Daily Republican., 1886-06-21
Lsgallzed Primaries.

The Dt mocranc papers All expreHb
the greatest anxiety that the next Leg
islature should pass q law to legslize
primary elections, by which they mean
shat any person who votes at them thai
has no right TO vote at any other cleo
tion provided for by la y ,or should vote
more than once, shall be punished by
the same penal lies that are provided for
ut other elections. Republicans have no
diff Guilty In placing themselves upon
the 50 ne platform, ss they have always
been In favor of honest elections
whether legslized or unlegalized, and
we hope that this very small ray OF de-
sired reform by our Democratic friends
will be granted by The Legislature to be
elected.
The question lie, why were not more
wholesome restrictions around the bal
lot box asked for while the Democrats
were making this modest request? Is
this ell the reform that is needed2 We
would ask these anxious reformers
when it became necessary to throw
such restrictions around the ballot at a
primary election7 II they are not able
20 answ er the question, probably we
can ans wer 1t for them, and In doing 30
would remind them that nobody in
Della ware ever thought Of debauching
the ballot until 1873. Up to that time
primary elections were as honestly held
ms general elections. IL was in that
year that law was passed not to pro-
tecs primaries but to debauch and rem
der dishonest general and municipal
elections. 1t was then and by the law
made easy for the party in power to de-
fraud enough of any other party out OF
their votes As to make success al ways
easy for the dominant party. Instead
OF encouraging honesty In any election
the law OF 1873 encourages dishonesty
In all elections. The party in power
can 10 legal manner disquAlify from
voting and disfranchise ali OF the OPP
posing party who are not freeholders
As the result OF this law, party that
has large majority Of voters on it'
side in New CASTLE County, finds itsel
to-day a disfranchised party, incapable
of making successful issue, because
OF the operation OF Democratic dis.
honest assessment laws and laws reg
ulating the collection Of taxes. Frou
these dishonest laws have sprung dis
honest elections. " is NOS to be won
dered ct that Democrats long traine(
to cheat Republicans out OF their vote
should turn their weapons upon theil
own party at an election where Demo
Gratis alone have contest. The law o
1873 has trained men to dis.
franchise opposing parties, to re
peat at elections, to stuff tn
ballot boxes and TO make false count
of the vote cast. Nobody disputes tha
the Democratic primary election hell
In the Third ward, this city, on SAtur
day, IA b instant, was saturated througl
and through with fraud; but 1t was n
worse than the legalized election hel,
In the fame ward q week previo1:
Why are not the thunders OF Demo
cratic wrath turned against the electo
held under the sanction of law? Sin
ply because ut that election sma
minority OF the Republican party an
few workingmen voted, and to STAN
them out OF existence gave employmei
to the FOUNDERS and repeAters. u v
are TO judge from the silence ~ Il
Democratic press this was all RICH
and sanctioned by the parry. 1t W;
only when these same FOUNDERS and n
pesters put In the same licks at a DEM
cratic primary election that we hea
any complaint II our Democrat
friends are earnest in their desire I
prevent frauds a. primary elections, /
them 60 little farther and do som,
thing to prevent just rs glariRg frau,
at elections that are already legaliz :,
they can do this by repeating this ele
ton la SIS of 1873, and going back
old and honest principles that governt
elections in our STATE from the time ii
Constitution WAS adopted un,il To
time. II they wan honest electio
they will take the r0IniRg OF election
out OF the hands Of few Democrat
tax collec inrs and com nit them to Il
people. The Law OF 1873 Is the pa
dora box out OF which have come &
these election difficulties. Tha, Ia
has been grand success in lis purpo
of stamping the Republican party 0
of existence, but In doing 50 it has 1
stituted dishonest elections. 1t b
taken away from the people respect
the ballot, and has made them ind
ferent about voting, az they kpo v tbs
votes will be Offset by repeaters, a.
perhaps counted different way fro
the way they voted. We say to o
Democratic friends that they shou
strike for something higher than Ii
to legalize primary elections. To leg
lie them would be but Topping t
upper limb of tree, which, as is W
known, only results in the tree sendi
out more vigorous shoots. Dig out
tree by the roots, by repeating the Ii
of 1873, and pass honest registry la,
either with or without prepayment.
taxes as q requisite for voting { bet
without III and then honest prlmi
elections will follow. A law may
passed legalizlng primary elections,
the people will have no faith in it
long as q law remains upon the stat
books that permits OF dishon est, gen.
and municipal elections
Loaded Dice.
By the action Of tue Republi