The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-02-12
THE AUSTRALIAN BALLOT
LAW.

Nlannlng,S Australian oalioe Ia" '" -
be taken up this week for discussion
bv both houses of the General AS
sembly. The adoption of the cleo
tion law in more or less modified
form is foregone conclusion, but
the enactment of the ballot law pro-
posed by Mr.. Manning is not assured
by any means. Notwithstanding that
If is one of the best and most ncces-
sary reforms that has ever been pro-
posed in this State We cannot un-
derstand why this bill has been side
tracked in the General Assembly fof
three successive years, and is. at the
present time, in a fair way to be
sidetracked again. There is no rea-
son for this action. and we are neces-
sarily forced to conclude that there is
more or less prejudice against the
Australian system, which is as near
perfect method for conducting cleo
tons as the honest ingenuity of intel
ligent men has been able to devise
In Australia where the system origi-
mated it has proven eminently satls-
factory. inasmuch as it has preserved
the secrecy of the ballot, prevented
to large extent the exertion of un'
due influence over voters by profes-
sional politicians, and has almost
eliminated fraud at the ballot box.
In the majority of the States of the
Union, where the Australian system
has been adopted and has been in
effective operation for several years,
it has been as satisfactory to the
honest citizens, who desire purity at
the ballot box and honesty in elec-
tions, as it had been proven to be in
Australia The system, when hon
estly and intelligently enforced, Sc.
cures orderly elections and renders
well.nigh impossible the long list of
evils that have for years disgraced
our elections and rendered them
offensive to honest and respectable
people. Of course those persons who
profit by fraud and corruption in
elections desire a more plant sys.
| tenn, a system that is subject to
easier manipulation and renders de-
lection of their criminality more diff.
cult, and they have opposed the sys-
tenn from first to last and are still
fighting it. 1t is matter of history
that the professional politicians in
other States made the most strenuous
efforts to prevent the enactment of
election laws embodying the Aus.
tralian ballot system, and that snbse-
quent to it's adoption they have re-
doubled their efforts 10 secure a re-
peal of the law. Failing in these
efforts to rid themselves cf the
wholesome and purifying influences
that the system threw around elec-
tious they have taxed their brains to
evolve schemes that would defeat or
evade the system and to bring it into
disrepute. notwithstanding these ef-
forts, the Australian ballot system
has grown in popularity with the
honest voter, and to day it is firmly
planted in the favor Of this class of
people in every State where it has
been tried, and there is no prospect
of its abandonment in amy State.
Such being the intrinsic merits of
the system and such being the benl-
6cent effects in practical operation
we cannot give up hope that the
General Assembly of South Carolina
will incorporate the Australian ballot
system in the election law ef the
State.
Mr.. Manning has prepared a law
that is peculiarly adapted to the
conditions existing in this State and
will be the means of purifying the
elections and eliminating fraud. 1t
will have the effect of an educational
qualification of the ballot and will
bear equally upon all men, whatever
be their race or political creed, and