New-York tribune., 1890-05-30
VJcTIANCE THE PRICE or REFORM.

YJGTLANCE THE PRICE or REFORM.
Rollot reform. such as we have, will as
surcdlv be beaten by professional politicians
if thev are able. So much is to be taken lof
Granted. If they can find hole III 1t any
whore they will penetrate and defeat 1t. IL
tbov can find leak in the dam they will make
Il larger. The business of the most unScrupu-
Ions politicians is to increase the dependence
Of 4 party: its candidates and the public upon
those who make living he managing elections
corruptly. Unless the substantial voters, VINO
.re much in the habit of neglccting the details
of political management. give more attention
TO politics this year than they are wont 10
give. il is quite likely that the imperfect ac'
which has been placed on the tatute-hoohS
of this State will work badly, and Will open
noyy avenues for fraud 10 those who are llii-
scrupulous or cunning enough to discover them'
II is pcculiarly important for the Republicans
of New York this year 10 make the best use ol
tboir onportunites The fact that state
officers of the highest importance are not To
lc elected will doubtless render some voters
Indifferent and yet the Legislature 10 bc
chosen next fall may do much to change the
noljtical future of the whole country, as wen
as of the State The election of United states
senators is but one of the results depending
unon the voting next fall. The next Legs
latule will have power 20 apportion the state
and if the Democratic methods adopted in
Indiana or Ohio should be employed here, that
Legislature could easily deprive the kepup-
Iican party of a larger number of Representa-
tivos than its majority in the House when 'ha'
body organized. The control OF state ald'IS
and expenditures. also, would put vast power
in the hands of unscrupuou> Democratic PoH-
ticians. which they would not fail To use 10
the utmost IN the next Presidential elccu"h'
But meanwhile members Of Congress nave
also to be elected next fall, and the contr'i "l
legislation fol the two remaining years "l
President llaIri>onS term may depend upon
the result of the voting i'll this state
The work ~ be done in preparing for the
first election under now system OF voting J.
by no means light as details already published
have shown. If the whole OF the work l. I'l'
TO those persons in each city or county Town
or ward who have hitherto devoted most "i
,hcir time to political work, the preparations
will inevitably be inadequate for lack oi tiihc
and force. and moreover. the best aitaInahIc
rosi,lfs from, the new law cannot then be cN-
pccted There is needed this year far more
than eyer before. the active cooperation ana
work of substantial citizens who not onlN ne
eiro reform in election methods but have some
nracticaI knowledge of the things 10 be done
and the things to be prevented. strong
voluntccr vigilance committee or working club
in c,ch tc,yn or ward. embracing not only
those who usually are left 10 do all the WORK
but =, many other good Republicans a. are
{ "a tt.h o. L.
of reform in motion. would accomplish impor-
,ant results. With such men enlisted active
lv details can be covered which might other
wise be neglected. With them actively en-
caged. the machinery OF elections can nowhere
hc cra>pod and used by untruSt"orhy per
/ sons as in some localities it would bc II care
and attention were not given TO the matter
| by the voters
| II NAV as we'll be understood, first as last,
| that neither the imperfect law which We now
/ have. nor any other law thai legislative WIS
dom can devise. can legislatc human nature
! ont Of human beings No law can wholly pre-
vent dishonest practices 50 long a the men
who manage and who vote are dishonest. No
law can make a people well governed unless
they attend to its workings themselves. If
eternal vigilance was the price OF liberty be
fore the Australian mode of voting was IN
vented, it is to-day just as true that eternal
! vigilance is the price of liberty. The law IT.
self will not prevent fraud or bribery 1t can
only give good citizens some power 10 prevent
bribery or fraud The law will not render
impoSsiblc ballot-bOx Stuiling or the forging
Of returns; it can only give good citizens larger
power TO that end. II the good citizens rely
upon i1e machinery Of law. and 90 comfort
ably 70 sleep, the reform will not march