The herald., 1896-11-15
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THE BALLOT AND BRIBERY
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Even the ladies electioneered on occa-
sion in those days, and the duchess of
Devonshire in 1854 used natures gifts
and gave "a kiss for a vote" for Fox.
Among the women, it is said, the cleo
ton became "a kissing match" In
deed, the corrupt electors inveighed
against bribery laws that would ruin
their trade and bring their families to
beggary."
Perhaps not beyond the memory of
men, election day in Ireland presented
sad scene of intimidation and bribery
if not slavery. A caravan came in
from the country, headedoy the blowzy-
faced landlord on a blooded roadster,
fianked by outriders to see that none
actually driven to the polls lille SO
many sheep and voted in the interest
of the landlord. In many instances the
whole gang would be intoxicated. And
these were the noble landlords free
and Independent tenants" And the
clergy helped the landlord, because he
gave, perhaps, 2100 for the building of
new chapel. 1t was. in fact, a purchase
of the votes of the whole parish. Some
times the good and reverend bishop
would have a relative in the service of
the government, and then the govern
ment was all right. IL he did lose conf
dence in God, for he actually said hell
enough to do full Justice to the Fenians.
Tenants were evicted II they voted
against the landlord. In we'll known in
stances priests threatened with damna-
ton all who would not vote as they
wished them to. 1t IL freely charged and
admitted that many who could read de-
clared themselves illiterate in order that
the priest might see how they voted.
Hallam says in chaptr XIV Of his
Constitutional History that bribery and
the election Of strangers by boroughs
began to excite complaint by their in
creasing frequency as early as the reign
of George I, and led to the act render
ing elections void and inflicting severe
penalties for bribery in 1928 The gen.
eral elections of 1747 and 1854 were very
corrupt through the prevalence Of bril-
berry and the open floodgates Of de-
hauchery. Treating began early, and
we are told that county election cost
$4,000 in mere eating and drinking.
Swift speaks OF the powerful motives
from the city" and Smolletts novels at
test the fact.
These methods were different from
those Of century before, as John Har-
rington tells us in his diary. There was
an election in the "citie Of Battle" on
December 26, 1858. and he dined with the
citizens and drank strong beer and
metheglin" at gross cost of three shill-
ings. The reception given his constitu-
ents after the election involved an out
lay of one pound. two shillings and ten
pence. The total cost Of the election
was only eighteen dollars.
w. E. H. I4ecky, in his history Of Eng
land, speaks Of another form of bribery,
which we quote as follows: zone of the
worst and must wasteful forms of brib-
cry that had grown up during the reign
had been the custom of contracting
loans and issuing lottery tickets on
terms which were below the market
value, and then distributing shares or
tickets among the supporters of the gov
ernment. The minister usually settled
with a few select friends In the city the
terms on which proposed loan should
be made, and gave them lists of the
friends who were to be favored, with the
specific sums to be assigned to EACH In
one instance toward the end of the ad
ministration of Lord North the scrip
was at a premium Of 10 per cent two
days before the names of the subscribers
were sent to the bank from the treas
ury. This ubuse Pitt finally terminated.
When he desired to contract a loan he