Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-03-20
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ms Jc0sUnl Gnd fhA Au9ersffac BaffoS
We do not think that any member Of
the Legislature would Intentionally mis-
represent the Journal upon the Aus
trslian ballot or any other question. As
there seems TO be sosae misrepresentation.
however, touching orr advocacy Of the
secret ballot We viii review briefly our
record upon this fuestion- On the 18th
u February, 1850, when the Looney bill
was pending before the Legislature Of
Maine and was exciting very general In
terest among the people of the State,
the JorEyAL referred to IL in the follow
Ing language: There can be but little
doubt that the trend Of the best public
opinion Of the country Ia towards I'M
proved ballot laws for the maintenance
Of the purity OF the ballot. 1t ia equally
clear to our mind that this sincere public
demand, sooner or later, Is 10 have an
Affirmative response even Ia Maine
where the right Of Suffrage has always
been more carefully guarded than In
most of the states. We believe all the
members Of the present Maine Legislsr-
ure wish 70 act rightly on this subject,
and that the committee who have
had the Subject Ia charge, both the ina~
iority and the minority are equally hon
est, yet our Judgment rs humble
journalist, is that is IA not well 10 OPP
pose what experience and the tendency
Of events are likely TO achieve Reasonably
soon. Ia Ii not practicable to have a
carefully drawn and effective Law appli-
cable 70 all the cities and large towns:
Wise Iaws aud the moral education Of
the people should make the right Of SUI
frage as sacred and secure as possible
The above editorial was written by
Hon. John l., stevens, the present
United States minister TO the Sandwich
Islands. AT the time it appeared Mr..
Stevens was the managing editor of the
Journal. The position he gave it In
favor Of the secret ballot has been stead
lily adhered TO by his successor. ON
the 9.h day OF January, 1891, the third
day OF the present session, We took cur
position sguarely for the Australian bal
lot 10 the following editorial language;
There can be no doubt but what the
general sentiment among the people Of
the state is strongly in its favor. The
success that has attended It's adoption in
other states is an argument in
les behalf that cannot be success
fully c0ntroverted" Could language
be more explicit than this; Then fol-
lowed the long hearings before the
Judiciary committee which the JOURNAL
reported fully and impartially, content
70 let It's readers draw their own con-
illusions from the arguments there adj
dueed. On the 2nd of March, four days
before the minority report of the COM
mittee was considered In the House, we
again spoke editorially Of the question
in the following language: THE ques-
ton has been thoroughly discussed be-
fore the Judiciary committee and the
Jol RNAL has endeavored to report both
sides fully and fairly. Its editorial posi-
ton on this question was taken two years
ago when Mr.. Looney first introduced his
bill for ballot reform into the Leg
stature The idea was then novel
Que. People wanted time to con-
slider it and to note the effects of its OPP
GRAFTON in other states. AS a result Mr..
Looney's measure was defeated by
large vote. Two years passed away
and public opiaion continued to grow
strongly in its favor. IL came before
the present Legislature, In the able
charge of Mr.. Clason, with powerful
backing, The State grange officially
endorsed it in annual convention; the
labor organizations of the State are
unit for it; and majority of the news.
papers of the State arlently champion
1t.
We believe that the bill reported by
the majority OF the committee will be
given passage. We think that the
sentiment Of The people Of Maine is en-
phatleally in its favor and that the
measure is one that will certainly sub
serve the highest interests of the State"
This was the assurance which the Jour
NAL gave its readers before the battle
in the House, that the arguments which
had been presented before the judiciary
committee aud which 1t had faithfully re-
ported, had not changed in the slightest
degree its original views upon the mat
ter All our readers know how fully
we reported the debate in the House
upon this question devoting, at the ex
peuse of other matters, fourteen col
umns of solid type to it The Journal
l. not ashamed of its record upon the
Australian ballot question. We have
endeavored from the first to deal with it
in a tolerant spirit The most censorous
critic will search our editorials in vain
for one word Of disparagement to those
who have honestly differed with US on
this question. All men and all news
papers have a right to their opinions
We have steadfastly held to ours and
have from the very first affirmed our
belief In the sincerity aud honest pur-
pose Of those who entertained different
views from our own. We have
not allowed the excitement of
this controversy to move us from
the courtesies Of debate and from
a Just respect for the views of our OPP
ponents. Whatever may be the final
outcome of the measure so handsomely
passed by the Senate yesterday the
JOURNAL will feel that 1t has given edi
torial expression to nothing which it
will wish to retract or which may be a
cause of regret.