New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-08
WHERE WE ARE BEHIND.


Aor;oars ora fond of believing that in in
oonnitv in every field they lead mankind, and
that especially in all METHODS LOOKING 10 one
nrotection of the citizen in the exercise Oh MS
riobts our system is model winch otner ma
lions initiate. The fact is, however, tnao IN
scientific methods governing elecnons me
Tilted States have been outStrpped by other
Countries What is known as the Australian
svstem which is now being urged before a
nnmber of our Legislatures, was adopteo IN
that country thirty years ago, anu mas Deen
=. srocossfnI operation ever since. The best
nroof Of this is found in the TACT that IL was
eonied in Great Britain sixteen years ago, and
~ roors later in Canada. In 1877 it made
its way into Belgium, where tne inVehSly Vi
marty spirit had given rise 10 all the lorliis Oh
corrnption which are supposed TO be peculiarly
American. The Belgian law IS SUBSTANTIALLY
a renroduction of the English system Du6 con-
tains some improvements upon H. ana mas
,,,orI,od 60 we'll that it remains practically un-
ahoDcod n this day. In 1879 the Grand
nrcbv Of Luxembourg adopted the Belgian
Iow and five wears ago applied it to municipal
oIootions Mr. John II. Wigmore, who has
nrenared a useful history OF the Australian
svston, notes also changes in other European
Countries probably 'du 20 the spread Of the
Australian system. The election laws OF Italy,
adontad seven wears ago, contain the substance
If that system, and Norway, in 1884, aban-
doned the time-honored custom OF VO1ng viva
voce, or by a signed ballot ana introduced
q method much like the Italian. There are
other countries in which reSemblances 10 inc
Australian system exist, but these instances
cannot be cited in its support because there
seems to be no proof Of historical connection
between them.
We have thus the interesting and significant
fact that other countries, borrowing the PRINT
ed ballot from America, have improved upon
n 70 such an extent that we are left far be-
hind. and left behind by countries to which
we are fond of Boosting our superiority in such
matters. The Australian system has made its
way not only in democratic countries governed
by the forms Of monarchy, such as Great Brlt-
ain and her colonies, but also in countries IKE
Belgium and Italy and Norway, where tho
popular sway is more limited. 1t will not do
10 answer this with a sheer at the system "A
one suited to monarchical governments The
fact il that there is none which secures so abb
solutely the secrecy Of the ballot and protects
the voter so completely from intimidation and
all those undue influences which would be ex-
pected to flourish in monarchy far more than
in a republic. 1t simply means that In this
field of progress the people Of the United states
have allowed themselves to be outStripped
That is the beginning and the end OF the whole
matter.
II is probable, however, that we shall not
rest under this reproach much longer Legis-
ation has been undertaken on this subject IN
no less than Twenty-Five States and Terri
tories One State. Massachusetts,, has already
its general law. Two great cities, Milwaukee
and Louisville, have already held elections
under this system with the most satisfactory
results. In almost every Legislature repre-
sentatives of the laboring men and the nom
political classes generally are appearing to de-
mand Ballot Reform. In all probability II Will
not be many months before we soc this Inn
proved method of ascertaining the public will
in full operation in q number Of States. The
American people are quick to accept good
idea, and are not TO be frightened of by fool
ish sneers at it as a monarchical invention
It is thoroughly democratic in all it's principles
much more so, in fact, than our own sys-
tenn. which makes possible the domination Of
the boss and the briber Mr.. Bryce says in
his admirable book that no people in the world
understand their own business so thoroughly
as the Americans do. An excellent proof Of
this is 10 be seen in the ready acceptance they
are giving to the Australian system.