The Opelousas courier., 1895-11-02
Ballot Reform and Education.
Louisiana School Review.

|
There is now pending before the peo-
| pie OF our State question in which
every teacher is vitality interested. 1t
| is a political question in tie sense that
politics pertains to the science of gov
ernment. But it is not a question Of
partisan politics, for right thinking MIA
of all classes and all parties recognize
| the justice and necessity of changes in
our suffrage laws which alone can an
swer this question satisfactorily.
What are the aims of ballot reform
In the first place it is held that free
institutions should be shaped and free
government be founded upon the un-
trammeled opinion of free men. The
ignorant are easily led and controlled,
and IN sense are not free. Ballot re-
form means that none but the intelli-
gent should be given the right to vote.
1t proposes to establish either an educa-
tional or property qualification. A
voter must either know how to read and
write or he must be a taxpayer upon at
least two hundred dollars worth of
property, in which case his frugality
and foresight in accumuatiDg this
amount is evidence enough of his pos
sessing some intelligence and of his
being interested in having good gov
ernment.
The next aim is, that having estab-
lished an intelligent ctizenry, by elm
mating the ignorant vote, full, free and
unlnf1uenced expression be given of the
peoples will at the ballot box, and the
vote be recorded and returned exactly
as cast. The employe must be permit
ted to vote without fear of his employ
er, the weak must stand in no awe Of
the strong. The Australian or secret
ballot system is the one advocated, de-
tails OF which we cannot here enter
into.
The ballot reform amendment to the
State Constitution will very likely be
adopted. The Times-Democrat has al
ready pointed out the effect this adop-
ton will have upon our school system.
The State which specifics that its vo-
tiers must be able to read and write
must provide means of instruction. No
would result in awakening a more gen.
er;,l and profound interest in educa-
tiDDal matters or increasing the efficacy
of our school system to its full limit.
We mean that the teacher who advO-
Gates and urges ballot reform, does SO
in full consistency with hissdesire to ad
vance Louisiana education. That is the
position OF the editor ofshis journal.
In acceptinga place upon the State
Central Committee OF the RallOt Re-
form League OF Louisiana as one of its
fifteen members from the State at large,
he does not because the honor is meri-
tied, but because it is compliment to
that great body of educational workers
in our State to which in all humility he
belongs, which must ever take the side
OF enlightenment against ignorance, of
right against crime, and of nineteenth
century civilization against despotic
dominance of feudal ideas and meth
ods.
Mrs. W. j. Meek, who resides at Campton-
vile, Cal, says her daughter was for several
Years troubled at times with severe cramps in
the stomach, and wRuld be in such agony that
1t was necessary to GALL in physician. Hav-
ing read about Chamberlain's Collie, Cholera
and Diarrhoea Remedy she concluded to try it.
She found that it always gave prompt relief:
1t was seldom necessary to give the second
dose. "It has not only saved us lots of worry
and time" she Gays, but also doctor bills. 1t
is my opinion that every family should have
bottle OF this remedy in the house" For sale