Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-01-14
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Protect the Ballot.

The inaugural address of Gov. Foraker
Of Ohio contains a strong plea tor the pro-
lection and purity OF elections in that
State. AZ honest elections are unknown
in the southern States, and southern meth
DDS are approved and copied in many
northern States, by the democracy. the
words of Gov. Foraker may be read with
interest and ought to be seriously consid-
cred by the people of every State in the
Union. Our free institutions are menaced
by the overturnng of the honest ballot
and an honest count 1t is so IN Ohio and
likewise in Maine. 1t is a common dan
ger and demands common effort to pre-
vent it.
In 1885 the legislature of Ohio, aroused
to their duty in regard to the protection of
the ballot by the outrages committed at
the election in 1884. secured the enact
ment OF registration law applicable to
the cities of Cincinnati and Cleveland 1t
was hoped this would check the great evil
which it was aimed at, but 1t did not.
Gov. Foraker says: "The additional safe
guards thus thrown about the elective
franchise seemed only to widen the range.
increase the determination and quicken
As consequence we have witnessed not
only false voting and false counting, but
also false registration, false tallies.
false certificates, false returns and
every other species of falsehood,
fraud and forgery. No such bold,
bare-faced villainy has ever been known
in the history of our elections As confess
eddy was practiced at the last October
election in the cities of Cincinnati and
Columbus. IL there is anything worse
than the fact that the scoundrels who per-
petrated it are unpublished and likely to
remain so. it is that there should APP
pear to be no judicial power to prevent
The consumation OF their iniquities. If it
be true that our laws are such that a can
wasting officer is compelled. or can elect.
to give effect to evident and acknowledged
fraud and forgery in defiance of right and
all the authority of the courts. then in.
deed is there need to change the laws
Such an official should be more than q
mere automaton and considerably less
than an imperious sutocrat, The time has
come to put stop to such troubles, and
the people of the State. without regard tc
political differences. expect at your hands
such legislation as will have this effect"
After suggesting proper measures to
be taken by the legislature, such as re.
moving objections to the present law, and
providing for honest and competent Judge.
and clerks ct elections composed of met
OF both parties, the Governor adds "Thi.
matter must he dealt with earnestly I'm
less we can have free and fair election.
there will come serious trouble. The cit
liens of Ohio will not long quietly toler
ate reign OF fraud"
What the Governor saws is true of the
feeling in Ohio is universally true. There
must be correction or there will be ser
Gus trouble. The tree people of the Nortt
will not endure such system of fraud a,
is now employed by the democratic party
wherever il can be made to subserve thei
purposes. We see an effort making a
Washington to secure the confirmation by
the Senate of the appointments by tn,
President OF some of the ringleaders il
the grea, conspiracy in Name in 1879 ant
so to defraud the ballot and change tn,
result of the election. which ought &c
meet the condemnation of every homes
citizen in the country. Such fraud work
ers should be consigned TO oblivion if no
to State Prison. and the lesson should be
taught and enforced thai he who under
takes to destroy honest elections deserve:
to be treated as a foe to his country snc
its institutions.