The sun., 1891-01-28
The Compulsory Voting Project.

Ono Of the most ridiculous and fanciful
pieces OF legislation ever proposed In this
State Is to DO brought forward ut Albany
again this winter. We mean the bill to
0ompcl all qualified citizens to vote at cleo
fions Such project might answer we'll
enough under IL system OF paternal govern
mont, which assumed thnt the people did
hot know what was good for themselves.
knd could not DO trusted to look after their
own interests; but IN n State like New York.
end especially In n Democratic Legislature
the idea OF forcing people TO vote under the
penalty OF tho law ought to be deemed as
absurd rs tho oennctmcnt of a statute to COM
pei people to cat, or sleep. or go to church.
Tho system Of government favored by the
Democracy is ono which let's people alone as
much as possible. Opposed to this Is the
system OF interfering with the liberty OF tho
individual whenever such interference is
deemed to be for his good. Tho Democratic
eystem tends to make people strong, inde-
pendent, sclf-relinnt and manly. The pm
ternal systom cultivates weakness, depend
ence upon authority, and n disposition not
to help ones self. but to look to others
{or help. 1t assumes that men cannot be
trusted to take care OF themselves; and
there oan hardly be a more extreme applica-
ton Of Its underlying principle than this
proposition to place citlzens under legal con-
btraint to voto. The early laws OF the Pill
grims and Purltans were examples OF mod
GRAFTON compared to this.
Every intelligent citizen In any State OF
the Union knows that the affairs of the State
are regulated and controlled In accordance
with the will OF q majority OF those who
vote at elections. He has the power to par-
ticlpato In the government by exercising
the right OF suffrage II he desires to do so.
When he voluntarily abstains from voting,
he impliedly consents to be governed by the
other qualified voters in the commonwealth
who choose to take a part In tho elections. In
othor words. he thus manifests his willing
ness to be ruled by others. On what principle
Of law, or morals, or social science. should
he be deprived OF the right thus to submit to
the control Of tho citizens who actually vote?
He interfcres with no ono else. lie dcprlves
ho other person OF any right or privilege to
which that person Is entitled. lie merely
hbstains from acting to some extent as n
ruler OF the community In which he lives;
but In 30 doing he does not relieve himself in
the slightest degree from his obligation to
bay taxes or to contribute to the expenses
bf the Government. The situation Is like
that OF man who has subscribed to
magnificent Entertainment, and sitting down
at tho feast which his own money has helped
10 provide, prefers to eat and drink nothing
himself; and this compulsory voting bill is
like rule which should compel man un-
der such circumstances to eat and drink
then and there, or forfeit his right to meal
6f any kind for weeks or months thereafter.
The measure is SO utterly preposterous
that II IL difficult to discuss 1t patiently or
Seriously This much ia certain: no COM
pulsory voting law will be necessary to
bring citizens out to vote against Senators
hnd Assemblymen who are foolish enough
to advocate a scheme so absurd in itself, and
10 hostile to cvery principle OF democracy.