Smyrna times., 1889-06-05

puDilc safety aad welfare were az stab,
ana thatit was at least exeusabIo u
protect the country by whatever maans
appeared to be necessary" But u
TINS state of things is, Mr. Edmnnds
declares 1t would be far worse if on,.
, Presidents were elected by the popuIar
vote OF the whole body of the peonla
OF the nation, his argument beino tbat
tne methods of bribery, corruption and
ialse returns, instead of being confined
TO the particular State in which tbov
occur would operate over the whole
held, SO that the purchase of q tho,
sand votes or the making of one false
return might actually control the re.
SUIT OF the action of more than ton
million voters" He estimates that tbo
political expenses of the last camroio,o
exceeded five millions of dollars
loIhers assert that they were nearly
double that sum- and that q vorT,
large part oft twas spent for purposes
winch both the laws and the personal
moral sense of the nation condemn -
Nevertheless he does not think tbot
such practices should produce discour-
agement, although he admits that cus-
tom has made them so Intimately
part OF our ele2tiOn methods "tbat men
nave come to consider that princinles
ol morality have no application to pol-
!''cs' while as regards the penal laws.
IL Is merely question of the man NOT
being discovered in the violation of
tnem' or If discovered, a question of q
sympathetic grand jury or prosecutinp
omcer Ignoring the ofIense.n He
thlnks there is fair ground for the !!
nope that before many years the great
Oody OF civil employments in the gov ]
ernment in the States as well as Of tho '
nation, will cease to be the spoil for c
"hlch parties contend" He believos =
nat the time is coming when voters a
VII he more Independent of marty of t
but that the chief thing now v
o 90 Is to throw safeguards around q
ne ballot. To this end he suooests " "
L. improved registration laws od Il
linistered by INTELLIGENT rc"H,,oiic ro"9, SI-
nd responsible men taken from o''oiT oII -
arties. NUN all G.
q =. Inc elections to be conducted bv q,
riCeIS iliS:5I OF the highest character and q,
o1,r!y' vaAen from all parties, under m
DIVISIONS which shall secure the Dri- cr
acy OF the voter and the secrecy of ~
Is o"IlOt' ana at the same time shall ~
cure truth, equality and Justice in g.
~ - cOnuuct OF the election Offices tb
o. Inc puolc canvass of the votes a.
llnessed by representatives of ali WI ~,
'rlles' ana the publication of full ac- H.
UNITS otelectiOn expenses. o.
+; Inc hnal returns to be canvsssed -,
the same way. - '''''0'' uIl
Q. .. PROVISION for the prompt hearino T,s U,e
"a uecislon of disputed questions bT we
o. o. Inc punishment of false and iIe- we
! registration, bribery in connection hei
'u eglslratlOn or elections. AIDING or me
sung bribery, or attempting or con sta
lfIng 70 brbe, or to register or fo Out
te illegally. " " ma
l. More stringent qualifications of thi
'Ors. O''''oIS VI mes
;: Oaths by all persons proposing to hea
'ister, all voters at the election and tiv,
persons elected or claiming election hea
u iYney have not been guilty Of or tiOI
lea IN any way in, false or illegal to t
or voting, bribery or at. anc
iiP1lng iIi1 or conspiring to bribe, or emil
AinS lalSe canvasses or returns. by
. A large limitation of tba inar,. Me.
oreigners and of the natnraIi1ation abr,
Feot, and more perfect scrutinv ~ in t
aaitting to naturalization. ="
u And last, but far from least the
Ter education of the voters and -
IT chIldren-an education including II
essential truth that everv citize99 yest
ne republic in town. district. citv JJop'
e or nation, is personally a real uay'
or Tor good or i'll in the great sum n n
he general welfare. '''l peer