Eureka weekly sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1887-1902, 1891-04-11
raE DEMAND FoR A FREE BAL


There is nothing upon which the Re
publican party 50 loudly insists in its
platforms and other public professions IS
q free vote and = fair count. The other
day the Maine Legislature defeated the
Australian ballot Law, two-thirds OF The
Republicans in the House voting against
it. The ground Of opposition stated in
the Bangor Wing was that the Democrats
desired the passage Of the law. and that
they did % because il would strengthen
their party in Maine.
The purpose Of the Australian plan OF
voting is to pgosee. the voter from the
espionage Of persons who exercise an D
due inassnse ever him when il is very
difficult or impossible for him to conceal
bis ballot. The employees Of large manu-.
featuring establishments are often voted
solidly BY their employers. When they
refuse to submit to dietation in the exer-
else Of their right Of suffrage they are
either discharged or their wages are re-
duced. Il is probable that the votes thus
compelled have frequently turned the
tide in 3 doubtful contest and given the
victory to the party Of the oppressive
capitalist; and it is reasonable to infer
that such has been the case In Maine. Il
Is certain. at all events, that the Repub-
liesns IN that State are unwilling TO risk
the consequences Of perfectly free bal.
lot The machinery Of the State govern
nsnt is in their hands, and they cannot
pretend that the Democrats voald Be AZ
torded an unfair advantage by the Aus
traIiAn system. Il is, therefore, quite
clear that VIVA. the Maine Republicans
dread IS the less Of strength they would
suffer if every Democrat in the State
were permitted to vote the ticket he pre-
fers.
The stand taken By the party Of Messrs.
Frye, Reed and Bou,elle in this matter
should be noted by Democratic Congress
men. Il will serve them well when those
gentlemen next take occasion to attack
the fairness Of Southern elections. 1t Is
the latest demonstration Of Republican
hypocrisy on that subject, though it is
only one out Of many. We are not much
afraid that s~ectionalism will make much
Roadway in the Fifty-second Congress,
but there will be some aggressive and Of.
fensive Republicans in that body from
Maine, and the defeat Of the Australian
ballot law furnishes the Democratic
culver with an arrow that can be sent
home. The relations Of capital to labor
will be more discussed hereafter than the
Southern question, and there again this
striking illustration Of the supreme de-
votion Of Republicans to a free ballot
and fair count will be in point. The
Democratic party claims to be the poor
mans friend and charges that the Repub-
lican party is its enemy. What better
proof Of the charge could be advanced
thar the defeat Of the Australian ballot
law in Maine: We suspect that the
country has had hitherto a very made
quate conception Of the extent to which
the workingmen Of the North have been
forced to vote against their sympathies
aud convictions. Your money Or your
life. is the highwayman's demand; that
Of the oppressive employer is, Your
vote or your children's bread p Bot bal.
lot reforms have been adopted by eight
States this year, and there are now q
States in this roll Of honor.