The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-10-27
A Result OF Ballot Reform.

The Corporation Counsel's decision In
the ballot cases on Tuesday. coupled with
the rejection. on account OF fatal technical
Irregularities. Of practically all the indc-
pendent local nominations made in this
TOW this year. marks the elimination OF
the five years history OF tho ballot law
agitation. and vindicates the political far
sightedness OF those who set their faces
against it from the first. The story Is not
long. tut it is replete with instruction.
In 1887 Mr.. HENRY GEORGE. who had
been honolcd the year previous by the
support OF GS.OOO voters in his stump
canvass for Mayor. brought forward
his favOrite %antipodean reform known
as the Australian system" Tho United
Labor Convention which. on Aug. -.
put him up for Secretary Of State. In.
| vored its introduction MS an cnectual aid
to secrecy OF tho ballot. n help to indc-
pendent candidates for public Office. and q
remedy OF the pcrnicious influence OK
money in politics" There was in Mr..
GEOKGE's ease and that Of his disunited
associates no justification for such IN IN
novation. But It appealed. Ms all new
tangled otiOn do. TO II number Of mex
pcrienccd persons who arc always on tho
lookout for something radical and cxtrav-
ugant. anu it commended itself also To a
number OF Republicans who Gisccrncd In IL
Il chance for cutting down the growing
Democratic strength In New York. by tho
wholesale acknowledgements OF many ull-
lettcrch voters. Accordingly. tho I;cpub-
iclns in their Saratoga Convention Of 1888
came out strongly for ballot reform. 50
! nuIlnl WkHSRK NIfIYn tynu ..,,t .,l
soul for the reform. and the Democratic
Governor. DAVID II. HILL. was declared by
the Republican Convention TO merit zen.
SIRE and rcbukc" for his avowc1 hostility
10 all assaults upon manhood suffrage.
Among Democrats there WAS no difference
Of opinion there could be none on such a
point among Democrats entitled To desis-
nation as such-ahd the State Convention
of the PARTY In New York unanimously
adopted this as an accepted tenet Of poli.i-
cal fcalty:
"Thc s~ca:iei s.IIos bill Is . Tsrty measure. su'ver.
sive OF Democratic principles. destructive Of tie .e-
crecy Of the ballot. eircac!OLs To promote :isrd and
corruption. opposing nsedls's oDsiacies 20 the outrage
OF the busy and hard working voter. and inisn!-i as
the frat b.ON at universa. suffrage by disffanchisInS
unlettered e!ectUrS"
SucH WIS Tue uecIdTdtlON bI tNe D"fnO'-
racy. and it was adhered TO unswcrvingly
by the Democrats throughout the State.
and by non more couraseously and con-
sistently than those Of Tammany Hall.
The greatest glories OF Democracy have
been achieved In defence OF the rights and
liberties Of the common people. and in sup
port OF the unshackled freedom Of the fran
chisr. or the right OF universal manhood
suffrage. unvexcd b. discriminating Laws
or by centralizins iDvasions. th. D::.oc-
race has always been the stout and intrepid
defender. 1t proved 50 in This Gaze. aud
one II the first fruits Of the loyalty ~ the
Democrats of the Empire State To the
precious traditions 81 the party ~cycry"wh"rc
WAS the Triumphant election -! Governor
HILL IN 1883. lie was faithful I % tL.c
pledges OF the State Convention. aud veto~.d
every electoral bill which. uader pretsnce
OF reforming the ballot. sought to deprive
any American elector Of th. rights which
the Constitution guarantees him. The key