New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-05
BUTLER INAUGURATED.



- -. a, en-. no,,tsx mayer n exempted ~ law
from taxation he being Otherwise qualified, such citizen
has NV the very terms Of the Constitution rsn' "
vote We might that happy condition when iron
cepses and other indirect taxation our State sndlcouh
being paid should not require to levy either
state or county tax upon the citizen OF Improperly
Tn sucb casa would anyone claim that where no tax was
levied at ALL there voters In Massachusetts al
beipg dsranchsod under the first clause or Article Ill
Suppose the Legislature should enact that no state OF
county taxes should be levied In given year. as It may
do and hope with due economy in State and county
expenditures at some time will do. would such law op
crate as Acknowledgement of all voters, or an e1
emption citizens from taxation am most iuy
persuaded that all patriotic men VIII agree Win "c
the desrabilty carly day as possible Oh es'ao
fishing free suffrage oil citizens, with proper guarus
against frauds in its exercise in Massachusetts, which
makes it's free institutions It's proudest boast II IL can DO
done without violation OF any inhibition OF tne Cohs
tion.
QUALIFICATIONS FOR SUFFRAGE
In practice does not property OF tax qualification
upon the voter bear unequay and unjusty upon nim
II small sum be made prequsite then, with perieos
parity ofreasonng, large sum may DO imposed WINCH
would put this franchise OF freedom in the hands Of
few only who can then say. the Roman captain an
swered to the apostle, With great sum obtained TINS
freedom" and no Paul can proudly reply, but was
free boInl"
The United States OF May l. 1880 shows that
there were in Massachusetts 50 GAS male persons ABOVE
the of twenty years. and the rate OF increase
will now giyo us 1902 out of 1, 1888 g5 inhabitants
The largest vote in the state. IN november VI
the for President, 2o21l2 Tue soins cel
sua sho chat males twenty years Oh age
and over neither aliens FOR llterate wltuin our
tutons requirements IhsSo wTdH 90 ona tba
impediments made by our laws OF registration rms
ater a. we have seen the largest vote ever cast
was 2s25l2. Taking that from the total number OF POS
franchsed aud voting, 36 SLIGO per cent OF the
vodng population Of the state me t9ta voEe actually
ton viii DO also found That there are fewer voters III
Massachusetts, IN proporon 70 1ne @ in u av Other
State FIVE North or South however sparse anu scat
tered pOpclatiOn OF such state may BE- WINE Massa
chusetts s OF the most compact ana they se|eu
voting is question which divides political par
ties. The doctrine OF free suffrage {elnsns cara
principle Of the Republican party O-ny, nowhere better
more eoquently stated than by one OF her chosen
Representatives wh4 might well nave rs no VA "a
mont Temple upon questions OF Repnoean pr3eipes ID
these questions which demand attention to-day
They the questions OF free and a elections the 40
sol1e enjoyment by every IN this country Of ,he
cation suffrage has been the doctrine OF the Demo
principles Of true democracy by the influences. OF
slavery, which all good men thank Cod are gone Tor
their constitutions II is for yon as Legislators OF as
shah remain longer III the degr AIDED column
ballot requires freedom 10 vote and fair count TO
make it the effective agent of free government His
vote should De given by the voter free from eli intimda
tlon oversight by knowledge Of others For his
exercise great right the voter should only be ac
to his conscience and his God Complansmore
Or less wellfounded, have been made that in MassI
ehusetts in other States, intimidation and coer
con OF voters have obtained thai ballots with disInc
tive colors ard marks enable the commission of thosc
wrongs have been used Former legislators wiehing to
wealth have onlieavored By law TO limit the size,
printing and appearance of ballots as n soine degree TO
reuder ballots ndis ngusnable in the hand Of the
voter But why strike at the very root OF the evil at
once and provide aat ali votes shall DO l1closed IN self
sealing envelopes OF the slze quality and COLOR To
be furnished by Statei Ihen the size aud complexion
Of tue ballot would be immaterial.
Allegations made OF stuitng and roDOmg ballot
ali tins would be prevented by tGe use OF the en-
yelope the na3er OF 10 & se yay m b
voting list And as IL IL provided that any enveope con
tanning should be thrown out, the disability
Of fraudulent votes being cast would practically be OBJ
liberated. comnend This change, III the interest OF
There ia another cognate subject 10 that whicI
have been discussing which has received encourage
ent in the platforms OF both political parties ana that
is tue Tigit OF suffrage In women For mysef beneve
that that rights yea them 5y the Cosstnnoa 81 tne
overed IN my action on this subject but not IN my
WolneH cannot he permitted to in this Common
wealth. by Constitution fer national or state officers
ofASepsS 'P nu tsv NAV vote II me law 60 provides in
municipal elections there - one way IN Wnich tne ex
out any possibility of miseDef, seltle question which,
IN my mind. will be determlnRnVe whether women
,houid the ballot aud tnat Ia wheiher the minority
Of women OF THIS comm wealth desire 70 vote This Is
ayerred one side aud denied on tne other Dnl
desire they will have the vote
for believe tb TACT being known, 10 just man would
allowing women e vote under the regulations as
men III municipal elections which law shall take s1ect
wien shall be accepted by majority OF the women
voting al some general election. So,
Objection has been Inado that women do not desire
he
80 INTO tie ward-rooms and voting places.
should be estercd the place, by number or rather sur
feient description OF residence, forming part OF the
iorssd with her name and place rcsidence her OWE
handwTiTipc Post Oceur ia scme proper DOx pro-
election in the cities and where they reside within
ten before such general election, az %on lie
ballots vita the registry lists aud assert count ana de
clare the votes as in other cases .
would recommend that the day Of general election be
made q legal holiday, with the same Safeguards az
that no liquor be sol and liquor shop be kept open
between and sunset OF thst day NOW the courts
whilc others arc especially those requiring mechan
and end otnsr apor sc ew
who ought to nave that day for their Official duties
CRIMES
No state in the Union has 90 large and full isis OF
crimes and offences OF the petty sort in her statutes
Massachusetts, These laws bring Massachusetts, into
pr disadvantage when her criminal statistics are com
pared OF other States. To people out OF the
STATE who look the number only or our criminals, IL
would almost appear that criminal offences with US
were state industry. To the. contrary know from
observation and comparison OF the stausucs OF
crime for many years that there no state In tue Union
that in fact has ordered communities or fewer OF
what ought 10 denomnatod crimes committed within
her boracrs than Massachusetts.
There liz one crime which indicates sucD Dc
praytg OF such dsrc ard OF lfe sucn ntiice
oga,d All nsnknd that the dung OF IL should be visit
ed with the s9ftest and most concign punishment. l
nd
vifnly and deihera ely does act with intent TO de-
rail- moving tram, propelled By steam on any railroad
Shall upon conviction thereof suffer death. such man
IN bis heart thousand timee u may be, murderer
Of innocent men, women aud children VINO have Gone
and can do him no harm IL by accident lie falls In MS
Dea0us purpose, 10 accomplish which he has done all
lie do escape is In the providence OF God ana
no merit OF nis.
The public mind Is shocked read. day by day, OF
defaeatous OF trusecs tresurers casrre, and others