One hundred years ago
THE Conservative candidate in Central Finsbury, who was beaten by the narrow majority of 3, has received information which, it is said, justifies him in demanding a scrutiny of the votes; and in Cork there has been so much intimi- dation, that the Parnellites intend, we are told, to bring a petition which may render the election invalid. In Ireland generally, the order to the poorer voters to declare themselves illiterate, and so give their votes under the eyes of the priests, has been very freely enforced. Considering that the late House of Commons declared itself against the votes of men claiming to be illiterate, we hope sincerely that this question will be really thrashed out. We have no wish to see the illiterates deprived of the power to vote, but we do wish to see them protected against intimidation; and it is pure nonsense to say that any voter of common intelligence cannot learn where to put his cross on the bal- lot-paper so as to secure his vote for the candidate of his choice. We should be very glad to see secret voting aban- doned altogether. It is monstrous that any man should be ashamed of confess- ing how he thinks it his duty to vote. But if there is to be secrecy for the educat- ed, there should certainly be secrecy for the ignorant, who are much more likely to be frightened into voting for an Opponent than the educated. And the present mode of registering illiterate votes renders secrecy simply impossible for the very electors who need it most.
The Spectator 16 July 1892
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