The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1894-07-07
coLFAx GRANT PARISH La, SATURDAY. JULY l. 1884,
Suffrage and Ballot Reform.

Suffrage and Ballot Reform.
The question of suffrage and
ballot reform has for the past week
or two been the main theme OF
discussion in the Legislature and by
the State press. Like all measures
of reform it has its over-zealous
advocates, who do it more harm
than good, and it has also the
usual amount of blind and unreas-
oning opposition. In matters of
expediency, and the arrangement
of details for public good, there
always will be wide divergence of
opinion among men. In fact, it is
this very difference of opinion that
constitutes our political parties as
they now exist But we cannot
understand why this difference
should beget acrimony, or why
ones political opposers should be
accredited with less honesty and
patriotism than we each have our
selves; and there certainly is no
ground for such a state of affairs
in the discussion of "ballotreform."
This is a question of principle, a
matter of public utility and COM
mon honesty; and, allowing full
swing for the peculiar holdings of
any and all on the subject, there
certainly is plane of general con-
sent upon which all can meet and
harmonic, if real candor backs up
the claim and alleged zeal for re-
form in this line.
To hear some of our lawmakers
and editors talk, one would think
all that has to be done is to pass
any sort of law on the subject, and
it goes, the State constitution or
the q. s. constitution, to the con-
trary notwithstanding. All such
talk ia wild and absurd. Constitu-
tional limitations are bound to be
observed, or there can be no law.
The constitutional commission pro-
posed q law on suffrage, that was
pretty fair, but it is objected to and
and in its stead we now
have a proposition, said to have
been proposed by the governor.
From our standpoint the substi-
tute ballot reform bill offered to
he Legislature by Gov. Foster
ZONES nearer meeting the desires of
he people, and more nearly meets
Ill the objections that have been
urged, than anything we have seen.
The alternative educational or pro-
oerty qualification is particularly
good, and as it has been adopted by
he Democratic caucus, we hope to
zee it become a law. It is brief
md comprehensive, and we give it |
n order that our readers may Judge |
or themselves:
Article 185-Every male citizen of the
United States, by birth or naturalization,
Who il q years old or upwards, possess
ng the following qualifications shall be |
IN elector to vote at any election by the |
,eople, except ms herein provided:
Fist-He shall be an actual resident |
Il the State one year next preceding the |
lection at which he offers to vote.
Second-He shall be an actual resident |
4 the parish in which he offers to vote
t least SIX months next preceding the |
lection.
Third-He shall be an actual resident |
L the ward or precinct in which he Of
ers to vote at least thirty days next pre-
eeding the election.
Fourth-He shall be registered voter.
Fifth-He shall be able to read the
Constitution of the State in mis- mother
ongue, or shall be bona fide owner of
real or personal. located in the
tate and assessed to him at cash valua-
ion Of not less than $500.
Sixth-The General Assembly, at any
ocular session, shall have power, by q
ote Of two-thirds of all the members
lected 10 each Honse and approved by
he governor, to modify, change or amend
his article Of the Constitution, and such
notifications changes or amendmets,
hen adopted and approved, shall become
part Of tho Constitution without the
ublicstion and submission to the popu-
II vote required in article 256 OF the
constitution.
Gov Foster varv pronerlv hos III