The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-04-22
PURITY OF THE BALLOT.
ANABsTRAcT LoelcAporHEosIs
The Modern Methods of Politicians Con.
demned-Let us Have Voters IN
trammelled-Oid sRws-A Ser
mon on "a Common Vice,

mon on Common Vice,
DALLAS, April 2O.-IEditor HERALD
The majority vote decides a popular
question. This apparent rule laid down
at the organization of our government
we should gratefully hold in perpetual
trust, though it may be the daily expert
ence OF nearly every person, that the
phrase has passed into an object of
mock derision, as being nothing more
with indifferent citizens than a maxim,
to prove a political solecism, and the in
quiry is thrust back ON us, how may the
untrammeled will OF the majority not
be defeated? Furthermore, the saying
becomes every day more common that
we have a popular government; Il gov
eminent in compliance with its original
structure shall always obey the voice OF
the greatest number. To many these
terms appear also as meaningless alb
stractions, and the Deniguant truths,
admitting OF no alternative, no depart
ure from that standpoint which must be
esteemed the supreme discovery of all
civilization, SO devOutly sought after by
the constitutional fathers ami as clearly
expounded by their more immediate
followers, must strike the philosophical
observer of the present day, as fast fad
ing away from popular conception, and
remains ouly in shadowy recollection.
an imprac5leable sentiment. How LONG
the period will last before an entire OBJ
liberation takes place the people must
answer for themselves.
Consequently, the straightforward
question now arises in the r, election of
every intelligent, patriotic citizen,
understanding, as be should, the first
and vital principle of democracy. A
government, If ruled at all by the popu-
lar will, must have pure suffrage. Can
he, under any consideration, engage in
those practices that may in any wise
perfect or overturn the voluntary wish
of a majority OF his fellow-citlzens?
knowing, too, the responsible relation
that exists between himself ana the
well-beirg of his community, he must
be strongly oOtuse, when engaging in
such, not TO feel that, in dealing 20 this
free expression his fatal blow, he gives
example TO the ignorant and more
vicious element.
Treason is tho highest crime written
on the OageS OF any criminal code. liz il
less sedItlOus, because made less public
In Individual cases? A more insiduous
crime has been committed by secretly
corrupting and rendering nugatory the
very liie-spriug of our government,
namely, the elective franchise. Pursue
the train of thought in a
more personal sense. Is such a pers, n
honest 10 has own citizenship and u
posterity for whom no stands in sacred
trust TO guard and protect tho dearest
gilt which IL can inherit, or which bis
generation can bequeath.
This union of states, now in the vigoy
OF its intacy, not yet past the test of OK.
perience, should be the last of all the
great nations TO have its sensitive or
ganism tempered with, even by the
most ailectionate hands. And 1t takes
no close observer of nations and men IL
foretell, with absolute certainty, the
woetul combustion that must eventually
oyertake MS If election brides, corruption
OF the ballots and false returns, spread.
ing with such amazing rapidity over
our whole land, go unchecked. There
is scarcely a single precinct, one would
conclude after reading the newspapers
that does not furnish one or more per
sonages, earring the unenviablt
name OF election striker and repeater
OF course, he has sold his good name as
citizen, but Is he more criminal thar
his purchaser?
The patriotic press, us public edu
Gator, has a solemn duty TO perform
not only to discover and eradicate sue
cessfut y this class OF persons so perni
cious to our public well beng, but, iron
time to time, reflect the beauty and
original simplicity OF our governmental
functions, as against the complicated
incomprehensible system with which
eliassertiVe statesmen are constantly
befuddling the public mind. From the
simple dOric outlines, they would feigI
erect a column that must necessarily
tumble In dire confusion on account O
its supernatural weakness.
The shocking reports that come 90 vi
thrugh various sources of election
frauds, both without as well as within
the borders OF this state, must surely
awaken tho most lethargic. The evil
is not one whit mitigated because the
election OF new town officers as In
volved IN The la'e municipal contests
The manner Of selecting these, in prin
ciple, Is precisely the same; albeit they
would uut be- our town rulers anl
judges. The process and aim OF usin,
the election franchise though poculia
to each state III mino
detail, is Identical TO secure
the ultimate object, the choice of th,
people at the polls. The repeater, th,
striker, him who makes false return o
town election, will resort to like crim
for his price az any other election, with
out once weighing the momentous re
suit his nefarious work may brinJ
about. Beside, the person who buys
vote or in any way uses means tendinl
to defeat the objects of fair election
either to elect himself or his friend to
tn Ai ifna ~ 10 .ssr ~
who has similar aspirations, will no
hesitate to do all these things whel
more important issues are at stake. |
Is trite saying, "Show me man VIII
will steal penny aud wont have to &
far TO show You one who will steal
pound" Neither is 1t curious TO observ
that the candidate who secures his plac
by any OF the above means is usual
the most inefficient among all the CON
petitOrs, though he can DO safely pu
down as moneyed man, or put in plAC
by corrupt money backing, to subserv
a speculative purpose. 10 Is Officiou
intormeddling and species of ran
dishonesty to interfere Wit
the voluntary will OF the vote
and the Individual who corrupts tn
ballot during any of its processes
falsely makes return thereof Is traffic
10 the best interests oil MS country
Every community should make him a
enemy and spurn him as pariah
their midst.
Though We have rigorous laws I,
their punishment, it is clear that MOI
but the patriotic voter, and II Is h
bounded duty to purge the land of th
destructive scourge, whom If let aloi
will take along with him all good cit
vanc Ia tha Anal Haarnniinn pi m
Democratic social fabric. A fabr
woven, though IL be from the impul
of universal rights, to be preserv,
from such calamity, depends sole
upon the integrity of those who emf,
tta manifold hpnafita