Year: 1870

ences, but these are inherently Incl
dent to free society, while it is belicv-
ed that the plan proposed will be
found, on the strictest examination, to
have reduced them in the greatest
practicable degree. At any rate, one
OF the worst of the whole class OF
abuses which the caucus system has
directly superadded to our political
lite is hereby extinguished.


Secondly. The plan avoids all those
pcrnicious or misguiding influences
which are peculiar to public gather
ings where immediate action IS to be
taken by the masses. 1t requires moth
ing to be done "under the excitement
OF the moment" There is no speech
making, and no exposure to sudden
bias of any kind; there are no facilities
tor "log-rolling" and no temptation to
fall in with the momentary current,
whether accidental or contrived. 1t
is true, the ballot boxes may be sur
rounded by those who will seek to in
fuence the honest voter He can
hear whatever is said to him and can
hold consultation with his friends, or,
on the other hand, he can simply hold
his tongue, deposit his ballot, and
withdraw. 1t is evident that a plural
ity gained through this method
would be more creditable to the
nominee and more truly express
sive of the sentiment of his party than
the usual majority of the caucus sys-
tom, for it would be just that plurality
which, under the latter system, ought
to rpen into majority, but would by
no means be sure of doing so.


Thirdly. The plan proposed would
cut off opportunities for the perpetra.
ton of the grosser kinds of electoral
frauds, such as ballot stuffing and the
Justification OF returns. We have not
dwelt upon these thus far, because
there is nothing peculiar in their
adaptation to primary meeting, and
because the actual resort to the multi
plicity gilmore refined artiiices referred
to above would seem to indicate that
these ruder sorts had come to be re-
garded as not generally available.
Nevertheless, it is obvious that tor all
this clsss OF frauds, an ordinary caucus
presents far greater facilities than a
well.conducted election, than which
no better preventive has yet been
found, and all the safeguards OF which,
1t Is believed, are embodied in our
plan.


Eomth1y. There are obvious advan-
tagcs in the prolongation of the time
for voting 1t dissipates many OF the
extraneous influences injurious to the
electo~, that would otherwise be
brought to bear upon him. Were the
balloting to be confined to single
day or evening, the attendant excite.
ment would be powerfully concentrat-
Ell, and the simultaneous gatherings of
both parties would be IN danger of re-
newing, in another form, some of the
most Objectionable appliances and
workings OF the caucus system. But
with the time extended over two,
three, or four days, there would not
be gathering enough at any one time
to make any such results possible.
Again, it would be a convenience to
the voter, who cannot always attend a
caucus meeting at the hour appointed,
or stop during the whole evening, as is
often necessary But with the oppor-
tunity thus prolonged, he could nearly
always find it convenient to SO to the
voting place, especially as one minute
would suffice to perform his duty
there.


Finally. The plan is simple, incxpen-
siye, and accordant with the habits OF
our people and the genius of our instl-
tutions. 1t is simple, because the av-
erage voter can understand 1t at once
and comply with it, and the average
officer can readily discharge all the
duties involved in its execution. 1t is
inexpensive, tor it requires-though in
some cases it may be deemed advisa-
BILE to create special oilicers-no new
officials, and makes but a tritiing ad
dition to the laLors Of those already
employed. It agrees with the habits
and institutions of our communities, as
it simply seeks to realize, through the
methods of the ballot, the
dem ocratic principle that every cleo
tor is interested in, and ought to en-
Joy the best facilities for, the selection
of candidates for office. The legal part
OF its machinery is only so much as is
necessary to impart regularity and au-
thenticity to it's action, without trench
ing upon the voluntary principle in the
least. 1t leaves undisturbed all those
agencies Of the press, of public meet
ing and private effort SO indispensable
for maturing public opinion, and mere
" confines itself to securing, so far as
is possible, the unbiased expression
and the effectual application of that
opinion.


POSSIBLE EXTENSION OF THE PLAN.


In our development thus far of the
plan proposed, we have had in view
manly the nomination of candidates
at first hand, SO to speak, that is, OF
candidates who are selected directly
by the people, and not by delegates
chosen for that purpose. But the Sc
lection OF these delegates comes natu-
rally within the scope of the plan,
which might extend no further, on the
ground that, where the delegates to
higher convention arc rightly and fair
ly chosen. there is not much danger OF
their going astray, as they would only
thence be exposed to the usual temp
ta,ions of assemblies, mitigated in that
case bs the superior character OF the
members. But it might be thought
advisable. either for the sake OF guard
ING against even these temptations, or
OF bringing the whole range OF nomi'
nations closer to the people, or OF say