The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-01-10
Substantial ard UnsubstantiaI Rea.

The Bangor Wing notes with surprise that
1.-THE Governor does not fortify his position
ION the Australian ballot with any substan-
tial reasons why the change should be made"
The Wing must have read the message
hastily. The Governors position is fortl-
fed with some very substantial reasons.
First, the Governor alleges ira. the wisdom
Of the system has been clearly es ablished
by trial in other States. That certainly is a
substantial reason for adopting it here.
Second, the Governor alleges that the Aus
tralian system comes nearer securing to
every citizen an opportunity to express bis
unbiased convictions than any other.
That Is another substantial reason for its
adoption here and everywhere else where
such expression is wanted. OF course In
despotc countries this would not be re-
garded as substantial reason but quite
ton, the contrary. But the United States
is a republic. Third, the Governor al
leges that under this system bribery and
intimidation will be practically unable to
affect elections. That is another substantial
reason for Its adoption. Fourth, the Gov
ernor alleges that the Australian system will
prove a powerful incentive to parties to
nominate honest and capable candidates
That is another substantial reason for its
adoption. Instead therefore, of the Gov
ernor's terrifying his position with no SUBJ
stantial reasons for the adoption of the sys-
ten. he has fortified it with at least four
very substantial reasons, any one of which
ought to be sufficient to secure its adoption,
Now let us examine the Wings substan-
tial reasons why 1t should not be adopted.
The first substantial reason is that 14,Oe0
voters of Massachusetts failed to vote for
any candidate below attorney ger eral,
''thus depriving the remainder of the ticket
of just that number of votes" Now this
amounts to just this, that 1900 voters of
Massachusetts did not care enough about
who filled the minor State offices to express
an opinion. There was nothing to prevent
their making cross against the names low
down on the ticket any more than there was
in the case of names way up on the ticket.
1t is the privilege of the American citizen to
vote, or not vote, just as he sees fit. And IL
he doesn't have any opinion it is altogether
better that he should not Vote Under the
old method the most of these 1900 men
would probably have voted for the whole
ItckoI' bhaS 10 W say tuey Woulu nave been
led into expressing an opinion and declaring
preference when as matter of fact they had
neither. 1t is not, We believe, for the public
good that voters should be induced in anv
way to cast ballot when they have mo
opinion.
The next substantial reason which the
Wing alleges Is tnat many voters are dis.
franchised On account of inability to mark
their ballots correctly. No such objection
can be brought against the Massachusetts
law. or the bill which was before the last
legislature because 1t is provided in both of
Them that in case the voter is unable to mark
ene ballot he may obtain assistance. The
man shat cannot read 1t at disadvantage
nnuer any system. but his disadvantage Is