New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-16
POPULAR VOTE IN MISSISSIPPI.

uary /, 1892:
POPULAR VOTE IN MISSISSIPPI.
yeor Election Total vote
is7c PRESIDENCY ii1c1s
isSs Presidency 1921 90
1892 Presidency 40 GoI
1894. zee. Congress ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The popular vote is less than 20 per cent Oh 'he
aggregate vote thirty years ago; ana the repre-
sentation Of the State in Congress mas not peeh
reduced There were seven Representatives
elected to the next Congress on an aggregate vote
of 20 s91 In the XIVth Congressional Dlstrict IN
New-York one representative was elected win
an aggregate vote Of 1885. Seven Congressman
are chosen in Mississippi with a popular vote
smaller than is required for electng one repre-
sentative in a New-York district. The Mississippi
plan is exposed to destructive criticism by com
ma risons of this kind There 544SJl whites
and IA 749 blacks in the State, and they are all
counted when its representation in Congress Is
apportioned after a census; but large majority
of the voting population has been disfrancnised
since January. 1892, shown by the election re-
turns This is the system which the Tillman
Democracy is preparing to adopt in South Caro-
lima.
substitute for the Mississippi plan has been
introduced in Virginia. Alabama, Tennessee and
Arkansas: and Georgia and Florida will probably
adopt IL also In these States where the interate
white vote Is too large to be disfranchsed, as
in Mississippi, the Australian ballot has
been adopted with special provision Tor
iliterate voting Theoretically 1t is
sten in the right direction since the secret ballot
Is now recognized everywhere AS the ideal system
Of voting which places intelligence at an advan-
tage and ignorance at a disadvantage; but prac-
ticallv wherever this method has been brought
thorp IA
string attached to 1t by which 1t can be manipu-
lated by wire-pullers and partisans In Virginia
the Walton law empowers one party to station a
special constable at every polling-place TO mark
the ballots Of illiterate voters. and so vile
nartisan trick exctes universal contempt In
the Black Belt Of Alabama the only representa-
tive OF the opposition is black stool-pigeon VINO
cannot read. and ignorant voters have TO depehd
upon the Democratic election managers as palo'-
fxers The result is that ballot-boxes in the ne
GRO counties are crammed with fraudulent votes.
In Arkansas there are similar arrangements TOT
dealing with iterate voters. and in Tennessee
where the Australian system is restricted TO the
more populous counties. the law Is unnecessarily
complex and confusing Probably the worst Work
has been done in Virginia, where the names Of
candidates have been printed in numerous COM
binations for the sake Of deceving voters. The
harrison with the contemplate trickery which
has been practsed in Virginia and Alabama
under the guise Of election reform. A radical
educational test IL drastic in operation. but more
honest than election trckery.
Before emancipation was decreed in Brazil and
during the period when reform measures were
under discussion. there was a popular phrase;
Para Inglez YER" meaning THAT the Enghsh
may see it," 1t was the Portuguese way OF de-
scribing legislation which looked honest. but was
intended to mystlfy outside Observers The Aus
tralian system as il has been employed In VIZ
ginia and Alabama. is designed by politicians as Il
blind behind which they can conceal their trek
cry II does not impose upon honest Democrats
in Virginia. where there is moral revolt against
disreputable trickery. 1t will not deceive !nte
gent men anywhere. one thing Is absolutely es-
sential before there can be real election reform
under the Australian or any other system That
is non-partIsanship OF at least bi-partisanship
In the conduct Of the registration and elections
So long as the machinery Ia controlled by one
party with or without the aid Of black stool
pireons election reform Is more or less Of "A Para
Inglez ver" devised for Iulling the suspicious ana
appealing 20 the credulty Of upright conscien-
tious men.
No impartial observer can mine1e freely with
hundreds Of representative Democrats IN twelve
Southern States as have done this winter with
out being impressed with the signs OF great
moral uprising against election trickery and ras-
calItv. As one earnes; reformer said to me In Vir-
ginia: I'VE want to clean house. ana we are
bound T., do f." The politicians know the tenn
per OF the Southern people on this question: ana
they are constrained to humor them by consent
ing TO the enactment OF ballot-reform laws ana
general registration acts Whenever they can
.ucceod in doing it, they conjure with the phrase
"Aus,ralian system" and with series OF bind
,osses In the air bring In a refoim with srihs
=, ,bair own nv which to work H. They have an
,daa that the moral element Of the popuIauoh-
tho conscientious men OF all parties-wiii Dc sa''s-
ned with the shadow Of election reform without
the substance. But they underestimate VIC
moral forces Of enlightened pubic op'i'"" III INC
South Political managers in Tennessee 0o"S'u-
cred ii safe to enter into rascaIiy p'o' io'
Ing the Republicans out OF inc uo'ei"o' imp ~
aoearc. of tho Constitution and all known prec-
.dan,s reouIatine contested elcctions ana they
nade loud professions OF zeal as election reform
era Rut honest men in Tennessee are not to De
mocked There ic an uprising OF men OF All par
ties against so monstrous conspiracy
Election fraud trumphed in November IN vi"
gina under the masquerade OF Ausrai'a" ""'''
reform but "The Richmond Times s LOUD
voice in the wilderness crying ou' "'"
crate the name Of fairness by saying ''"' "
election fair. IL was an eiec'ioh III VIM"
voters who are by law entitled to vote as they
please were tricked and thus deprived VI "'','
votes. or made to vote for their adversares' "
was a masterpiece Of trickery that reflects un"s
ing nfamy upon its manipulators.' FRAUD 'i'-
urnbed also In the Alabama Black Belt, where the
election returns contain prima face evidence "
hauot-hov stufng: but even Governor oates IL
constrained to recommend to the Legislature raui-
cal amendments OF the Sayre law. In North
Carolina there was "A revolution which mas
brought cenfraIized dicta tOrship in pOtlcs 10 an