Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-06-13
rr.rrrrs OF EEeRo sUFFKaeE.

The Municipal Election IN the City Of
Washington has resulted in favour Of
the Radicals by a large majority, and
the New York Tribune, which specially
pretends to be sctuated by a sourly Pu-
ritanical public morality, exults and
glorifes over the victories, and presages
a succession Of them throughout the
South. As the same raseally e a are
to be employed, the same results viii
probably follow in most Of the cities.
We read the accounts Of the villainies
prsetised in preparing for and conduct
ing this election, without sny surprise,
and almost without any feeling. The
ruin Of the country by means Of negro
suffrage is so certain, and the thing itself
is such an outrage on common sense,
such an abOminable fraud OF those
whose interest in the country and their
superiority as q race gives them the right
to exercise the powers Of Government,
that it seems 10 US Of very little impOr-
lance what frauds are committed, or
how many negroes or how few whites
are permitted by the knaves into whose
hands the country has fallen, to vote.
No possible frauds can make negro sUf-
frage much worse than it is IN Its natu-
raj state. There is no possible nuisance
that would not improre some Of the
alleys Of Memphis, and We are not sure
but that frauds improve the abOmination
Of negro suffrage.
These frauds are only significant, to Us,
because they demonstrate the utter
political corruption and rotteuness OF the
country, and that republican government
is a failnre and an imposture. The veil
is raised, and the hideous features Of the
Prophet MOKANNA are seen by his de-
luded followers. To our readers these
frauds and rsscally contriyances and
knaveries viii probably be interesting,
because precisely the same things are
being lone and are to be done At the
polls, here in Memphis.
IN the first place, the election law for
the District Of Columbia was formed
with a systematic purpose Of inviting
fraudulent votes. The poll-tsx was abol-
ished, and all the other accustomed safe
guards Of the ballot were broken down.
Registration was secured on the mere
affirmation of the applicant. No matter
where he resided, or how short q time he
had been in Washington, be had simply
20 locate himself anywhere he pleased,
to affirm that be was Of age, and twelve
months resident, and be was reg
istsred. To make this most OBJ
~jectionable act worse, it was 90.
administered as to give assurance
Of u~nfairness. The best known eitf-
zens were required to come in persons
before the Board Of Registration. IL al
lowed no opportunity for additions and
corrections, declined yielding to the
mandate OF the Court, and confined it
self to such limits as to eurtail huEdreds
Of citizens Of their rights. There was no
preeaution against indiscriminate negro
registration. The franchise was thrown
open to the negro population OF the sur
rounding country, and hundreds regis
tered, who, never having had q surname,
forgot before the election the names
they had assumed, and retarded legal
voters at the polls by their inability to
state where they lived, and what were
their hames, until they consulted their
political foster-fathers.
One sAYLEs J. Bowen was the head
Of the Board Of Registry, and his craft
suggested gil possible opposition to giving
the citizens their full rights, until he
and his co-eonspirators were co1aDeVed
TO do so through the tedious and costly
processes Of the Courts.
On the Friday evening before the elee-
ton. be shut the door il the face Of the
people, aud thus deprived hundreds OF
white men OF opportunity to register.
An honest man would have sat through
the night, 70 secure to all that which
was once worth something as the most
sacred privilege Of American citizen
ship.
Honest men would have gone far in
sssnmpiion Of powers under law TO have
continued the session on Saturday, and
svsn into the early hours Of Sunday
,.osp,uv. As pracfieed by Congress But
nolitissi knaves dsereed that their tune
siers endedon Fndsy night They could
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