The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-01-21

The Express. IL is needless to saw believes that
country Is of a kind which demands the direct in
such interference Aud 4 certainly does not think
that secret ballot would abolish the kind Of int-
mdatlon which consists in driving away, or keep
ing away, legal voters from the polls. In the
second place we do not think that the secret bal
lot is the remedy for the kind of intimidation
with which the PRESS seems to be so familiar
Evening Express. ef
Doubtless the Express. when 1t declares
that it believes that most of the intimidation
really practiced in this country is of kind
which demands the direct interference of the
law, has in mind the Southern negro. We
will readily agree that the kind Of intimida-
ton practiced at the South demands the di
rect interference OF the law. But the direct
interference Of the law so long as white sem
timent at the South remains as 1t is now
viii never be sufficient to secure to the negro
his rights. That has been demonstrated by
experience. The polls in the South have
been surrounded by troops and all the pre-
lection needed on election day given. But 1t
did not avail, and for this reason. Though
protected on that day he was exposed to the
intimidation of the whites for the remaining
days of the year. Hecould vote without mo
lestation for the moment, but he was not
guaranteed against punishment for his
vote afterwards. II the only protection the
Express contemplates for the Southern negro
is protection on election daysagainst open
intimidation and assault, then its remedy Is
fatally insufficient and will never accom-
plish its purpose. But we presume the Ex-
press will not deny that it is necessary to 20
farther than this. We presume the Express
will acknowledge that something must be
done to protect him after election day is
past. as well as on that day. What is to be
done? The answer is very difficult. II pol
itics did not to SO great an extent divide on
race lines, 1t would be very easy. The ans
wer would then be secret ballot. But a
secret ballot would avail little in the South.
for the reason that 1t would not conceal, ex-
cept to very limited extent. in
many of the Southern States how the
negro voted. Ii there were Republican bal
lots in the box, it would be known that they
were put there very largely by negroes mas
much as the whites vote almost solidly the
Democratic ticket Soa secret ballot would
do nogood. even IL the average of intelligence
among the negroes was high enough to make
1t practicable which is not probably the case
would effectually conceal from the Demo-
cratic bulld0zers Of that section who voted
the Republican ticket would the Express OPP
pose it? Would the Express. il a PROPOSE
ton should be made In Congress to surround
the polls with officers to protect Republican
voters from open assault and intimidation on
election day. and another proposition to pro-
tect them from subsequent punishm ent for
their votes, by means of secret bal
lot, favor the former proposition
and oppose the latter? Would 1t be
found then saying TO the Southern voter
whose relations in life had made him some
what dependent and placed him in some de-
gree at the mercy Of the more favored, as 1t
says now to the Northern voter
that "a spirit which knows its rights
and duties at the polls, and knowing dares
maintain and perform them must be- the
parent Of freedom from intimidation and
fraud and cerruption?" If SO why
does 1t not address itself In that
way now to the South Carolina
negrop In 1880 there were In that State near
ly 100000 more colored men than white men.
Yet the colored voter complained that he
was bulldozed and pleaded for protection.
and is still pleading. Does the Express say
TO him, sit would be unwise for the govern
ment to try to do anything for you. "A
spirit that knows its rights, and knowing
dares main tain and perform them must be
the parent Of freedom from intimidation and
fraud and corruption This government
rests on popular suffrage. But, unless that
suffrage has behind 1t conscience, conyic-
tons and courage, it will prove but crumb-
ling foundation Go home and maintain
your rights yourselves. You outnumber the
whites nearly two one." Does the Express
address him in this fashion, and IL not why
not?
Again. When Gov Hill vetoed the secret
ballot bill passed by the Republican legisla-
ture OF New York, did the Express COM
mend the governor for his act? When the
Republican papers all over the country were
denouncing him for that veto. did the Ex-
press refrain from joining in this denuncia-
ton; and If not, why not? Were Its oppo-
sition to Mr.. Looney's bill simply based on
the ground that secret ballot is not needed
in this State, then it might be recenciled
with its attitude toward the South and New
York. But such is not the case. 1t objects
also, because 1t processes to believe secret
ballot is an interference with the right Of
the citizen to proclaim his political conyic-
LIONS on election day by holding up his bal
iot IN the ward room so that everybody may
see IT, That objection is quite as applicable
70 new YORK as 10 Maine. Bow serious an
oolection u is, and what terrible blow to
freedom secret ballot would be, those who
stand around ward rooms on election day
and observe the large number of citizens