Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-04-23
A Registry Law.

The sphorism that virtue and intelligence
constitute the only safe basis Of popular
government is ~ old % the idea Of govern.
ment Of the people. But In our land 90 prided
in its free schools, frse thought and news
papers, there is yet much land to be pos
sessed" In point Of intelligence. And is there
not even q more fearful lack In point Of vir-
tue--political virtue---iu many parts, II no. In
the whole country. What startling fact do
we hear that in q single ward In city In Chic
more than 1000 illegal ballots were cast and
counted at the late election. Not an elec-
ton Is held In our state but the air Is full
Of rumors Of fraud IN the use Of the ballot,
and there 10 too much Of truth 10 such rumors
to make II matter Of jest. This presents the
most momentous problem now before the
American people, viz: To make pure the bal
lot bsx and keep II pure. For in this 10 in
volved nothing less than the perpeiuity Of
our Government. And In this direction and
tending to this purpose one Of the things that
ought to be done, and that will be done when
public attention shall awake to the condition
Of things, lie, the enactment Of q proper
registry law. Under such law. the account
is made up before the day of election,
showing who are legal voters, and thus af-
iording means Of detecting fraud Of every
kind. This registry 10 made up by persons
appointed under the law, and sworn TO 10 the
work honestly aud correctly. II Is done
without the excitement Of q partisan con-
test. It Is done in cool blood, without the
furry aud rush Of excited partisans. It Is
done under condition Of things. that every
man who Is legally entitled to vote can make
prosf o. the fact, aud every man who would
cast fraudulent ballot can be detected before
the act.
Such a law was enacted 10 Ohio years ago,
hut small-sized demagoeues put up the cry
that the design Of the law was to cut off those
from voting who could not spare time to 20
to the station and be registered, and after a
single election the law was repealed. But the
fact was those who objected to the law did 1t
partly for partisan effect, and partly that the
law interferes with their fraudulent practices.
The objectors were not Republicans.
A registry law has been in force In the
State OF New York for years, and its beneficial
public sentiment OF that State that the quee-
tion of It's repeal can not be entertained, and
is not even thought OF. Such confidence has
OF the elections 10 that State, that leading
public journal recently made the statement
that II was in virtue Of the public confidence
in the purity of elections under this law that
the public mind readily acquiesced 10 the late
infinitesimal majority Of Grover Cleveland in
that State.
O"ing largely to the fact that the two great
parties are SO nearly equally divided, the leg
islation OF Ohio Is not up to what 1t should
be, and in some respects 1t is not equal to
States that are our juniors. II is time that
our Legislators should take notice OF this fact.
And to begin. let the Republican party see to
il that the next Legislature shall be strongly
Republican, and il it shall enact well and
carefully considered registry law, it will do
no work of greater moment to the interests
Of our State. e. G. DIAL,
SPRISGFIELD, O.