Year: 1870

huoWH aS iOp p-TOillDp -tle II VIII
suit you on the ticket, if you will suit
me"--the result being that nobody is
exactly suited. THIS springs from the
direct temptation toward bargaining
held out by the caucus system Other
frequent means of biasing an honest
Judgment are the prestige or exertions
OF intluentia! persons; speech or
joke, telling tor the moment and for
the moment only; the tendency to 60
with the ma ajority, even upon the
strength of indications as to its direc-
ton which are accidental or deceptive;
in short, the thousand and one misleai.
ing influences resulting from the &C.
ton of men IN bodies, as distinguished
from the exercise Of their cool .judg-
ment individually.


That which is sometimes spoken of
as the crowning evil Of the caucus sys-
tenn, namely, the binding authority Of
its action, is nothing of the kind. This
obligation, indeed, must constitute the
final efficiency of any system, and it
only works wrongtully when it is
made to give effect to antecedent
abuses.


AN OBJECTION IN ADVANCE.


Sdch, in brief, are the more obvious
evils OF the prevalent system Of max
ing political nominations. The cry for
reform is general and urgent. But
when we come to look in that direc-
ton, we arc apt to encounter sug
nos vrhsoh of fret fnr,n,H
able appearance. We are told that
the caucus system works well enough
in practice wherever the best men of
party are in the habit of attending
the primary meetings i'll any fair pro
portion to their numbers; but, as they
generally do not 50 attend, and will
not, it is hardly worth while to seek
tor any mere change Of methods. In
reply, it is to be said that, to certain
extent, the objection is irrelevant, for
this Indifference of otherwise good
men to political duties is often owing
to causes quite beyond the sphere OF
our inquiry, and calls for remedies in
their nature moral and educational.
The problem which we are now dis.
cussing is, how to take our communi
ties, with all their indifference, aud
just as we find them, and thence educe
the best possible nominations. But,
secondly, this suggestion, instead of
being an objection to retormatory cf-
forts, is, when at all applicable, the
strongest argument in their favor; for
it is undeniable that much of this
standing aloot OF the best men OF all
parties is due directly to the humiliat
ing Vaccinations OF caucuses, which
prevent them from having their just
weight in council, improperly ncutra
lize their votes, and too often subject
them to personal inlignities. The i'm
portance OF this point is too obvious
to need any elaboration.


rLAN PROPOSED.


Uniform experience since the foun-
dation of our Government has shown
that all political action has been, and
is ever likely to be, carried On through
the agency OF great parties, but two OF
which generally exist a. time, whose
modes of operation, especially III the
nominations OF candidates, are sub
stan,ially the same. To elements so
simple and constant as these there
would seem to be no difficulty in ap.
plying the regulating efficiency and
the sanction OF law The plan Of ac-
complishing this, which we venture to
propose, although it is susceptible OF
notifications i'll ever! part, may be
outlined as follows


In all cases let the State make pro
visions for an accurate registry list.
At specified time previous to any
election at which candidates are to be
voted for, let the list be put in the
charge of any officer OF the district
whose duties or office facilities best fit
him tor the purpose, whether it be the
warden OF ward, the clerk or treas
nrer OF city, or whatever officer of
town or precinct the law may either
designate or authorize each municipa.
lity to select for itself. Such officer
shall be required, for certain number
of consecutive days or evenings, to
provide two ballot boxes, marked re-
spectively with the names of the two
leading parties at the last election pre-.
ceding, tor the reception, under the
usual regulations against fraudulent
voting, Of candidates to be voted for
at the next subsequent election. AS
each legal voter deposits his ballot,
the presiding officer shall check his
name in the list with the letter indicat-
ing into which box it was cast, AS .Rn
for Republican, and I'D" for Demo
cratic. At the close of the voting pc
Rod, said officer shall count the bal
lots in each box, and the highest
number in each bearing the same
name shall be considered az d ,signat-
ing the regular candidate, or, # the
ticket embraces more than one name,
candidates OF each party; and the Of
ficer shall so make and publish the
sworn returns in any manner which
may be directed by law.


10 provide for the exigency of third
or new parties, said officer shall be en-
powered to open other additional bal
lot boxes, whenever legally desig-
mated proportion of the whole number
Of voters in the district-say one
twelfth-shall SO petition him in writ
ing, and he shall label said box or
boxes as the petitioners may request.
A like petition shall cause him to sub
stitute any party name for that which
was used at the preceding election.


ITS ADVANTAGES.


Among the obvious advantages OF
this proposed system are the follow
ing


FIRST. 1t sweeps away the whole
nuisance and vice Of packing. There