The climax. [volume] (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1887-1897, 1890-06-04
THE AUSTRALIAN BALLOT AT CUMBER-
LAND.

The first test of the Australian law IN
this State, which was made at the NUM-
cipal election in Cumberland, Monday,
ought to be highly encouraging in every
wav to the friends of ballot reform. The
election was conducted under certain OBJ
vious disadvantages, such as lack OF Op-
portunity to master thoroughly all the
details of the new system, and inexperi-
ence in the practical management OF the
mechanical devices provided for the pro-
lection Of the voter from improper iniu-
ences and the promotion of fairness; but
in spite of all this, the result was an I'M
qualified triumph and vindicatiOn of the
law. 1t worked smoothly and success
fully, and demonstrated in the most sat
isfactory manner its right to the public
confidence and to the place which it has
won, after hard struggle, on the statute
books of the State. 1t is particularly
worthy of remark that its actual opera
ton completely disposes of all the objec-
tons, both of practical and political
character, made to it by its opponents in
the Legislature. 1t will be remembered
that it was urged that it was so eumber-
some that it would prove confusing even
to the most intelligent; that the illiterate
would be deprived of their votes that il
would consume so much time as to dis
franchise many persons, and, finally, that
it would result in Democratic defeat
Every one of these objections was found
to be groundless in Cumberland on Mon
day. The only confusion that occurred
and it amounted to nothing practically
arose from the fact that the Democrats
did not use one of their ancient and IA
miliar devices, such as a hickory tree Ors
portrait Of Jackson as their party EN-
blem, but instead an alleged phoenix arts
ing from a fire, a departure from Demo
cratic tradition and custom that naturally
puzzled the honest, supplemented voter
1t looked very much to some Of them, NJ
doubt. as if the Democratic party were
engaged in cooking its own goose, ans
they naturally felt reluctant to assist in 5,
disloyal proceeding. The phoenix il
generally supposed to represent some
thing arising from the ashes of ruin, bu
as the Democratic party is still very mUcl
alive, there is as yet no occasion for it t.
employ a bird of resurrection as an EN-
blem of hope and inspiration. The ole
hickory tree sheltered the party in youth
and it is evident that the party can fine
no better shelter now. While there wa
no confusion of any moment, neitherwa
there any trouble for illiterate voters, no
any undue consumption of time, the av
erage vote being pOlled without delay o
/ impediment. And last, but not least, tn
law did not result in Democratic defeat
On the contrary, Mr.. McKaig is the frs
Democratic Mayor elected in CumbeI
land in six years, an ounce of solid fac
which upsets all the pounds of theor
advanced in opposition to the Australian
system. Taken all in ALL therefore, al
sides ought to be pretty well satisfied wit
the moral taught by the Cumberland cleo
ton. To ballot refOrmers it carries goo
cheer as an evidence that they have sc
cured law that will insure PRACTICAL
fair and free elections, and to homes
Democrats, who may have been doubtful
as to the success of their party under tn
new conditions, 1t restores confidence b
proving that it may bring them victor
instead of disaster. To no one is it di:
cOuraging and dOlOrOus except to the pc
litical "heeler" and professional polit
clan, who can no longer bully the wea
or bride the corrupt into voting as he ma
dictate. His occupation is now to laTg
extent gone, and he has the jOyless aspeC
of man attending his own intermen
Perhaps that was the suggestion intende
to be conveyed by the funeral pyre an
the disconsolate bird that headed tn
Democratic ticket at Cumberland. Prol
ably it was not phoenix at all that wa
typifed, but only a common political WI
ture that was being sacrificed on the alta
of party purity Baltimore Sun.