The sun., 1891-12-15


Adcotisemenfs for THE WEEKLY Sun.
tssNed tomorrow morning. must be handed IN
! this erenia0 before 6 O'Clock,
.t A Most Pcrnicions Reform.
Well In advance Of the meeting OF the
Legislature timely warning should be given
TO the Democratic representatives Of the
people Of an attempt further to confuse
j. and injure the electoral law OF the State by
new and barefaced fraud upon the fran
. chise. to be known as tho Australian
4 group system"
Under tho old and simple system of vot-
ing. the elector was as secure In his right
peacefully and deliberately to select and
prepare his ballots as the Constitution Of
the United States makes him In his person
s and property. In the quiet Of his homo.
among his friends. or at the polling place.
4 he could arrange his tickets. and vote them
I without mischance or molestation. The re-
form cranks substituted for this the present
j blanket ballot system. all the names being
l printed upon ono sheet. In order apparently
to make selection of candidates as difficult
% possible. It has served the purpose OF
minimizing independent voting. while add.
lng enormously to the public expenses, put
ing heavy premium upon frauds In the
INT, and afording many pretexts for an
1(truthful and unfair canvass OF the votes
e&st, as we have seen.
B Like ell discontented mortals who do
not know when they are well of. the
xeformers have now devised new scheme,
which they will present to the next
Iegislature. Instead Of the names Of
the various candidates being printed. as
now. on separate ticket for each party or
I organization, all the tickets are to be
punched on one large sheet. It Is to con-
tain as many Australian groups as there
are now separate tickets. At the head Of each
group is to be an emblem Of some sort. a
kangaroo. a crow. cat. flush poker hand. q
rooster. q cable car. union Jack. or town
pump. This emblem. which is to be the
designation chosen by each party. Is for the
special benefit Of the illiterate voter. at
least 1t is SO stated. He can. IL so disposed.
place large cross mark at the top Of the
group he prefers. and this act Is to be con-
strued by the election officers as indicating
his support Of all the candidates Of such
group. and no others. The skilled and
experienced reformers. Of course. can
AUuVlk6 " Ju6lI uobILS COuUouv III
their system Of cross marks: but buster and
less favored electors are to vote by groups
In the manner we have indicated. There
are to be no tickets outside Of the polling
place. and no more pastors: and the hapless
elector. immured in the soap box. must
mark his group and be quick about it. To
retain the most precious privilege OF Amer
5ican MHsenship. he must keep well In mind
/ the emblem Of his chosen party. II he re-
aMsmbers what 1t is. and recognizes 1t on
iight al 10 well: II he forgets it. or fails to
frsoognize 1t. or mistakes one emblem for
tsaotaer. he Is undone.
4 There are q variety Of objections to the
Sadopton by law Of such nonsensical sys-
tim In restraint Of freedom and Of the fran.
lehiss. but one single objection Is enough.
and 1t is this: While retaining intact and
unchanged all the restrictions and perplexi-
seass Of the present system. 1t adds the new
9one Of putting premium upon bad. un-
popular. and objectionable nominations.
1and It leaves the unlettered elector with
..!practically no redress. The ordinary citi-
Zen. unless skilled In cross marking. must.
~ order to vote support perforce all the
Nominees Of the group he prefers; and his
I4dght OF individual selection Of candidates is
SkAus virtually taken away from him. He
must vote all the nominations put up by
spome one organization or must lose his vote.
he must cast his ballot for q candidate he
Inowe and believes to be unworthy Of his
Eupport. or he must fall to vote for the
'Pther candidates who. as he believes.
would prove most faithful public servants,
| md best carry out his principles and con-
IItictions. The choice of the ilhterate voter
Win thus be absolutely circumscribed.
Such is the plan Of the bogus reformers
Who adopt this new method Of seeking to
v'slepgive as many citizens as possible of
- right of voting. Obviously. the
s,.,lrest safeguard which now exists. the
t9ight to reject unworthy and unpopu-
S&e candidates - which right. by the
10y. the reformers have done their
l1ewA best to destroy-would be virtually
hksn away. and the elector would have
4ly the alternative Of assenting to an un.
burthy candidate or of dlsfranchising him.
A{gf entirely. Such. dlvested Of It's fraudu-
|, mt pretences. Is the Australian group
alSstem." q gross. unworthy. and indefensl-
II ID invasion Of the rights Of American citi-
assns. an injustice to worthy and deserving
kndidates. and peril to popular elections.
nj 4or several years past the crank re-
Spemers In several States have had
p'ketty free rein in the tinkering Of the
citnsricau system Of balloting. They have
Epsntly brought the election law to the
a,bnk Of contempt. here and elsewhere. and
sSseoduced serious danger just In ad-
f3nce Of q momentous Presidential cleo
yion. the danger Of uncertainty and dispute
III the canvass. The Legislature should
M permit them to badger citizens any fur
49,. II there Is to be any change in the
ictethod Of voting 1t can be safely and ex-
sfdiAously secured by returning to the old
simple system which prevailed until
- reforners attempted to undermine it
~ thsir crank amendments and imbecile
(: aisnces. which have added so much to
~ ennoyances Of voting and to the oppor-
ssfnlties for fraud In the count.
English Royal Marriages.