The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-05
Free and Equal Elections.

Tho promise Of home rule in affairs Of
government for New York. annually reit-
Grated at Democratic State Conventions
and persistently opposed by Republican
legislators in Albany. has been In large
measure attained this year. thanks to our
Democratic Legislature. Not only Is ade-
quate representation secured by the new
spportionment. and. consequently. an
opening to the enactment OF needful and
salutary local laws. but the November cleo
ton In this city will be the first since 1872
to be held under conditions Of political
equality. Heretofore the inspectors Of
election. the functionarles who supervise
the registry and canvass the vote. have in
Republican localities in the interior been
chosen on the basis of two inspectors
for the majority and one for the minority
party In each election district. In New
York city. however, no such basis has
been admitted, for 20 Republican cleo
tors In an election district have had the
benefit OF two inspectors. whereas 800 Dem
ocratic electors in the same district have
only had the same number. The effect Of
this has been not merely to protect the
rights Of the minority very proper and
necessary thing-but often, at the same
time. to stife the rights Of the majority.
Disputed questions respecting the right to
register have been decided here by boards
of election officers. evenly divided po-
ltically; and, as the great major
ity Of the voters in New York city
are Democrats. any abridgment Of the
right of suffrage. whether on account
of alleged forfeiture OF residence by
removal. or on account Of alleged shortness
OF domicile. by reason OF technical defect In
naturalization papers. or their loss. would.
when decided adversely to the applicant by
tho tic In the Board. operate In the great
majority OF cases to the prejudice Of the
Democracy. In this way the Republicans
have enjoyed here partisan advantage not
Justified either by their numbers or by the
claims OF fairness. At the same time in the
interior. where majority OF the election
precincts are Republican. the Democrats
have suffered from this discrimination.
This year there will be but three election
inspectors In each New York city precinct.
two Democrats and ono Republican. Tho
qualified clector will not be harassed or
bulldozed In the exercise Of the franchise.
and there will be one rule for town and
country. for densely settled city precinct
and sparsoly populated cross roads. for
Democratic bailwick and Republican
stronghold: Three inspectors establishing
minority protection and majority rule.
The unshackling OF this legal machinery
OF injustice from thousands Of sturdy Dem
ocrats In New York city. whose right to
vote has frequently been challenged sue.
cessfully In the past ESPECIALLY In Presi.
dental elections). will add undoubtedly tc
the measure OF the Democratic majority
here. 1t will. at the same time. bring home
to the hearts and comprehension Of Demo
crats everywhere. and most forcibly In New
York, the disabilities which voters would
be compelled to endure II the Republican
party should again triumph and secure
votes enough In Congress. not only to medi
tate. but actually to enact another Force bill
What shield OF protection against the in
vasion OF Federal appointees and their hire
ling aids would Democrats then have any
where Subject to what audacious ant
unconstitutional conditions OF Federal con
trivance would the right Of suffrage exist II
localities giving a Democratic majority
Upon whose assurance Of safety could thu
vigilant protectors OF equal franchise a
the ballot box guarantee that the destruc
tion OF home rule In voting. menaced In tn
South. would not extend to the North?
Here. then. 10 an issue which requires n