Evening journal., 1908-12-26
Peoples Column
Mr.. HASTINGS TO
NIX. SALISBURY


Editor THE EVENING JOURNAL
MY attention has been called TO letter
in the Morning News OF to-day by Mr.
Willard salisbury, chairman of the DEM
ocratc State Central Comittee and mem-
Der Of the Democratic National Commit
tee for this State, advocating the repeal
o- tne Voters Assistant Law and the
statute providing for the Australian ball
lot, and presenting for the consideration
Of the General Assembly the form of an
election law eliminating those features Of
our present statutes.
Upon the face of It. and without read
ing between the lines, and reviewing the
past history Of the controlling spirits Of
the Democratic party OF this State with
respect to free and impartial suffrage
and honest elections. Mr.. Saulsbury's
proposition would appear to be impartial,
non-partisan and fair to all classes Of
voters; and. of course, no one would ac-
cuse the chairman of the Democratic
state Committee Of advocating anything
unfair or sinister in politics, or for the
purpose of obtaining any partisan advan-
tage God Forbid
Nevertheless. consistency is said to be
jewel and a glimpse at the past in retro
spect, is sometimes beneficial and enlight-
ening; and. without going so far back as
1872. when a Democratic Legislature en-
acted. and Democratic officials enforced
the unfair and unjust Assessment and
Collection Law" of that period, thereby
practically disfranchising all the colored
voters Of the lower counties and many Re-
publican voters both white and black, in
this county It may be useful to take a
glance at some of the less remote in
stances of inconsistency and unfairness-
not to say of political dshonesty-of the
Democratic party when in power; and
particularly at it's action in respect OF
this very Voters Assistant" Law which
It is now proposed shall be stricken from
the statute books to the end that the
General Assembly, and the public as WELL
may thoroughly scrutinize and test this
proposed revision of the law and, to use
vulgar expression Of the street. see II
there is niger in the wood pile
BE It remembered that the leaders OF
the Democratic party in this State-among
them the author OF this proposed modif-
cation Of the election laws-after denounc-
ing j. Edward Addicks as the embodl-
ment OF al that is vile in politics in the
way of vote-buying and otherwise corr
rupting the ballot, came to his rescue at
a critical moment in his contest for the
senatorship, when he was about defeated
by his political opponents in his own
party, and kept him in the race for that
office, when, without their aid, Mr.. Ad-
dicks would have been finally and COM
pletely out OF It, and probably for all
time Whether this act Of theirs was for
good or evil in our body-polltic is not the
question. The question Is was It honest
Was it sincere? Was It keeping good faith
with a vast majority of their own party?
Or. was il inslncere, hypocritical and dis
honestg
BE II remembered that the Democrats,
when IN control along about 1895 and had
the power of appointment, themselves en-
acted the Voters Assistant Law and re-
pealed It in 1895 when. after the adoption
o fthe new Constitution they saw that
they were about certain to lose the State
at the neNt election and that, thereafter,
Republicans would be appointed as Vot-
ers Assistants and not Democratsl Was
this act Of the managing Democrats OF
this State ingenious and for the welfare
OF the ballot and IN the interest of hon.
est electionsi I hardly think so.
The use Of money. for legitimate pur.
poses, In a political campaign. is abso.
lutely necessary under our system Of gov.
ernment; but for the purpose Of buying
votes It is a crime, which. If continued
would ultimately sap the foundations OF
our political structure; that IL has beer
J practiced by both the old political partie.
IN the past is beyond question; 'let him
who is without sin cast the first stone
Fortunately, under our present election
laws. It is fast becoming a thing of thu
past; at the last general election little wal
heard Of itand do not believe that mucl
OF II was practiced; but. anyhow II Is no
for leaders Of the Democratic party I,
try TO drag this vanishing ghost from ~
grave for the purpose Of inducing the Leg
islafure 10 repeal the Voters Assistan
Law under the pretense that voters as
slstants are conducive to bribery at tn
polls.
'The Australian Ballot" is somewha
cumbersome and tho system might h
modified and simplifed I'm some mino
particulars I'm the interest Of voters VIII,
are not so well eouipned mentally as other
are or think they are; but on the who'll
q IS a good system and a good safe bal
LOT and should never be replaced bv th
old stvle S-inch bv i5-inch ballot II 70
no other reason. because It Is not so cas-,
10 get more than one Of them into tn
ballot box at a time.
Washington Hastings.
wilmington. Dec. "A, 1905