New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-11-05
unrsr-ro-unrSE c1Nr1SgLNG.


The municipal canvass in Brooklyn is one
of the most eXhilaratlng episodes OF recent
politics. Mr.. Seth Low commands the loyal
support of the unbroken Republican line, and
the hearty cooperation Of the citizens COM
mittce and Of a powerful contingent of Dem
ocrats who have refused TO follow General
Slocum in humiliating retreat after a sham
fght with the Ring. He has conducted his
own canvass with ability. manlncSs and bust
ncss-,ikc drcctncsS, answering lngcnnously the
most embarrassing questions, discussing the
main issues of this important contest
with commendablc candor, and arousing public
enthusiasm whercvcrhe has appeared, whether
bv day among workingmcn at factories or be-
fore the larger asscmblages of the evening.
While the political machinery Of party organi-
cation has been in full motion, a unique body
of volunteer canvasscrs has been actively en-
ployed in every election district of the city.
The Young Republicans are raw recruits in the
local feld-this is only their second year OF
active seryice-but they surpass the veterans in
earnestness of purpose and thoroughncss of
method. They have undertaken during the
present week a work of very great magnitude.
This is nothing less than strcct-after-s st rect,
hOusc-tO-hOuse canvass of the registered voters
of Brooklyn. The work has been mainly di-
Iected by the subcommittee Of the wards,
but assistance has been rendered by nearly
every member of the club. In this way many
thousands Of signatures have been obtained TO
a formal pledge to vote for Mr.. Low for Mayor
The work has been taken up with tact as well
as zeal, and the results are said TO be very en-
cOuraging. At the same time the club has
raised large sum by voluntary subscription
to defray the legitimate expenses of the can
vass, and has completed arrangements for
bringing out full vote on election day.
SO effective are the methods Of this body of
volunteer canvasscrs that the cry has been
raised on the other side that, although they
were almost too young to know what they
were about, they were in reality substituting
pledged for secret ballot and aiming n
deadly blow at popular liberty. "In so far ms
they succeed in their purpose" exclaims THE
Eagle in one of its widest sweeps of rhetoric,
" they will pierce the panoply formed by the
fathers for the protection of the indcpcnd-
ence of the poorest citizen" This pondcrous
moral is feathered off with playful references
TO the Greek and Roman assemblies and with
a historical review of the DEVELOPMENT of
secret baloting in England from Fletcher of
Saltoun in 17O5 to Jeremy Bcnlham and the
Mills. The English precedents woud have
more force if vote by ballot which was adj
vocated by Mr.. Grotc, the historian, had
not been introduced so recently that its
utility is still questioned 10y one, at least, of
the great historical parties. But without tax
ing up the argument too seriously, we do not
share the morbid apprchcnsions which this
new form of political canyassing seems to have
caused. 1t would not be possible to exagge-
rate the value Of secret ballot, if the voters
independence of action were menaced by any
form of coercion. But this is not the case in
Brooklyn. The registered voter is not fol-
lowed to his home or to his workshop
and cross-examined by a political hire
ling or SPY in reference to his intentions
at the polls. He is simply asked in gentle
manly way whether he has any objections to
stating who is his candidate for Mayor.
If he dislikes the intrusion it is
easy for him to conceal his vote, and to
lock the secret in his breast and vote in ST.
lcnce like an ancient Athenian. But if he
consents to make known his choice and to
pledge himself in writing to vote for nm I'M
exceptionable candidate, we do not perceive that
any injustice is done TO anybody's manhood
or that anybody has engaged in any business
that is essentially un-American.
This is not tie first canvass " registered