The Labor enquirer., 1886-02-20
THE BALLOT THE TEST.
'fZeno" Does Not Claim the Ballot is ALI
Powerful; but n Means OF Declar-
ing a Peoples Wishes.

For The Enquirer.
Mr.. Cridge says: "It is the wide dis
tinction between the ballot and repre-
sentation which Zeno,' for instance,
assumed to be substantially" H
Ihave little faith in representation
and have not said much about it. 1
quoted Paine to show that when rep
resentative has power, he is like any
despot. But new light is seen in the
discovery of what certain writers mean
by "the ballot" They make it very
inclusive term, and perhaps here lies all
the trouble. Some make it include rep
resentation; they tell how majorities, or
even minorities elect their men to rule
society-this is the ballot. A laborer
wishes to keep his job and is bulldozed
into selling his vote; this is also the
ballot. A representative sells out to the
enemies of his constituents and this is
the ballot. Every political evil is in
cluded in the term ballot. r.
The ballot is an expression of opinion
and can be nothing more. Yet evil
IDENTIFY it is blamed for not expressing
the opinion which the voter betrays
when he sells out, for bread. I have
considered it as means of choosing
method of procedure, where many peo-
pie are involved, and difference of opin-
ion makes a decision necessary. 1t
should not be applied to matters which
do not concern all alike; nor beyond
the limits of the territov where the
measures are to be carried out.
I have never favored any method of
balloting. The idea of the ballot is not
confined to particuler manner of man
ipulating it. 1t were as sensible to i'm
ply by dynamite" nothing but the 80
per cent compound, and certain way of
dealing with it.
Force may not follow the ballot !; for
the latter shows which side would be
more likely to conquer regardless OF
right. IwouId inform Mr.. Owen that l
never claimed that the ballot has &C.
complished results wholly without
force; but instead that it is always the
initial bower, and that force is justified
in defense of what the people have de
cided shall be established or abolished.
EVERY ballot has a bayonet behind it"
The thing to be taught by revolutionists
is, not force, but the thing to be de-
Tended by force. People are never slow
to takeup arms. I still hold that they
will do so without urging; and that force
applied to institutions which are upheld
by custom, and the desire of the people
is despotism and that our whole duty
is to inform them of better institutions
and the cheapest means of establishing
then.
Experience ought to teach US. The
late war cost many times more than the
value of the slaves freed. When We
proceed to free land, it would be better
| to count the cost instead of guilty ating 8
warlike spirit of bravery. If we fine
that the probable cost of cartridges (no'
to mention lives) will buy the land wha
shall we do? The new order ought II
be established for all, not for few sur
vivors of great fight with land owners
We ought to work for such an object
presuming that we have left behind the
practice of sayages. I-8.
IF fight we must, land is the only thin
worth fight. With land free, no on
could be compelled to enter any partic
ular industrial system or establishment
For Socialists to point to stru2gl
among wage slaves fighting each othe
for privileges under the wage system
and call it proof that force is necessary
/ is to me, an absurdity.
i Han oppressed slave wishes to strik
q blow, with dynamite or otherwise
no one can hinder him. As to the bene
ct Of the blow, we are thrown back o.
the old question whether concession
frightened from an enemv are Of an
value; whether they win not caus
lgrester apathy in the minds Of th
u 4