partizan fairness or
discretion. If we could exclude par
titan feeling or bias from elections,
all would be well, but this is impossi-
bic; hence we should devise some
way by law to meet it, and to neu-
tralize or equalize it's ;pernicious eff
fects. How can this be done, is the
question? We believe that one cause
of this evil lies in our system of vot-
ing, and that the UiUa roce system is
the best ever devised, and that the
man who is afraid to vote his senti-
ments publicly is too nearly slave
to deserve to vote; but as to this,
others may differ with us, hence we
will let it remain, but we would re-
quire each and every voter to sub
scribe has name, or in case he can
not write, then his mark, properly
witnessed, at the bottom of his bal
lot, before delivered; and in order to
secure the timid, we would make
it misdemeanoi', punishable by fine
and Imprisonment, for an election
officer to disclose the contents or
name of such ballots, unless when
duly summoned as witness in some
legal controversy touching said cleo
ton. But the first of all we would
have the County Court Of each
county, at its levy term next before
each general election in this State, to
select one discreet, fair minded free
holder and voter, in good standing
in his party, Of each. district of the
county, from each of the two main
political parties of said counties re-
spectiyely, for Judges Of the election,
for said districts, respectively, for
said election. Also to choose,in like
manner, two others for each county
to be dehominated County Judges
for said election. On the day. Of
said election these two district Judges
should choose third Judge, or UNI
pire, as follows: They shall each Sc.
lect discreet and fair minded free
holder and voter oftheir said District
in good standing in his party, whose
names shall be written on separ
ate ballot or piece Of paper. Wher
so written, one Of said first two shall