The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-02-26
Speech Of R. |. Manning.
In the House of Representa-
tives on the Australian
Ballot Law.


When the Election Law came up for
discussion 10 the House last week the
Towosend bill was the special order.
Mr.. R. I. Manning moved that the
bill introduced by himself be substi-
tuted. 10 support Of his bill he spoke
for more than fifty minutes. making a
plain and unanswerahle argument 10
favor of the Australian system OF vot-
ing. The following synopsis of his
speech will give some idea of the scope
of his argument although it does not
do full justice to the speech
t'It is with uuassumed difidence that
+! | have undertaken the task Of present
ing this bill, realizing as | Go the
seriousness Of the problem confronting
US aod the great Importance of its wise
aud right solution Noybiag but the
earnest coz viction that we must have an
improvement in our election system
and put it upon higher plane Of pub
lie morals has made NE undertake the
task.
In Introducing this bill wish to
state With eqaa: fraukuess that | believe
that if it is adopted it will greatly pro
mote purity and fairness in elections.
have tried to embody all that is just,
fair and right. and l hope that the az
ten,ion. of thoughtful men will be
drawn to the subject with an interest
that will direct public sentiment and
demand the adoption Of such laws as
will insure fair elections. It is not my
purpose to enter into a. discussion to
prove that elections held 10 this State
in the past haze not been honest, be-
cause beliece that every candid man,
Of whatever party or faction. will admit
that frauds have been practiced under
the election laws heretofore il. force
Framed With the purpose of maintain
ing white supremacy these laws have
! accomplished that object, but it has
been at fearful cost. High-toned and
honorable 10 the private affairs Of life,
but under these practices our people
have been taught to believe that the
end justi6es the means.
Such sentiment inevitably leads to
rapid downward movement of dcgra-
datiou Of public morals. Against this,
Mr. Speaker, l raise ny voice and
solemly protest that sach practice must
cease. Ill does it become .he State to
set an exomple of fraud and deception.
She should always aim to teach her
citizens to do the things that are right
aud true. Such an example must and
will have an elevatiug effect, but il she
sets an example Of trickery and cor
ruption what can We expect but de
grading influence on her sons? Such
influence would soon lead to de-
ception among her people 10 the
private affairs of life. No sir, We can
not afford it. We, who have sons to
bring up. cannot tell them to be up
right and honest 10 private affairs, and
then tell them to countenauce fraud
when it comes to elections. believe,
sir. that the Constitutional Convention
dealt with the suffrage question in a
commendable spirit and taking it all in
all with wisdom. Under the conditions
now confronting US We can have honest
elections and at the same time maintain
the rule Of the intelligent, and | trust
that this General Assembly will rise to
the importance Of the question, and
provide for the purity Of the ballot.
am fully aware, Mr. Speaker, that the
average politician is afraid of suggest
ing any change which he thinks may
be unpopular among the voters, whose
suffrage be may want, but I believe
that there is strong and growing de-
mand for this reform. The govern.
mental and economic questions to be de~
cided by the ballo; are far-reacbing
and all important, and upon their set
Element will largely depend the advance
ment and progress of the nation and
State along material, educational and
moral lines. Ou questions of moment
South Carolina has generally been in
the front rank. On this question of re-
form. on so much depends, | hope she
will follow her traditions of former days
and take the lead
The bill which | introduce embodies
the essential features of the Australian
! ballot system-certain sections are
taken from an old law aud it is made
to conform to every requirement of the
new Constitution. | will add that the
Australian ballot system is not new
one and it has been tried in so many
countries and in SO many elections that it
can we'll be said to have passed its exper-