New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-08
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.MATCHLES SIS
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80 UNION SQUARE.

and this objection is Inherent 10 All exclusively official
ballot and cannot be cured II official ballots alone
ing Of the cole custody thereof in the hands Of the
respective county clerS OF the varouS G0 mnr
Of the Iurcau of Elections, is vestng dangerous
power in such officers, and one when j, liable to
Hbn-c These officer, are of course, plrtl>ans, and
over twothrds of them belong to the same political
party. II may be safc!y asserted that me officers
belonging 10 party ought never to be charged with
W" exclusive responsibility OF printing ana dNtflDut
ing ballot for their political opponents. The crime,
officer might prevent an election in whole county
or in The great city Of New York. and state or
Presidential election might be determined thereby.
The objection is not that these results likely
to occur. hut that they are rendered possible. No
In order 10 mitigate this objection the provision
has been proposed that fac smile unofficial ballots
furnished the supply becomes exhausted. hut then
The query arises. when and how are these fac smile
provide for the contingencies mentioned. they would
have 70 be procured IN advance and at the cHpcnte
arguments In favor Of official ballot. towt the saw
ink Of expenses to candidates. and preventing a .e,s
b"comcs wholly uutcnablc. the expense would he
greater under the requirements Of the proposed
system than at present
CRITICISM OF THE sAXToN BILL.
There are however three constitutional objections
TO exclusively official ballot such provided
FOR In the perfected SaXton' bill Of last year
Fr,t-rhe right TO vote cannot be made dependent
upon nominations being made and certificates thereof
duly executed and filed.
The right of voting is not conferred by statute. 1t
J., given by the Constitution Itself. in Article H. see
ton /, wherein it - declared that every male citizen,
twenty one Year. 81 age ana pg>,es,,ns certain
. 10 vote for all officers that now here
after may BE- elective by the people.
thus established II cannot restrict it directly or in
directly. II cannot make the right Of eIector 10
vote dependent the action or nUn-actIOn Of those
upon whom the law impose, no duty. II is conceded
that If NJ nomination, are made IN certain district
or II made not duly certified within the required
TEN, the clcct0r cannot vote Unless there are nomi
nations made. no orclal ballots can be printed and
others be voted.
! The Legislature ha' no power TO take away from
hi, right II suffrage because politicians NJ
30 certain districts 10 abstain from signing and Hing
| certifcatOu, Of nomination.
second. IL J, unconstitutional 20 require clector
to Voi" for the CANDIDATE" OF h' ch"cc by making upon
the exclusively ofCia ballot thus. y opposite
the nam" u such candidate, and prohibiting him from
! voting no any other manner.
I'M, provision couccdcdy d-franchi,"s one entire
ol'~, ~ electors, 10 VII those VINO are unable % Rad
not authorized by The Constitution. According 10 the
proposed y>tc. every cc,tor Who vote must receive
Do, ballot, az The polling pIc" from the official ballot
c'crh and then rcir. 10 of the booths and mark
tine name, az those for whom hc desires vote. II
the clc,tor cannot read tAr name, Ou the ballot, he
! cannot mark them. Hence De- cannot vote.
TIA" lc--lNtu;o has no right n framing statute
10 der the question whether The doctrine ~ man
hood suffrage. which ha, been Ions established IN
organic law, !, Wise or uuWl,c. II D, sufficient
that a." Constitution makes no distinction between
the educated and the uu,ducatod. the poor and the
rch the native and the naturalcd citizen. the clr'tor
Who can speak and write our language and one Who
r.unot i u, gccruu, provisions guarantee the ri-ht
u ,Irrarc male citizen Of m" axe IF twenty
One ycar- who ma resided the requisite time iu "a"
Slate tu the county and lu the election district ll
which Doc OILERS to vote. The Legislature cannot add
m" Na,-ichu-o't, Ballot A,t is not open to mi,
,blcctuu lc,ausc u that state the Constitution Itself
r,iu.r~ every cector 10 Doe able e. read and wit"
10. D. loo I'D