National Republican., 1883-01-05

mission Of those wrongs have been used. 1
is but just to say that former legislatures
wishing TO blot out this stigma upon the fai
fame Of our commonwealth, have endeavoret
by law TO SO limit the size, printing and an
pearancc OF ballots MS in somo dcgreceo rem
der tho ballots indistinguishable in the hant
of the voter.
But why not strike at the very root of th,
evil at once, and provide that all votes shal
be inclosed in self.sealing envelopes Of the
same size, quality, and color TO be furnished
by the state? Then the size and complexion
of the ballot would be immatoral.
Jhis is not an untried experiment in Mas.
sachusctts, A law was enacted in 1851 by
which all votes should be cast in such enve.
lopes, and remained tho rule until 1858, when
the use Of such envelopes was made, not com.
pulsory, but permssive. From the moment
Of that change, to vote sealed ballot marked
The man who used it; and such vote has
rarely since been cast although tho law still
remains on the statute book which requires
that envelopes for such purpose shall always
be furnished ne the polls. The legal machinery
is ready, and, to make it cncctual the per.
missivc clause is only to be made obligatory
There is now in the manner of conducting
our elections great scandal-tho want of ac.
curacy in counting votes; so that in closely
contested elections, recounts arc continually
demanded, and almost Invariably show diff.
ference from the original count
Allegations are made of stung and robbinp
ballot. boxes. All this would be prevented by
the uS of tho envelope. The number of en-.
volopes would always conform, in we'll con.
Quoted election, TO the checked voters ON the
voting list. And as il is provided that any
envelope containing two votes should be
thrown out, the possibility of fraudulent votes
being cast would practically be obliteratcd.
commend this change, in the interest OF
free and fair elections, most earnestly TO your
attention.
WOMAN SUFFRAGE.
There is another cognate subject to that
which we have been discussing, which has re.
coivcd encouragement in the platforms OF
both political parties, and that is the right of
suffrage in women. For myself, 1 believe
that right is given them by the constitution
of the United States BY the decision of the
courts l am overruled in my action on this
subject, but not in my convictions. 1t is an
experiment in our government which never
has been here practically tried. For although
women are allowed to vote for Il single class
of municipal officers, yet there are so many
restrictions and impediments thrown around
it that no woman with proper spirit of self
respect ought to allow herself to pass through
the ordeal to attain useless privilege of
voting thus invidiously. This, believe, is
the esteem in which it is held by majority
of the most cstimable women of the common
wealth.
Women cannot be permitted to vote in this
commonwealth, by our constitution, for ma
tional or state officers Except for presiden-
tial electors) If the law were changed; but
they may vote, If the law so provides, in
municipal elections.
While this experiment ought to be fully
made, yet it cannot be So as wo have seen,
without constitutional amendment. To
make that amendment would take three
years. If tho experiment should turn out to
be an unfortunate one il would take three
years more to restore tho constitutional pro-
vision.
There is one way, however in which tho
experiment can most advantageously be tried,
and at the same time, without any possibility
of mischief, settle a question which in my
mind will be detcrminatiyo whether women
should have the ballot, and that is whether
the majority of women of this commonwealth
desire to vote. This is averrcd on the one
side and denied on the other; but certain il
is, If the great body ofintelligent women of the
commonwealth desire to vote they will have
the vote, for | believe that fact being known
no just man would oppose IT, / suggest,
therefore, that law bo passed allowing
women TO vote under the same regulations
as men in municipal elections which law shall
take effect when IL shall be accepted by ma
,jority of the women voting ut some general
election.
Objection has been made that women do
not desire to vote because il would be un-
pleasant TO 90 into the ward rooms and voting
places. TO obviate that objection, and to get
a full and fair expression of the women upon
this question, whether they will accept and
exercise tho right of voting, / would suggest
that the women above 2l should be registered,
the place, by number, or other sufficient de-
sCrptiOn of residence, forming q part of the
registry, and that every woman may deposit
her vote, indorsed with her name and place
of residence in her own handwriting, in the
postofce, or in some proper box provided for
the purpose, addressed TO the proper officers
of election in the cities and towns where they
reside, within ten days before such general
election, at which time the officers of election
may open, examine, and compare the ballots
with tho registry lists and assort, count, and
declare the votes rs in other cases.
Such a law would seem to be easily framed
so as to cut of all opportunity for fraud very
little temptation to which would exist, and
thus enable every woman without trouble or
discomfort to vote upon this question, and in
struct the people of the commonwealth as to
their future action thereon.
ELECTION DAY A HOLIDAY.
The governor recommends that the day of
general election be made legal holiday, with
the same safeguards as to observance as are
given to Sunday in this regard; that no liquor
be sold, and no liquor shop bo kept open be-
tween sunrise and sunset Of that day. He
also suggests that the election of city govern
ments might take place ON the same day, each
voter having then leisure to attend to both
and to save the cost, trouble, and ex pense of
another day of election.
Under the head Of
NATURALIZATI0N
the governor advises that the restrictions of
TO the supreme and superior
courts only should be repealed. Since the
question tabe adiudicated is simply whether
the applicant declares under oath that he re-
and abjures all foreign allegiance,
md proves that he has resided within the
United States five years and within the state
Dne year at least, and during that time has
been "of good moral character, attached 10
the principles Of the constitution of the United
States, and well disposed TO tho good order
aud happiness of the samen the governor sees
no reason why this cannot be determined as
well by the judge Of district or municipal
court US by judge of the superior or supreme
court
FEDERAL RELATIONS.
There has been for many years standing
of the two houses upon federal re-
Iations, but the governor has been able TO dis