[131a-008]

1818 March 22 +

Parl Reform Answer to Antiballot Observations

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Now then of the open mode, in contradistinction to the secret mode, what in so far as it operates are the effects?

1 In the first place to produce a forced sacrifice of each voters personal interest: of his interest, and thereby, if the word right be employed, a forced surrender or relinquishment of his own right. I say forced: for (setting aside the case of bribery, of which afterwards) in so far as the openness of the mode fails of producing this effect, it produces no effect other than that which would have place in the secret mode: and those who contend for the open, to the exclusion of the secret mode, have no motive for so doing.

2 In the next place to produce a {forced} sacrifice of the interest of other persons whose interest the voter ought to join in the protection of: of the persons, for whom, as above, he is in trust, it produces a violation of duty: it produces a breach of trust:

But, in so far as either of these effects are thus produced, the production of them having for its cause fear of evil, at the hands of the author of the force (and fear of cessation of good which otherwise would accrue is one modification of the fear of evil) in proportion as these effects are either of them produced, compulsion, oppression, tyranny – these words, any or all of them, may, it seems to me, be with unimpeachable propriety applied. For distinction’ sake, and moreover with a view to a purpose which will be mentioned presently, I would call this tyranny Election-Tyranny.