Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1885-12-17

SIR CHAs dixie. as il i anticipated that
the vote Of the newly enfranchised will 20 in
this election. They embrace a large agricul-
tural section, and with these the great land
owners ere still all powerful
Bribery and corruption at elections are
killed in England. BY an act passed in 1854,
the offer of money, office, employment or
anything pertaining 70 personal or pecuniary
advantage. 20 as 10 win a vote, was con-
demned by fine and Imprisonment. Treat
ingn was also condemned. Undue influence
was condemned Anybody guilty Of such
offences was struck Off the register. Cock
AIDES even were prohibited, and the only thing
allowed was the use by a candidate Of a con-
v.yance for voter, when needed. In 1853,
tie act was 80 amended "a TO admit OF nc
payment being made ON behalf Of a candidate,
save by his authorized agents; and all claims
against candidate must be settled within a
month, otherwise the right 10 recover them Is
barred, the acts of bribery and corruption,
when proved against candidate. disqualify-
ing him AT the elections that returned Mr..
Diz-aeli and the Conservatives to power, not
c.ly were many of the elected members &c
parliament unseated, but quite number Of
boroughs lost their franchise, owing TO cor.
rupt practices.
The mode Of election here now is not very
different in its general feature from that
prevailing in the United States. Papers are
issued with the names Of all the candidates
printed in alphabetical order Formerly the
sheriff of the county or borough paid all the
necessary expenses Of the campaign, the
polling booths, paper, guardians and 80 forth.
Now this expense rests upon the candidates.
Booths or polling places are fixed on much
the same a with YOU. There are return
ing officers of the various candidates to
watch, and if necessary, challenge the
vote. Where there is doubt concerning
a voter and his qualifications pink
voting paper Is given and deposited,
the name, address, and so forth OF the voter
being taken. In case of a close contest the
pink tickets are very carefully examined.
Agents, called personation agents, represent
each candidate in the booths They take an
oath before the sheriff TO reveal nothing as to
the cast Of the vote An illiterate man
makes his cross opposite the name Of the can
didate he wishes to vote for, the personation
agents directing him. Ey the act Of 1874 any
man in England who paid poor rates on his
house was entitled to a vote. In Ireland only
those who paid poor rates on house value.
ticn of $40 had votes in boroughs; in Irish
counties the rate was still higher. The recent
change by the Gladstone government has
largely helped to swell the Parnell vote IN
Ireland. while it tends to still scatter parties
over here. We are moving toward great
events and mighty changes. Whether the
church viii fall, the lords disappear, ani Ire
land gain legislative independence cannot
predict The determining of these questions
rests with our voters and 100000 Of them
have as vet been untried. The saying in the
OIL davs was: "When France i at peace
Europe j. mt rest The tendency in Europe
to-day Is toward Democracy. England i
the strongest Of Democratic states here. Its
movements are cl1sely watched and lar-e.v
followed. .&-I IL