The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-01-02
SATURDAY. JANUARY 2. 1892.


fl% THE Sun. New YORK city
IIS.N III -------------------------
I An Obstruction TO the Suffrage.
phccrn calling itsolf the Peoples Municipal
&eeRue confined its excrtions to support OF
REINFORCEMENT for the blanket ballot. or the
australian ballot pure and simple.
~ addressed questions to the candidates
both parties for Governor. Lieu
entut-G Governor, and for the Senate and
peemblv. with view TO getting them to
61IHlt themselves in favor to the inn
1etsd contrivance or against It; and ii
dCtsed aid supported only those candi-
neas who pledged themselves To favor
-. flovice.
r. FASsErr. of course. responded to their
sf1 solicitation. lie was 4 blanket ballot
y out and out. and through thick and
~, and he made his canvass rs such. The
nblican candidates for the Legislature
sially took tho same ground and made
eauhe pledge.
4v0rnor FLOWER refused to give tho
Ako. He responded to the questions by
nR. substantially, that only when the
le OF the State showed that they wanted
new method VI voting, and il proved de-
1ae. woul0 he be justified in favoring
lnnOvation. For this answer he was
Eked by the Republicans and Mug
1ps as an enemy oil the blanket ballot.
II In ally Of Governor HILL and Tammany
In their incorporating opposition to
The Mugwump Evening Post warned
ballot rCformers. as IL calls them.
4lnst Governor FLOWER, and the Repub-
~ Journals throughout tho State joined
the outcry that he must DO beaten II the
Gnket ballot was to be obtained. The
emocradc candidates generally refused to
~ the pledge tho Mugwump League ex-
I'd Of them as tho price Of its support.
Thus. one Of the chief issues between the
nmocrats and the Republicans was the
Anket ballot. II the people had wanted
~ British continuance, they would have
cted Republican Governor and Re-
h1ican Legislature. That was the only
~ 70 get it, and every voter knew that
~ was the case. When, therefore. by O
4et majority. the people elected Governor
UyER and Democratic Legislature. they
Odded the issue against the proposed in
wAtion. They did not want it. They
build not have 1t.
Hence. among the many happy results OF
/ y Democratic victory is the defeat Of the
Aket ballot. The State has escaped the
stls. the annoyances. and the disturbance
ADh Its adoption would have brought.
4 Ehe blanket ballot may do well enough in
atrAlia or in England. or. ut least. it may
4 10 great harm. At the English elections
4 CAndldates voted for are very few. The
lEaai ticket may contain, two. three. four,
\ half dozen names. At our next cleo
a =, II all the candidates Of all the parties
4 MI the offices were put on single tick
~ would contain hundreds Of names. It
Il Md be fully as wide and nearly as long
IN y roll Of wall paper. or course the peo-
n are not going to stand that sort Of
~. 1t is tnc ridiculous. There is no
n 1ible good III it..
Y ~ present method OF voting subjects the
I'm to perplcxities and annoyances, and
possibility OF modification. which de-
d y the purpose OF universal suffrage. by
a 6tlng people from the polls: and the ab-
a n blanket ballot would be even more Of
4 obstruction to the declaration Of the
u Pillar will. The great trouble in cleo
Z ~ has always been to get the vote out.
~ tho most exciting OF campaigns.
II ~ everybody seems to be full OF in
1T and enthusiasm. a large frac-
Il n OF the qualified vote is not cast
4 "A. Under the imported British sys-
Il y this neglect is increased greatly. as the
3 otns OF the last election in this and other
& ~ afford evidence. Mr.. CROKER esti-
~ that by reason Of IL the Democratic
5ctity In this city was reduced by at least
Very many people will not submit
" additional burden imposed on them.
)sssrvinH Of patent as an effectual
~ Of preventing full vote, as the most
1lcable me thod yet devised for prevent
~ exercise ofNniversal suffrage.
- hAs Il any compromising advantages.
~ proved to be Of no use whatever in
nfjng bribery. 1t has not increased
66cgecy Of the ballot. 1t has done no
bit evil only: and In the greater and
lA1Ce exciting election Of next year It's
ZION may be looked forward to with
nnblo alarm.
1ne wisdom. patriotism. common sense
oound political Judgment demand that
SNhoae continuance should be smashed
~ old method OF voting restored
tnos HILL was right In his opposition
~ lnhovation. and It is only to be regret.
ut hs ever assented to II In any form
Dotting rid OF the cranky device Of
~ refOrrners. the Democratic Legisla
= = NIL obey tho will Of the Democratic