The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1901-02-01

he spoils four ballots he d,sfranchise'
himself; if one is so untortunatca as t.
become physically unable, after regis
tration, to get within the polling
room, though he may be able to ride
to the outside he cannot vote; anC
even should he be able to get inside
the registration books must show
that he was incapacitated at the
time he registered. And more, if any
one Of them, wil(ully, disobeys the
lawful commands of the election
Judges i'll the matter, he is liable to {
fine and Imprisonment; and this If
addition to his being denied his vote
Why, it may be asked, should one
who fails to find Mr.. Lincoln's nose
upon the ballot or wastes six min
utes, while others are waiting to
vote, in searching for it among the
branches Of hickory tree, after the
manner of solving Sunday paper
picture puzzle, be constitutionally
disfranchised under the present cleo,
ton law-and one who shall be
obliged to read his ballot and there
by have an intelligent idea III regard
to whom he should vote for, before
marking it, be under the new election
law, unconstitutionally disiran-
chised?
If the necessity of going through
certain forms, prescribed under the
present law, is a Constitutional pro-
vision, the Noncompliance with
which will legally disfranchise citi-
zen why would compelling him first
to read that part of the Constitution
which establishes Thorough and
efficient system of Free Public
Schools" be going through a form
illegal in itself?
1t may be said that in this case
ignorance is not protected and that
there is no machine made method by
which the ignorant voter can. in
stinctively select the candidates OF
his choice. But, if one carefully ex-
arnines the Constitution in all its
parts, he will find that not only is
ample provision made for the disap-
pearance of ignorance; but also, that
its trend is toward obtaining a high
er intelligence in all matters pertain
ing to the welfare of the State. and
an implied confidence in its citizens
that, inasmuch as the outfit is furnish
ed free, they will equip themselves
with it before seeking to control at
fairs by the use of a ballot which
ignorance forbids them to understand
or appreciate.
Then, too, citizenship does not of
itself confer the franchise; and if the
ignorant citizen in Maryland, is de-
prived OF his vote by legislative en-
actment, the only penalty attaching
to the State therefor, if any there be,
is that found in the 18th amendment
to the Federal Constitution de-
creased representation in the Con-
gress.
Then again, an educational re-
quirenent for the franchise in Mary
land does not look SO appalling when
we consider the disqualifcations I'M
posed by other States. The voter in
Connecticut must be able to read the
Constitution and statutes; III Massa-
chusetts he must read the Constitu-
ton in English and write his name;
in Maine, all new voters must be able
to read the Constitution or write
their names in English; in New
Hampshire, persons excused from
paying taxes, at their own request,
are excluded from the franchise; in
duelists and accessories
are excluded; in Ohio, and Oregon,
United States soldiers are excluded;
in Pennsylvania, the payment of a
tax is required OF the voter, if he is
twenty-five years OF age or more; i'll
the voter if TWENTY-FIVE
years old, or more, must pay a tax;
in Wyoming, persons unable to read
the Constitution are excluded from
franchise; and in Vermont, ex-Con-
federates can not vote.
Thus we see that Maryland would
not be so exceptionally wicked in
such restrictions upon the
use of the ballot that will not only
tend to purify our elections, but also
furnish the uneducated citizen with Il
strong incentive to improve himself
mentally. And then, just think ofthe
fair field which our independent press
would have for the full exercise Of its
power Of persuasion, directed
educated and intelligent
voters alone, with no. lingering fear
lest Dark Ignorance should be en-
countered along its unbiased path.
FINNEY & MARTIN,
BEL AIR, MD,