Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-12-26
THE rowpns OF ArToHsEr.
a COnyetaicnt Instrument in the
Hands of the CorruptiOnist and
EEuIidaXeE.

a Convenient Instrument tn the
Hands of the CorruptiOnist and
EguIidIZer.
Dover Index.
The attempt on tho part OF Mr.. Hig-
gins TO compel the collectors of Whining
ton to receive the taxes or poll tax8bles
from attctneys-in-fRot, in blocks OF
fve'' or more, 10 likely TO prove an abor-
tson. He will find that sucn a scheme,
when brought to the legal and const,lu-
tional tests, 10 wanting in that element
which will justify The interposition Of q
| judicial tribunal. The question involves
something more than the mere right Of
one or more taIables to delegate TO
another the power to pay their taxes and
pocket the receipts therefor until the day
! OF election. It 10 much broader than
this, and requiros mere than o technical
| definition OF the rights and duties OF
| principal and agent. The payment of
| tax, rs prescribed by that constitution of
/ the State, 10 one of the qualifications of
an elector, ind when that ia done, the
ether qualifications being present, there
Apringa into exiStence not only the right
but tina duty to vote, ard by the act TO
Participate IN the choice Of meu to rule
and administer the affairs OF government.
!
private concern alone, and not condi
ton OF suffrage, then tho difficulty might
be resolved into question involving the
construction OF the terms OF . letter Of
attorney, AM the determination OF the
proper gubja1t matter Of snch an ingtru
| rlens.
While the RICH. TO vote is a private
right yet the purpose FOR which il ia *
ercisea is public trust in which all have
an equal interest. IL is Therefore impoJ-
sihl1 10 separate the existance Of sach q
right from u sense OF public duty, the
faithful discharge OF which can ouly be
done in obs dtenge to tho dictates of nm
un.rammslsd judgment, and in the light
OF an Instructed and unbiased conscience.
TO aunul or stitle tho decisions OF the5e
arbiters Of human thought and action in
matters Of such grave importance, either
by direct or indirect means, would make
those whose freedom of will and mind il
thus su pended, mere machines, to bB
manipulated By the cunning hand Of the
artful politician. What freedom has the
voter on election day 60 choose between
the men who are candidates tol his
suffrage, or the measures tla1 are
s1lmitted for his decision, If some
6exterous polit cian has In his pocket hiI
tax receipt. which il the evidence of his
right to vote Ha my withhold thas
evidence Mt pleasure, until the INDECENT
elector consents TO cast hH ballot 10 ne
shall direct. II ID no answer to say Ehkt
tile voter voluntarily signud letter Of
attorney authorizing his generous friend
to pGy his taz saa obtain FROM the col
lectpr the recaip. therefor, for he had no
right 50 to do. II this pretended friend
had NO right 90 go 20 the collector to
pay the tax o. the man whose vote he in.
tend TO control on the day Of election,
without his consent, ,han he eould derive
no right TO do So by virtue Of the nlpRt
, formal puwes OF attorney. Tho Denial
OF tins right in one man to take
another certificate OF his right to
vota carries with Il the denial Of the right
nf the latter TO snrrepde: it by the most
, formal md solemn instrument. We be.
lieye ,hat it il generally conceded, by
Republicans as well as Democrats, that
there ia no sanction 10 be found, either
in tho law or TIE Constitution, for Que
man 10 pay tho taxes Of blocks az taxa.
las, ana receive the receipts therefor,
, without the consent Of such taxable.
Nov, as we haYe ahcwn, the spirit and
purpose Of the Constitution are rgainat
the practice OF allowing one or mora meI
| TO obtain the certificates OF the right Of
one or mQrs electors 20 vote, because il
would interfere with their freedom Of
; Choice, ana thus destroy the very es9cncl
/ Of tho privilege OF this elective franchise
: and the significance OF the ballot.
Theoretically the ballot box Is the re
a po-itOry Of the EXPRESSION of the people,
/ sovereign VIII, hut II tho practices ant
,F,I
q 10 prevail, then Il vii. be nothing NOR,
/ than & Eopupr cnntFigance Tor torLErinG
q The pppulEr ynlce into 10 expression o
approval Of tleIr crooked ana pertidiou
/. plans What morning hath the ballo
!. that is put into tic ballot. box agains
the helpless protests OF the Judgment aat
. consciences Of men Whosa right to yot
n is conditioned upoll the Will. OF oorrup
J. and unscrupGlous politicians who hol,
n their voting credentials on the day o
!. election None. I. ia destitute Of iii
q impress of the voters conviction an,
4 therefore lie and sham.
What becomes of the secrecy of tn
a ballot, the preservation Of which has be
# come problem that is engaging til
a thought OF all earnest patriotB, when th
n evidence OF the right to cast it, anon
/. large numbers, Is held by others, who rs
/. FGrd suffrage as mate ohattel to b
!. bought Nud sold in market, as any oths
!. thing Of properly y4lne.
j Intimidation ard bribery, without COZ
n troversy, constitute one OF the geea
;. sources of danger to the repnblic, an
j. tha secrecy OF the ballot is one of th
!. most effactual safeguards thRt has N
been davised against their Influence
o Then letters of attorney, employed in Ii
q payment Of ta@s by blcGks, and Rettiit
hold Of the receipts therefor by I'll
agents Of these twin vices, are nGthin
n more than legal masks, under which the
Il can, in many instances, threaten an
h coerce those whom they profess to reprl
:. sent ard failing in that, 70 tempt thal
p with the glitiefiug and seductive hfibt
y letter Of attorney is yPsy converter
!, instrument in the lan,lH Of the BULLDOG
Ii and corruptioniat. The getting Of Il
ID tax receipts Of certain p1i-tsxables,
mems OF the letter o. attorney bugia6s
In is Higeirism, Of which the opinion
q Judge Alliaon OF Philadelphia, is an III
" e4uiEoCai condemnation.
i .------=--.s.4s- -
Ia Ere at gseitrurTOHyn,