The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-12
THE MEMPHISAPPEAL
TUESDAY. iiil MARCH 2. 800
mn RON "a BLLL pEFEA TER

run bAsL i1aA MN HAaA To- 4 m
II is very much to be- regretted that the
House yesterday voted down the poll tax
bill. by many OF the safest and s5undcst
Of the Democratic leaders II was deemed
TO be essential and preliminary to the reg
isimlion bill, aud 10 the Dorlch bill, which
will be an admirable elimination Of
series Of election laws designed for the pro.
yeu,ion aud recurrence Of brutal and
ruilianly assaults upon the ballol-box 10y
the criminals who hang upon the skirts OF
parties ready TO defeat the will Of the PEG.
pie by stuiling or stealing ballo,-boxcs
The Constitution Of the State provides ior
The payment Of poll tax, and II
should, Ia the interest Of the purity Of
elections, have been made an essential, in
accordance with thc organic law, to the
casting Of vote. The Constitution should
be enforced. With such law and such
a registration Law a. IL now before the
Legislature, the way would have been
clear ior the honest voter aud there would
be an end 10 the hummer class. Thcii
occupation would indeed BE- gone. Bat
add 10 these the election law intro.
duccd by Mr. Dorlch, Of Faycuc,
and certainty would be made NOR,
ccr,ain. There would be no use fol
striker or "hcclcrs" in elections In Ten
ncssec, aud the machine men" would 70
to the wall. Our special tells rs that IN,
Republicans IN both houses were especially
opposed TO this poll tax bin. The reason
for this IL not ar 10 seek. Thcy represent
some Of the very woni elements In thc
politics Of the State, aud have largely prof
tied by the coloniging OF negroes, ~ ha,
been the case in this aud other counties IL
West Tennessee. But this ought TO hav,
been a controlling reason Will Democrat
for the passage Of the bill Everybody VIII,
h sclircspcciing somebody isagrccd lha
The ballot must be purified. MWsachu
sets, taking the lead. has passc,
bin with this view that vii
~ inlo cfcc, at the elections 10 be- held II
that State This iall. Indiana has passed
similar bin, aud Arkansas has passed
poll tax bill looking In ,he same direction
New York Is debating, by the suggestion
Of Gov. llill, bin similar In the s,hn
gcncy Of H. provisions 10 that Of Massa
chusclis, and Ohio is considering a mcal
ur q the same import. The scandal
growing out Of ihosale OF Democratic vote
In Indiana and New York, 10 defeat Glove
land and elect Harrison, has aroused pub
lie attention everywhere 10 the evils q
the existing political methods, and lcgi,
laion arc anxious 10 satisfy the publ
demand for ballot reform. Tho ballot, bo
Is the foundation Of our form Of govern
mcnL Hits corrupt Or corrupted IA
Government itself must become corrupted
This the people cannot tolerate. CorruI
ton has been the weakness by whic
other republics have fallen. Warned b
their fate we must keep the source
power pure and wholly FREQ from the iair
Of criminals who are not interested In III
maintenance Of society but In profiuu
by tho criminal Inclinalions Of onice-sccl
es whose cry Is get Office honestly.
you can, but coruptly II you must" !
HE interest Of the deccncy Of n
State, Of tho honorable men Of d
ilasses. on whose shoulders tho STA