The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-09
THE DIGNITY OF The BALLOT.


Few Americans ever think of the moral
grandeur of a general election. They are so
used to witnessing elections from their
childhood and to voting from maturity,
that they do not realize or properly ap-
preciate the dignity that attaches to a pop
ular election in which from ten million to
fifteen million ballots are cast determin-
ing the personnel and policy of the gov
eminent for fixed period The total popu-
lar vote in the presidential election two
years ago was 10, 643. The number of vot-
ers has materially increased since that cleo
ton, but, allowing for the lack of interest
in an loft year. the total vote yesterday
may not have much exceeded that of two
years ago. Calling it fourteen million this
is a number almost beyond the power of
the imagination to grasp. Statistical experts
might make some curious calculations as to
how much paper it took to print this num-
Der of ballots, how high they would reach
if laid on TOP of one another, what area
they would cover if laid side by side, etc.
A much more impressive reflection is the
thought that each one Of them represents,
with more or less intelligence, conscience
and patriotism, the will of an American
citizen in determining the policy of the
government. From this point of view the
act of voting is so dignifed and important
that it is astonishing that any person en-
titled to vote should ever fail to exercise
the right or should allow his ballot to be
tainted by unworthy considerations 1t is a
splendid tribute to the intelligence and law
abiding character Of the American people
campaign may have been, elections nova
days, in the North, at least, are scarcely
ever attended by acts of violence or at
tempts at corruption or classifying returns.
This is due partly to improved laws and
partly to the education and temper of the
people in political matters Party spirit is
not as violent as formerly, there is more
tolerance of opinion, less tolerance of cor
rupt practices and more disposition to obey
and enforce the law. About the only viola
tions of this rule that occur nowadays oc-
cur in the South, where the race question
is still unsolved. and where, unfortunately,
force and fraud are resorted to to some ex-
tent by the whites to prevent the operation
of negro suffrage. But even with that blot
on the picture a great popular election like
that Of yesterday, in which twelve to fif-
teen millions of voters choose many thou
sands of officials, including national and
state legislatures and state and local off,
GERS, possesses an element of national
grandeur. Some have thought that the dig
nifty of the ballot is lessened by universal
or manhood suffrage. From a right point of
view the reverse would seem to be true.
The purity of the atmosphere and of the
waters of the ocean are due to their i'm
mensity. A confined body of air or water
tends as naturally to corruption as the IL
limitable atmosphere and ocean do to pur-
ity. The latter purify themselves by their
vastness. Perhaps it is the same with
suffrage. A few men can be coerced or cor
rupted, but not millions. Mr.. Lincoln once
said. THE people sometimes make mis-
takes. but they always wabble right again"
There is no finer sight than to see at
general election the poor man, the day la
borer, the street sweeper. the emancipated
slave who cannot read or write, entering
the booth beside the capitalist. the million