THE ADVANTAGE OF THE BALLOT.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 2987, 21 January 1881, Page 4

THE ADVANTAGE OF THE BALLOT.

What is the chief practical advantage of the ballot in political elections? A shallow cynic (after reading reports of English Election Commissions) might perhaps reply that it enables you to obtain a bribo from both sides. But that is a very inadequate statement of the case. The great practical advantage of the ballot is that after you have been bribed by both sides it enables you to vote according to your political principles. Here is an extract from the taken before the Sandwich Election Commission which will illustrate ■what I mean :—

G. Holmes, shoemaker, had taken money from both sides and voted for the Conservatives. Tho money of the Liberals was as good as that of anybody else, but he did not like their ways.—(Laughter.) John Scarley, labourer, at Deal, had received money from both sides. He did not get the money beforehand. The Conservatives told him that if he voted for them it would be all right. Mr Jenne : And then tho other side came and told you the same thing ?—(Laughter.) —Yes.

Why did you vote for the Conservatives ? —My father and ill the lot of us have always gone that side. So you got money from both sides, and Btill kept up the traditions of the family P — Laughter.) —Yes, sir.—(Laughter.) J. Abbot got £5 for his vote from Mr Outvrin's son on the morning of the election. He afterwards found £3 under the dish on his table. —{Laughter.) When he saw the money, he gviessed that it had come from the other side. He voted for the Liberals because he always voted "blue." Mr Jenne : So you took pay from both Bides, and then voted according to your principles. That is electoral.luxury, indeed. —(Laughter.)