Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-04-11

Deihware Leglslature-the Australian
Ballot bill-is lingering in committee
while these April days are passing away.
There has been only one public express
sion of feeling among members with re-
spect to this measure thus far, and thst
was ON the vote to print the bill, when
Messrs. W. Il. Davis, Hynson, Masten,
Morgan, Short and Wallace, either by
vote or word, said they did not look for
tte passage by the House. At least one
other member, Mr.. Downham, had previ-
tusiy indicated his disapproyal OF the bill.
But this has been some time ago. Since
then these members, and others who may
have been afraid OF ballot reform, have
had opportunity to hear from honest and
independent constituents who have grown
very sick at heazt over the degrading cor
ruption Of the elective franchise. They
have had opportunity to discover, il they
did not know it before, that there are
men in Sussex county who have made it
their rsrsonsl business to get themselves
ont assessment lists within the past four
months 20 that they may be qualified
when the general election of next year
comes of-not to vote their sentiments,
but to sell their ballots for $40 or 500.
They have bad time TO ponder the low
down debaseinent of the elective fran.
ohise that makes it a speculative matter
OF barter nearly two years ahead. They
have had 1t forced upon them, If they
have made any use of their observing
faculties, that this despicable traffic has
been growing year by year, and that it Will
continue to grow SO long as we continue
under system that makes vote-buyipg
and vose.selling not only possible but
practically unpunishable. They have
heard the voice of the Delaware State
Grange lifted in unsparing denanclation
of the widespread debauching of the
privilege that every American with the
moral right to cast vote holds sacred,
and in earnest appeal for such legislation
ss shall help ito blot ont this foul stain
upon our government" Let them read
again this warning cry from the farmers
OF their State
The widespread and growing political
corruption tnat exists everywhere and
among all parties Is source Of both grief
and alarm 70 every honest and patriotic
citizen. II Is a lamentable but undisputed
TACT that there ara men, claiming 10 be
freelnsn. who are willing to sell their bal
lots for money, and Others equally oorrupt
who are ready and willing TO buy them,
And this shameful traific has become 30
frequent that those engaged In It do not
seem even anxious to conceal It. That the
accountable practice Is rapidly growing the
last election has abundantly proved. and
unless prompt and efficient measures are
taRen for its suppression IL will soon be.
come so corrupt and SO demoralizs the
nSnne lniGd 9fii. Na9s -agi ,q,';tiaH .isttio
eill cease e 4Eist ami frss rnpians 81
come ~ erp.y name Mary lasas mi4bt
~ ci.6a To UPHpa t4rR+ ,s rsa
mate the evil. IL Is matter that deeply
concerns every patriotic, honest man, and
" 10 the bounden duty Of all such to aid to
the utmost il destroying practice that In
wolves in Its continuance the freedom OF
elections and the stability and perpetuity of
irea government. Honest men of all par
ttes look to you for remedy. We cannot
believe that they will look In vain, The
ume ior action has come and We appeal to
1"N ~ biSt WIZ ttllS lout SkdlEk upon our
government. You, and you only, have II
10 your power to do this, and We eannot
doubt but that you will give It your early,
earnest and most careful consideration.
ana Whatever remedy you may provide let
IL go TO the root of the matter and embrace
an eiectionS--eereral, local and primary.
Gentlemen of tbs General Assembly,
you are nearing the end OF your term OF
office. In three weeks more You will
probably adjourn and dispense to your
respective homes. the opportunity is
yours nov to infuse into our elections
that measure Of honesty which will stay
tue onward sweep OF Doodle politics. As
the farmers truly tell you, this il re.
form which the honest msn OF both par
ties arc asking at your hands. II ia a
measure wkich this Legislature, with i
Republican house and o Democfa,i,
senate, IS in better position to grant
than any Of its predecessors has been
II is measure whieh is more urgently
needed than before since tina evil il
greater than it has ever bssn. Il iga
measure of which even men OF him
standing in bnth parties in this State nov
mite in admitting this need. You can
not plead that it is an untried and expsri.
mental measure. II has been adopted BY
no less than zen states of the American
Union. Are you afraid OF each other? Are
you AFRAID that the Australian Ballot law
will work to the advantage OF the Demo.
craticparty or the Republican party as the
case may lie Are you, Republican mem.
bers, inclined to lend Wiling ear TO the
dsmnabie sugse stion that some unprin.
cIpled party workers would urss
wait till We get q stronger grip on the
State anu then va will talk about le8isle.
tion of this kindS Are you, D5mosratic
members, wiling 60 heerksn without pro
test TO the equally insultiug plaa--,wait
I'LL we regain control Of Kent aud sussex
snd then we Will talk about ballot reform?
Are the prospective schemes OF wire
pullers and Place hunters to ba regarded
as paramount 10 rehabilitation OF the
sanctity of the ballot
To such MEMBERS, II Ruch there be
who are incliasd to allow themselves to
be swayed from the path OF right and
Justice by such low, paltry partisan con
EiderGtions, We would cry--Sha,ne on
you Even il some OF you have been
sent to Dover BY purchased votes, vet
your duty under your sworn obligation
il TO legislate tor the people, not for
la NJ ,ztn M