Smyrna times., 1896-11-18

CHIEF Justice Lore, for the Court,
has spoken out finally against glaring
violations of the law in our elections.
If this had been done two years ago in
the Mandamus case in Kent county,
leaving the political Office seekers
reason to believe that the Court would
wink at any rascality, much or all of
the trouble that now confronts them
might have been avoided. 1t is we'll for
the good name of the commonwealth
that the court is at last aroused to its
duty.
The November term of the court for
New Castle county commenced Mon
day in Wilmington. In his charge to
the Grand Jury the Chief Justice said
the election law had been fiagrantly
violated and that public Indignation
has been aroused. He said:
cit is openly charged that at the re-
cent elections held in this State and
county, corruption and fraud prevailed
to an alarming extent. The following
are among these charges. That duly
qualified electors were unlawfully and
cOrruptly refused registration, or that
their names were stricken from the
registry after they had been dulv en-
rolled. That the votes of electors were
openly bought and sold. That voters
were intimidated and constrained to
vote against their convictions. That
disorder and distractions prevailed at
some Of the polling places encouraged
by election officers. That even after
the votes were cast, officers of the cleo
ton cOrruptly failed or refused. to
count and tabulate the vote fairly.
That the returns of the election were
wilfully and cOrruptly altered. That
by these means fair expression of the
popular voice was defeated.
''These charges if true, demand vour
closest scrutiny and thorough inyesti-
cation; that so far as may be in vour
power you take prompt and effectual
means to suppress the evil.
Corruption in elections vitality af-
fects the continuance of good govern
ment, which must depend for health
full existence, upon the intelligence
and virtue of the voter. The man who
sells his vote, and much more the man
who buys that vote, is unscrupulous.
corrupt and unworthy of the privilege
Of free man. Such men should be
disfranchised.
He further charged that it waa the
sworn duty of election officers to see
that every man entitled to vote has the
opportunity to cast his ballot, and
further to see that such vote is fairly
counted. He concluded as follows:
you are the guardians Of the public
veal, coming from all parts of the
country it is fair to presume that Won
know something of the charges referred
to, of the existing evils and what is
needed to remedy them. II eorrupt
violations of the law governing cleo
tionB have come to the knowledge Of
any one of you, it is the duty of sucb
one to lay the fact before the attorney
general and before your fellow-iurors
to the end that the guilty NAV. be
punished and society protected.
1--WE are informed by the attorney
general. that indictments for violations
OF the election laws will be framed and
placed before your action. We earn
nestly urge that you give these cases
full, impartial and prompt attention
We know of no crime that so impera-
lively demands suppression. The
court will render you every assistance-
in bringing such offenders to speed :
trial and to condign punishment.
"Gentlemen, the people whom Won
represent IN this their court of iusfice
expect you IN this matter, to do von,
Whole qqEy, without fear or favor
heylng regard only for that which i