The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-03-16
Vote or GO 70 DURANGO VIE.


/ Compulsory voting Is the latest leZisla-
I tive scheme proposed by the baid-hesded
and enthusiastic but otherwise quite relis-
. bic governor Of New York. Il is certainly
very novel proposition. Its refreshing
originality commends il % the cordial
esteem Of at least one person. He is the
Rev. DR.. Thomas Dixon Of New York city.
/ Approval is altogether too mild an express
sion 70 convey any adequate conception Of
the good doctors enthusiasm over the idea.
In the course OF a recent sermon, the
doctor said that "a kind providence has
watched over the American nation in many
q rash eIper .ment. One OF the miracles Of
special divine mercy has been that we are
alive and growing to-day, in spite Of the
widest experiments in ballot tinkering that
ever cursed a republic. At length the de-
hatchery of the ballot has reached such
depth that the conviction is growing upon
thoughtful men that we must have radical
electoral reform or else acknowledge that
the ballot is a failure.
"Gov. Hill. of New York" continued the
thoroughly enthused divine, Sin his last
message to the legislature urged that law
compulsory. l was amazed at this message
for two reasons. Imsrveled that an actual
governor of great state should boldly de.
mand SO rad cal and sweeping a reform
l was amazed that the first governor to
send this message should be the
famous governor of this state. / had
learned TO LOOK upon this man as a daring,
shrewd and successful politician. the friend.
champion AID creation of the saloon. In
that message Gov. Hill rose to the
high standard of aggressive, creative states
msnship"
Well, now let US see if he did. If we
have right to force man to vote we have
an equal right to compel him to hold office
or make stump speeches for the good Of his
country. Compelling him to join the
churcl or get married would be no more
violation of his constitutional rights to
''enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of hap
piness.n They are also presumed to be for
the advantage of our common country by
those who favor them. 1t is the old propo~
sltion over again of forcing others to think
as we do and compelling them to act in con-
sonance with the dictates of our own con-
sCl6uCe anu 10 WudL we hluCeTeIy DoleNe 70
be right.
Under the Australian ballot system the
voter must cast his ballot for one of the
persons whose names are printed on the
ticket, if he votes at all, aud by
the aid of the Hill amendment or
adjunct the political machine may
arrange the tickets to their satisfaction.
and then the citizen must vote for one set
of them or go to prison.
How would this reverend politician feel
if offered the happy alternative of voting
for one Of two dive keepers or going to Jail
for the criminal offense of not voting?
Only think of man returning from the
funeral of his mother and to be arrested
for not votingl Such a state Of affairs
would render citizenship intolerable. 1t
would also create demand for a multitude
of extra officers. These officers have to be
appointed by somebody. That constitutes
patronage, which may have been the OBJ
ject of the proposition.
Rights are very gratifying possession.
But when one is compelled to exercise them
noLens volens they are apt to become a
trihe irksome. Voting is one of the
privileges, and was not designed as a
penalty of citizenship. Were the Rev. DR..
Dixon to take that into account he might
slightly change his Jews on the subject Of
| compulsion.