Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1891-11-20
III. Lss should be Improved.

The LEN should be Improved.
The Baltimore Sun. although
dannch supporter Of Democratic princi
ples, has always been bitter in its de
nunciaiion Of the corrupt practices b
which the people have so frequently hcer
defrauded Of their political rights in hi
STATE And to that ouspoken an earn
est opposition to corruption. by th
Democratic State and local bosses. is du
the sentiment, which is being spread b,
dose same corrupt people, That the Sui
should be supplnhted by what is termed
BY them a.true Democratic State paper
one. that will be fair IN It's treatment. a,
they put it,. to the Democratic party q
the State, in other words paper that
will c6iddneall the corruption, violenre
and fraudulent PRACTICES. by which, and
by which alone, tlc Democratic party
retains control Of the government oil
MarylaDd,
AS general thing the SIM never ex-
presses an opinion Of a subject n Law
until after thorough examination or in
vestigation and then with sound and
able reasoning defends IFS POSITION. In
the recent working Of the so-called Ans
tralian ballot law. the SIN, In a recent
issue. describes 10 detail the workings Of
that law, and argues in favor Of its re-
tention on The statute books Of the State.
aud in doing so. it goes into details and
describes the fraudulent actions of the
Democratic managers in Calvert county,
by which there was no vote in St. Leon
ards, strong Republican district. In
the course of its remarks the Sun saws
THAT deliberate fraud was committed
there is little doubt' But does not
think that Republicans should charge
their defeat to the new law, and SAYS
THAT no law can be rendered 30 perfect
as to secure an absolutely fair election.
il its conduct is submitted to the hand,
of men who are willing to commit fraud
and perjury
While we agree heartily with the .S,m
in its earnest efforts to have purity at
elections. we take issue with that able
journal in its last statement as quoted
above. for never in tais county was ever
such frauds perpetrated as at last cleo
ton, nor never could they have been
done where the voting aud counting was
done in public. and friends could see
that corrupt election officials did not
palm off spurious tickets on the Ignorant
or unsuspect'ng voter We conien
.hat under the present law fair cleo
ZION is an impossihlity with dishonest
election officials. but not so under the
old law. The present law slon!d BE- 50
changed at the coming session Of the
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legislature 80 TINT ballot clicks be ilspens
ed with, that tickets not only he printed
by the State, but that they should have
the fac-simile signature Of .he Secretary
of State, md they should be sent to the
chief judge of election to be by him de
lfvered to and received from the voter
Then il any fraud be practieed it would
he directly fastened on the
official giving and receiving from
voter ballot not having
the proper endorsements. 1t is all true
all those who we're too ignorant to mark
their tickets properly might lo'e their
votes, bit that would be far better than
being cheated out Of their right Of fran
chise by some dishonest perjurr, who,
for the sake of political prcferment,
would stoop to do anything, no matter
Row degrading Such a change in the
law would put a stop to the wholesale
bribery Of voters, for then would i
'ySed 70 an impossibilily to tell wheth
or the goods purchased had been deliv-
cred If our pure and honest Demo-
:;static managers, really want purity at
elections, let them favor the enactment
Of such amendments to the present cleo
hon law as will absolutely secure it. We
will pledge our earnest efforts in that
direction for the ,ake Of the fair name
Of our old county, If for no other higher
rooson