Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1882-12-07

A Protection Against Fraud-It Works
Well in . Mining Country.
Deadwood Times.
AZ this is q republican government,
where the will of the people is the law.
and as the will of the people can only
become known through their votes in
elections, it is of vital Importance that
elections should be fair and honest.
We all know what desperate and unscru-
pulous politicians and factions are cap
aple of. It is notorious fact that all |
manner of crime and rascality has been
resorted to. to defeat the will of the
people and secure victory for parties
The charge Of corruption and fraud can
not be laid at the door of any particu-
lar party. Every clique, faction and
party in the land has been guilty of it,
and some unfortunately, especially in
the great centers of population, depend
directly upon chicanery and such sharp
practice for their success. Men do not
comprehend the Importance the abso-
Lutte sacredness, of their franchise, or
they would guard.it as their life and
honor, as the visible embodiment of
liberty and all that is good and glorious
for the down-trodden of all lands. The
man who sells his vote is renegade to
his race. Votes have been bought and
sold in open market, men have voted
time and again, falsely and illegally.
Repeating has become profession.
The will of the people has been defeated
by fraud and this in republic is the
unpardonable sin. Knowing the; srils
that threaten the very existence of
republic, We cannot be over cautious,
neither can we throw too many safe
guards, even though they may be incon-
venlent and vexatious, around the ballot.
to keep it pure and honest, to have it,
as 1t is intended to be, an expression of
the will OF the people. The Rapid City
journal takes exceptions, and as it ap-
pears to us, without solid reasons to the
registry law passed two years ago for
the benefit Of the Black Hills counties.
The journal knows that in the early days
unblushing frauds were perpetrated.
1t was to prevent them that the registry
law was passed. As for the inconvenience
of the law, that is childish arguement.
All laws are Objectionable to evil doers.
Ii the law does not reach the evil let it
be amended until it does. We cannot
but think that fraudulent voting is an
evil, and that the present law
does IN q measure remedy
it. the Journal to the contrary, notwith-
standing. The Journals argument does
not touch what might be regarded as
Objectionable in the act, but is special
plea, reeking with demagoguery in aid
and comfort OF every turncoat, blk, aud
repeater in the country. The Journal
complains of the inconvenience the Law
causes. This is the truth, it is inconven.
lent-lt is very inconvenient and per
haps wrong, according to the Journals
logic. to have to 60 mile, or perhaps. q
dozen miles. to vote, but if the voter re-
CARDS his right he does 60, and should
also go and register.
Eternal vigilance is the price of lib.
erty," to which may be added "a little
personal Inconvenience, and perhaps
toll. But unfortunately, the eternal
laws are 80 arbitrary, we have no elevator
to hoist us into heaven, we must dc
something to get there. This nation
found freedom through hard kuocks, aud
can only keep it by guarding and work.
ing for it. The Journal speaks of the
unjust workings OF the law at Lead City
The monopoly, corruption faction. at.
tempted swindle on the people but
lacked the brains to carry it out A tool
of the monopoly, with unbounded appe.
tlte for dirty work. but with no sense tc
speak OF, attempted to fix up the regis.
try lists. The names of all men then
employed, or whoever had been employed
| by the monopoly-the living, the dead
the absent, the present, all were therein
recorded. Not in alphabetical order. as
the law commands, but in jumble
just as they appeared on the pay rolls
The brilliant head and the brilliant tai
Of this neat job wagged with Joy, but ii
didn't work. in tact, it was boomerang
which few back and would have knocked
J their brains out. had nature so furnished
J them. Men had to stand ut the polls
many minutes before their names could
. be discovered and identified among the
confused tumble. BY this means. the
tricksters ruined themselves through
their own stupidity.
The registry law does protect elections
. if it is observed. Let us retain this law
and if need be, amend it. The peopl,
, want the Law. The Pioneer copies th,
Journals article, with the the endorse
ment, "a sound article" Where sount
, except that it full Of sound AMI fury
I. .'signifying nothing.