The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-11-22
pliance with the will and intent of the
Congress which passed it.
MORE HONESTY IN ELECTIONS.

Improvement OF public opinion in regard
to fair elections. There has been gen.
eral quickening of the popular conscience
on the subject. There is nothing partisan
in this, for men of all parties apparently
feel the same way and are equally strenu-
Gus for radical reforms. 1t is particu-
larly noticeable in New York City and
the South, where, in truth, there have
been the most scandalous abuses. But
no community and no party is entirely
free from wrong-doing of this kind, and
all of them have need of more or less
selfinvestigaticn and amendment.
Everywhere people are awakening to
the fact that honest elections are mate
tiers of local fair fame and public spirit,
like official integrity and good order.
The citizens of each community owe it
to themselves as well as to the country
to stop illegal voting, just as they have a
responsibility in enforcing the laws and
preventing crime. Prostitution of the
ballot-box hurts them more than any
thing else, just as the prevalence Of MUIR
der, robbery ard breaches of the peace
hurt them more than anything else.
Probably the best work in this direc-
ton was done by the Good Government
Clubs in New York City. This was a
purely non7artisan organization, into
which none but reputable citizens were
allowed entrance. Every precinct had
its club. There was a general head
quarters, which, however, were merely
advisory, and allowed the local clubs
the largest independence. These clubs
scrutinized carefully the character Of
the men placed on the different tickets,
examined the registration lists, appointed
watchers at every poll, who were men of
character, intelligence and courage, who
knew their rights and the rights of
voters, and could not be browbeaten by
thugs and heelers. They saw that none
but legal voters put in ballots, that they
voted without intimidation, and that
their votes we're honestly counted. The
telephone put them in ready communi-
cation with headquarters, where there
was sufficiency of lawyers to give them
advice upon any disputed points. The
whole scheme worked admirably, and
will, with certain notifications, be gen
orally adopted throughout the country.
In the South there is evidence of
general revolt by the better class against
the corrupt methods by which the poll
ticians have, from time immemorial, con-
trolled the elections. In South Caro-
lima the Tillmanites have gained control
of the party all over the State by en-
ploying the methods by which Hamp-
ton, Butler, and their adherents have
maintained themselves in power. Natur-
ally, these latter protest vehemently
against the use of their own weapons
against them, and the people of the
State are arousing with demand that
that sort of thing shall be stopped on
all sides, and elections be conducted
fairly and legally. In the end this will
be done. The same thing is equally in
evidence in Alabama, and to a less
extent in the other Southern States, ex-
cept, perhaps, Mississippi and Louisiana.
Everywhere public opinion is turning
strongly against corruption Of all kinds
at the ballot-box, and men who practice it
are much more than ever coming under
the ban Of popular condemnation. One
Of the best illustrations Of this is the
case Of Jas. c. c. Black, Of Georgia,
who was elected to the SD Congress,
and reelected to the 54th by methods
which have been almost general in his
State and the South, but these have re-
Gently been attacked so sharply, that he
is constrained to come out andeNy that
he desires an investigate I'D VIII not
claim his seat if it be s. 4. that he was
improperly elected. acquired great
deal of sharp lecturing to set him to do
this, but he has done it, and that shows
a great advance for Georgia.
TRUE to his usual obliquity of state
ment, Wm. Il. Wilson tries to break the