Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1888-11-03
NEWSPAPER OPINION.


Philadelphia North American.
az sc assume that Lord Sackville had
been reading the examinations and re-
ordinations Of the press and managers OF
the two great parties, his letter is TO be
excused somewhat For on one hand the
Democrats charge that the Republican
managers are preparing 10 purchase the
votes of tens Of thousands Of Democrats
on election day. and ON the other the Re
| publicans charge that the Democratic
/ managers have planned to purchase
enough Republican election officers in
New York and Brooklyn TO enable them
20 falsify the returns in such dis
tricts and elect Mr.. Cleveland
What we have TO say about such
charges is this; II the Democrats regard
tens of thousands of their rank and file
utterly venal. they can say so at once
without circumlocution. Bat it Is not an
encouraging statement as made, or as it
might as well be made.s And If the Re
publican inspectors of election in New
York and Brooklyn can be corrupted
with Democratic money how came Re
publicans TO allow such men to become
inspectorsy Take any view possible of
the charges and connter-charges. and
both parties are convicted out Of their
own mouths
Now there comes forward the law Off
Ger OF the great State of New York. and
says that an elecior may 60 to the polling
window as many times as there may be
separate ballots to be cast. And this
statement is concident with another. To
wit, that so many persons are registered
IN some districts that were the voting 70
cover every minute from the time the
pools open till they close not more than
two-thirds Of the persons registered could
deposit their votes even If they ar
preached the polls but once. We do not
know the Attorney General of New York.
but will venture an opinion that If his
counsel be brought into court it will be
incontinently kicked out as having no
foundation IN law. Even if technical law
would cover such an opinion. custom
would set 10 aside. Nowhere do men M.
proach the polls to vote more than once
in sny day unless it be dishonesty
While an eiector is at the window he may
be reminded that his ballot is not
complete, and il he choose he NAV com
plete it. But this must be single pre-
sentation so far as custom goes.
OF course there is only one interpreta-
ton TO be given to the New York Attor |
ney- Generals dictum if IL be admitted. |
that he knows enough about law to keep |
out of Jail He evidently intends to in
dictate TO the rough element that if they |
50 elect they can take possession Of the |
polling places and hinder legal voters from |
depositing their ballots There is a |
remedy for that II there is Jail room |
enough in New York, and if |
there is not enough, then camp |
of ruiiians under guard can |
be established somewhere. Were the
element in this city to attempt
to act upon such hint their arrest and |
detention would follow with such celebrity |
that the polling places would be quite |
peaceable before noon. But the grava- |
men of this semi official permission to |
debauch the ballot in New York is its |
reckless disregard. Of the fundamental
principles Of universal suffrage As such |
il is unprecedented, and any attempt to
introduce such methods should be made
fully as unprecedented in the annals OF |
official crime.