The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1890-02-15
soma or writ and Dr. Mqcka,l

| Ballot Law Now Before the Legislature.
The Baltimore SIN on Wednesday pub
lished letters from leading Democrats of
the State on ballot reform.
| John S. Writ wrote as follows "There
are four names which are inseparably
connected with the history of the Demo-
cratic party. These are Jefferson, Jack
SOD, Tilden and Cleveland. Mr.. Cleveland
is the leader of all the progressive ele-
ments of his party, of those who do not
think that party should be held to
gether merely by the cohesive power of
public plumber, but that bv it's policies
and. the character of its leaders it should
seek to win the enthusiastic support of
the masses.
Ir his admirable speech at Boston last
December Mr.. Cleveland enuuciated the
true Democratic doctrines upon the ques
ton of tariff reform, civil service reform
throughout the country is in accord with
Mr.. Cleveland upon the question of tariff
reform, and his message of December,
1887, must be in 1892, as it was in 1885,
the platform of the party if it expects to
win.
Upon the question of civil service re-
form the thoughtful and patriotic men of
both parties are united, while 1.-THE ma
chine" in all parties is opposed to it. This
reform, thanks to Mr.. Cleveland. has
come to stay, and is firmly established.
1t cannot be overthrown by the open op-
position of politicians of the Hill, Dana
and Butler stripe, or the more secret and
insidious attacks of Mr.. Wanamaker.
The country will never again witness a
clean sweep of the offices upon change
of the national administration, and no
party can degrade the public service to
the demands of spois politics without
mourning popular condemnation.
Ballot reform appeals to the hearts and
Imagination of the people, while it COM
mends itself to the Judgment of all right
thinking men. Mr.. Cleveland is its I'M
compromising advocate and champion.
The whole drift and trend of opinion in
this country is in the direction of the
adoption of the Australian Ballot Law.
| Whenever it has been adopted it has been
satisfactory, and wherever it is under
stood the people approve it. The labor
organizations throughout the land de-
maud it as the only safeguard against
/ nd in
ton of life who are opposed to the cor
rupt use of money in our elections
are we'll nigh unanimous in it's be-
half. The Democrats of Maryland prom
Used generally in the Democratic State
platform, and specifically in the Demo-
cratic city platform, to pass the Austria
Ian Ballot Law. We may assume that
the party will fulfill its pledges. To do
otherwise is discredit to the organiza
ton and personal dishonor to every
member of it. Every true Democrat
should wish to see the party in Maryland
follow our illustrious leader, Cleveland,
and keep step with the progressive ele-
ments of the party in our sister States.
The young men in the party who set
themselves against these three reforms
with which MIR. Clevelaud's name and
career are identified, however, successful
they may be for the present, neglect the
advice of the late President Garfield, mot
to pitch their tent in political grave
yards JOHN 5. WRIT.
DR.. r. C. Mackall wrote as follows:
Gas ballot reform has become a watch
word of the Democratic party second
only in Importance to the Cleveland tariff
plank in the national platform, the de-
mand is upon every intelligent member
OF the party and indeed upon every hon.
est citizen to give the question now at
the front in Maryland earnest and careful
consideration. The abuse of the elective
| franchise is not a question, but fact
| confessed on all sides. The question,
then, is one of remedy after diagnosis
and discovery.
''It requires no microscope to discover
the auimalcula on the body polite. They
are quite visible to the unaided eye,
Marked tickets in envelopes are palpable
things, and crisp bank notes can be both
| felt and seen.
The disease then is notable malady,
and as retired physician of the old
school I favor radical treatment. do
not believe that either the principle,
similia similibus curantur, or the infinite
sinai dose of our homeopathic friends
will cure the patient. He needs both a
purge and tonic. The opponents of the
Australian ballot law, or any moditica-
ton of it that does not emasculate its
essential features, object on the ground
that it is foreign and novelty and our
people like old ways, and that it will dis
franchise illiterate white voters because
they will not expose their ignorance,
while the more ignorant negro will not
mind such exposure. They also claim
that it will greatly increase the cost of
our elections. The first objection is SIM
liar to one made sixty years to railroads.
1t was said that they would destroy the
good old pixies, the wagon trade and the
raising of horses. The second is based
upon the known modesty of the voter
waiting for a consideration, and the last
is my old friend from Annapolis, whose
acquaintance l made when | urged the
substitution of the Pearce election bill
for the bill reported from the committee
on elections. Having made due prepare
ton for the objection, | demonstrated by
figures that the Pierce law could not a
cost dime more in Cecil County than
the present law, but L.! a member in
front of me Immediately demonstrated,
with equal clearness and without figures
that it would cost much more for his
county, and the latter was precisely the
demonstration settled purpose always
accepts.
''In Cecil County there are nine voting
places. 1t will cost few dollars TO get
up nine rooms in which to vote under the
proposed new system, and it will relieve
candidates and their friends of emo nous
drafts upon their pocket-books for fves,
if not for blocks of five.
"RIght here state fact that no one
in this county can deny when say that
bribery is the only fraud perpetrated at
our elections, and bribery is common. 1t
is practiced at every contested election
and primary and is increasing every year.
The disease, then, is the patent; the rem