Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-01-08
GOVERNOR HILLS MESSAGE
Treat, of the Eiection-Laws and Discusses
the Australian system.

ALBANY, January 7.-Governor Hill in
his annual message TO the Legislature
urgcs the desirability of some changes in
the laws relating 10 elections. He reviews
the present election-laws and says;
Yet IN spite Of these excellent provisions
our laws do not reach two great evils which
attend our electlOns-lntlmidati ana cor
ruption. These fOurished unchecked,
bringing shame upon our state; rendering
our elections a mockery and threatening
even the integrity and existence Of our pO-
Etical institutions. Ii is indeed a sad ale
cation which is made and not denied that
in some parts of our State at
the recent presidential election cor
ruption was so unrestralned that the scene
at the polls resembled an auction moro
than an election, and that III other places
intimidation was so prevalent and undis-
guised. particularly at some OF our manu-
featuring centres, that the employees were
virtually driven to the polls and actually
instructed by their, employers rs 70 what
tickets they should vote. No public ser
vice can be more patriotic than that when
seeks to guard the suffrage from such
abuses.
1t is conceded by good citizens every
where. think, that all legislation intend
cd TO improve our electiOn-laws should
have for It's main purpose the correction OF
these two evils-corruption and intlmlda-
ton. All other objects sought 10 De az
tanned are of subordinate Importance ana
should not be permitted to delay or pre-
vent the accomplishment OF this great re-
form. To the methods which are suggest
cd the Legislature will do well TO give
careful consideration, adopting that when
is free from constitutional and other pro
per objections and which offers the SIM
plest and most practicable remedy Tor the
existing evils. ,.,,,
MANY well-meaning citizens and political
associations. impressed by the necessity
TOR some remedial legislation, are Just now
urging the adoption of what Is known as
the Australian system of voting. and. ap-
parently, believe it will furnish panacea
Tor all the pernicious practices which now
surround our elections. If this belief. -
well founded there ought TO be no preJn-
dice against adopting the system merely
because il has been successfully tired
IN foreign countries. II does not
follow. however, that because the
Australian system seems 10 be we'll
adapted to the Governments of Australia
and England and is superior to systems
which previously existed there u can be
appropriately applied to our institutions
Without material modification. These
Governments are founded on the theory
that the State should undertake to per-
form every service that it can perform,
while the true theory of our institutions IS
that the State should do nothing that can
better or as we'll be done by the free and
untrammelled action OF the individual
citizen.
10 vest the greatest control and power
of interference IN the Government is the
object and aim of the laws, while the IN
tent Of ours is to confer on the people the
lseos consistent with the public welfare.
II should not be forgotten. also, that uni
yersal suffrage does not exist In Australia
and Great Britain. but the election ystems