The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1897-06-04

But the illiterate voter, who cannot read or
mark his own ballot, has always constituted
Troublesome factor in the problem CT giving
practical application TO the Australian theory.
He, instead Of being screened from observation
BY the new machinery. is subjected to more
close and complete scrutiny in the marking Of
his ballot for him by the officers designated for
that purpose, who are always the partisans Of
the leading political parties. : Therefore, when
the proposition was first made to introduce the
Australian idea into the Maryland election law
in ISoo-many OF the more thoughtful Demo-
cratic leaders were apprehensive that the large
per centage OF iiliterates in Maryland, belong
ing almost exclusively 10 the Republican party,
would give improper advantage to that party
n the operation Of the system, in that il would
subject the terate colored voters more COM
pletely than ever 10 the espionage and domi
nation Of those who had become the political
lsaders in the communities where they pre-
dominate. n
These complaints came more especially from
thoughtful Democrats in the Negro-dominated
counties, which had at that time under the old
ballot system, just fairly begun to emerge from
more than decade Of ruinous Negro doni
nation. A condition OF affairs has existed for
the other counties and Baltimore city have no
fair conception. The extraordinary methods
of intimidation and coercion by which the won
derful cohesion Of the Negro vote was secured
and for many years maintained in those coun-
ties and Negro domination thereby fastened
upon them, will no doubt be surprise to
many good citizens Of the city and of sister
counties, who view the matter eomplacentiy
from distance, and sometimes upon not great
Nprovocation show a disposition to cooperate
with those bad forces. A sentiment has been
eunningly incucated into the minds Of the ig-
norant and supersttious Negro voters, and
more especially Of the women and children
who constitute their families, that for colored
man to vote anything but the straight Repub-
hcan ticket is to be traitor 10 his race and
sinner Of objectionable offense This senti-
ment, shrewdly disseminated through well lu-
brieated colored preachers and other ingen-
iousiy chosen agencies, made deep impress
sion on the rank and file of the colored popu.
lztion, which still exists to a very general ez-
tent. especially among the women
But gradually, through the amelioratin9 Ia.
tuence OF daily and neighborly intercourse with
the whites, this condition Of compact race an
e7gonism began to show evidences Of relaxa-
ton among the more kindly disposed of the
Negroes, and after years experience under
the first National Democratic administration
demonstrated that they would not be put hack
into slavery by the Democrats" as direfullv
predicted to them at midnight gatherings
many OF them quietly and unknown to their
political masters voted the Democratic tickef.
with the result that in the election of Isss an
the counties of the Southern Maryland peuiu-
suia at q single stroke threw off the incubus
OF Negro domination This secret ballot the
well disposed colored voter was enabled 10
cast under the old system, when the respective
tickets OF the opposing political parties vere
printed on separate b lots and so delivered to
him He would conce 1.-THE Democratic ticket.
which had previously been delivered to him
and which he desired o vote, carefully IN his
pocket, and then joint 3 the vociferous eolored
procession would MAJ h up to their partisan
boss, the Republican ticket holder, and ~
ceiving ticket from linn, march along nm To
the window quite as enthusiastic as any Of the
rest But he would easily manage IN the en-
thusiasm Of the occasion to make the Repuhli
can and Democratic tickets which he carried
exchange places, and the latter would 20 iuto
the ballot box from the hands of an apparently
enthusiastic eolored Republican In this vsy
the well meaning colored citizen was enabled
cleverly to avoid the disfavor Of his Win.
boss the ostraeism Of his eolored hrexhren.
and bove all the repeatedly threatened and
ms feared vengeance Of the dear % ones q
Dr