The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1890-03-29
PURE POLITICS.


should be guarded with the utmost
jealousy. To violate that purity is to
wound the State in its tenderest point.
1.-THE repeated cry of detection
frauds" Is full of warning. In many
instances, undoubtedly, it is the
empty charge of defeated partisans
against the victors; yet enough re-
mains of substantial character. to
be ominous. In every possible way,
by tickets insiduously printed, by
"slitfing' the box, by "tissue" bal
lots" by "colonizing, repeating"
and "personation" - frauds are at
tempted, and too often successfully
upon the ballot. 1t is the greatest
menace TO free institutions.
adjective registration laws and
negligence to secure the ballot-box
by careful legal enactments, in part
account for such state OF affairs;
but the prime cause is that the better
class of citizens so often stand aloof
from practical politics and the conduct
of campaigns. 1t is one result of uni
ersalusuffrage that elections very fire.
quently turn upon the votes of that
large class made up of the rough and
baser sort. To influence and organ
lie this vote Is the ''dirty work" Of
politics. Gentlemen naturally shirk
from 1t. Hence it.has gotten for the
most part, with general political ma
chinery, into unreputable hands; and
from these hands issue the election
frauds which thicken in all the
great cities, aud gravely endanger
our institutions. The ballot is the
ready and potent instrument that reg
listers the will Of free people for
their own government, and the vio-
lation OF lis purity lead directly to
the point where there is either loss of
liberty or revolution TO restore. We
all remember what happened in 1876,
when alleged tampering with elec-
ZION returns affecting the Presidential
succession, and a great cloud arose,
and for weeks hung, dark and threat
ening over the land. 1t was trem-
endous crisis, and perhaps only the
memories of the recent war averted
disastrous strife.
The privilege OF voting is not an
inherent or inalienable right, but
sacred trust to be used in strict ac-
cordance with the intentions of the
the authority from when 1t emanates
When citizen exercises his right.
eous judgment in casting his vote for
the most acceptable candidate or for
measure that will best subserve the
interests of the community, he is
making q legitimate use of the inter-
ests confided to him.
I" But when he sells and barters his
vote, and disposes of it to the highest
bidder like merchantable commod-
ity. he Is clearly violating his trust
and degrading his citizenship. Once
the purchase Of votes is tolerated. or
condoned or connived al, the obvious
result is that the right of suffrage will
become a mere farce, money and not
merit will become the test of success,
and the election will be determined
not by the personal fitness or integ-
rity OF the candidate, but by the
length OF his purse.
TWe hail 1t with satisfaction that a
more healthy public opinion on this
subject seems developing, that re-
spectacle citizens appear more dis
posed to bear an active part In prac-
teal politics, and that "reform,"
"free BALLOT" "fair count" are
becoming under The pressure, more
and more party watchwords. It is a
purifying tendncy In vital d.
rection."
General Crook was stricken with
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