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large laud-owners with numerous
tenants, or large manufacturers or
companies with numerous employ
ees, could overawe their underlings
and make them vote as they desir
ed ; or, in case of free exercise on
the part ol the tenants or employ
ees, could inflict great injury upon
them by depriving them of employ
ment. There is no doubt that this
is done, and has been often done,
and that the choice of the landlord
or master is thus, in open voting,
for the most part, the choice of the
tenant or employee. But it is not
always so ; and in these day? when
the laboring class is in the ascend
ancy, need never be so. Moreover,
it is by no means clear! y shown that
the ballot causes this evil. If we
may believe the public press, the
choice of the master is as potent
over that of the employee, under
the ballot system, as it ever was un
der the open system. But the bal
lot, by this means, fosters a sneak
ing and underhand mode of action,
which is not only opposed to the
open and upright action of a free
man in the discharge of a sacred
right and duty ; but is apt, by habit,
to create a fixed disposition, of all
oxhers the most fatal to manly inde
pendence of voters. It enables the
man who promises both candidates
to sjab one in the dark and g-o un
detected ; it assists bribery, in that
it leaves no hope of a man's being
marked and denounced for change
of opinion, to be attributed to such
a cause only. In fact, it enables a
person to bribe most effectually, if
he have only means enough. The
open system certainly is liable to
objections of the last kind ; but in
this case, the person bribed is pretty
sum to be marked and discovered,
and the double-dealer always meets
with his deserts. It is a question
whether we had not better have the
open system, with its attendant
evils—the strongest of which is the
tendency to overawe—than the bal
lot, which is not a certain cure for
that evil, and which brings in its
train so many more potent.
Asa general rule the open system
has usually led to results which
could be more nearly calculated be
forehand, and generally to more
steadiness in public opinion. This
is well exemplified by the State of
Virginia, where open voting prevail
ed—whose vote, in former days,
could usually be predicted with some
certainty, not only in the aggregate,
but in its districts. Where open
voting prevails, the voters are more
THE GEORGIA COLLEGIAN.
careful to make up their opinions on
general and proper grounds ; since
they are obliged to be known, men
are compelled to give a reason for
their faith ; moreover, there is more
consistency when every man is lia
ble to be criticised with severity
when his vote does not correspond
with his public professions. In fine,
there is a natural suspicion of dark
ness and unfairness in all secret pro
ceedings, while manliness and fair
ness are inseparably connected with
openness. The secret ballot of the
Athenian republic was a fruitful
source of corruption and evil deeds ;
it has given us the term ostracism,
a synonyme for base and unjust ex
ercise of public sentiment.
If these views in regard to open
voting have force in regard to puo
lic elections by large bodies, they
have a stronger force in small bo
dies, and particularly in small socie
ties. The smaller the body of elec
tors, the more enlightened and hon
est they generally are. And where
ever there is culture and education,
there we may expect opinion to be
best founded, and therefore the ex
pression of it to be least restrained.
If other than honest, fair and up
right motives govern any of the per
sons in such cases, I lie sooner known
the hotter; and so soon as known, a
remedy can and will be found. In
such a case as a literary society
electing its officers or its representa
tives on any occasion, such a thing
as a contested or doubtful election
could rarely or never occur under
the open system. Each member
entitled to a vote must be known ;
and if he proclaim his choice with
hir own mouth with such distinct
ness as that all can hear, there can
he no mistake, and the count would
be known at once. Such a system
would compel each member t >
make his choice on the best—high
est principles, without fear, favor or
affection. All double-deal ing would
at once be apparent and receive just
condemnation. E ect ionee rin g
would be reduced to asking a man
his opinion and intention, and all
attempts at undue influence or un
fair advantages would be useless.
The candidate would know his
friends and could rely on them. If
defeated, he would not be compell
ed to suspect his friends in bulk, but
could put his finger at once on the
false one. It would promote good
fellowship and open manly aetion.
A friend, who could honestly vote
for my opponent on proper princi
ples, ought to be dearer to me and
more deserving of my confidence for
his manly independence, than if he
gave me his vote on mere personal
considerations. Such a tone of sen
timent in a society of young men
preparing for the business of life
would form the best school for brave
and manly action in after life. And
lastly, the open system would put
some restraint on secret organiza
tions, since every vote would be
known, and it would soon be appa
rent whether the members of secret
organizations respecied most the
prosperity of the Society or the
maintenance of their organization.
A Brilliant Wedding.
At the mansion of Mrs. Howell
Cobb in this place on Wednesday
evening, the marriage ceremony of
the eldest daughter of the late Gen.
Howell Cobb, Miss Mary Ann Cobb
and Capt. A. S. Erwin were duly
consumated. Beckwith of
ficiated, and read the Episcopal mar
riage setvice with great impressive
ness and eloquence. Indeed it was
a brilliant wedding with such an ar
ray of beauty from all parts of the
State, and the beautiful bride ap
pearing with all the splendor of love
liness.
Oil the Friday night following,
the bridal party were most elegantly
entertained by Maj. I .amar Cobb and
his accomplished lady at their new
and handsome residence. The no
velty of management rendered the
whole affair peculiarly attractive,
and reflected great credit on the
esthetic taste of the host and hostess.
May providence be propituous
with the worthy couple, and fortune
play upon their prosperous helm.
Vice-Chancellor Dr. Mfll,
who has been on a visit to the lower
country for his health, will return
to Athens in a Short while, although
greatly improved, he will not he
able to enter upon his duties in the
University before next term.
The programmes of our inter
mediate examinations have been
given—and we, of course relunct
antly accept them—as our predis
position to lethargy little capacitates
us to form an agreeable anticipation
of the coming work.
f3pMr. Emory Speer, a young
lawyer of this place has been elected
to deliver the literary address before
the two literary Societies of the
University of Georgia at Commence
ment.
jggy The usual number of ex
changes have been received.
Lightning onthf. Campus.— About
seven o’clock on last Tuesday morn
ing a vivid flash of lightning follow
ed by a terrific peal of thunder,
aroused with startled apprehension,
many a weary student from their
morning slumbers. Fortunately the
only victims to Jupiter’s anger were
the two old oaks just opposite the
prayer room near the middle walk
of the Campus. We hope these old
patriarchs will in time recover from
their mutilated condition.
Phi Kappa Debate.
The gentleman selected in this
debate are Messrs. C. M. Beckwith,
J. S. Davis, D. R. Groover, J. M.
Mason. C. 11. Niles and B. F. Payne.
The “Folio.”
The April number of the “Folio ”
appears in new type, and presents
throughout a more attractive appear
ance even than before. The present
issue is rich in musical matter, em
bracing a continuation of the Serial,
short and interesting articles on live
topics, bold editorials, and a host of
items, and melange for all. Also a
choice portrait in lithograph of P. S.
Gilmore, the founder of the Jubilee ;
and one ofS. C. Campbell, of Opera
fame. The number also contains
three choice selections of Music.—
“ Far from Home,’’ a song; “ Lina
Polka-Mazurka,” and “ I will give
thanks unto Thee, 0 God,” a sacred
Quartette. Every lover of music
should read the “ Folio,” universally
pronounced the greatest magazine of
the kind in America. Only SI.OO
a year. Single copies ten cents. —
Published by White, Smith & Perry,
29S w 300 Washington Street, Bos
ton.
...The Methodists are making
strenuous efforts to establish a great
University in the South.
...The “ Georgia Collegian ” and
its frolicsome companion, “The
Cat,” are both on our table. We
find much to interest us in the pages
of the one and much to smile over
in the pages of the other. Long life
to both.— Univ. la. Mag.
...Wesleyan University will soon
he worth a million dollars.— Ex.
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