Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-11-06

their oleCGlOQ was secured by lrduQS
and Irregularities far more than enough to
overcome the majority which the official
returns give them. Popular suffrage is
only q fare if the will of the people can be
set aside by chicanery and rascality. We
do not believe fair election has been held
in this county since 1856. That year the
opponents of the Democracy commenced
debauchipg the ballot-box, and since then
they have held their sway in this county by
swindling at the polls in some shape. It is
needless to detail their fraudulent practices;
but it is beyond controversy that by fraud
alone they have maintained their party
ascendency. It is only a mockery to hold
elections, to ask verdict of the people
upon questions of public policy, and the
choice Of candidates to administer the
government, if the ballot box is to be cor
rupted to defeat the popular will. No
doubt but Indiana is democratic to-day,
and fair election and an honest counting
Of the votes would have SO demonstrated
it at the recent election; but the people
have again been cheated, to continue a
corrupt and extravagant party in power
In 1864 the Radical majority in this city
was counted by thousands but it was OBJ
tanned by voting regiment of Massachu-
sets soldiers-who had no right whatever
TO cast a ballot here--as many times as
they pleased, and similar acts of villainy.
And men are found, who claim to be hon
orable and upright, that will accept posi-
tons knowing they were obtained by the
most unblushing rascality.
The inquiry arises, shall such state of
affairs continue? Shall no effort be made
to purify the ballot-box and make it the
honest arbiter of the popular will Better
that no elections be held than that the peo-
pie should be thus demOralized and cheat
ed. One way to stO.y election Swindling is
to expose the fraud and punish the men
engaged In 1t. To aid in this work is the
duty Of every man who desires to perpetu-
ate free government and there is no
better time to commence the publication
Of the ballot-box than now. The reported
returns even make the vote upon the State
ticket at the late election very close, and
we have every reason to believe that
enough palpaple frauds can be disclosed to
set aside the reported majority for Cover
nor Baker, and every other candidate upon
! the State ticket. Light should be thrown
upon the Infamous agencies by which the
elections have been controlled in Indiana
Already have we been furnished evidence to
show up much of the swindling, but when
the fact is known that contest is to be
made, and by responsible parties, the proof
will come in abundance from every quarter
to ventilate the rascalities by which the
Radical leaders have overcome the voice of
the people in the recent election.
The contest will be made, and it is due
t. public morals and the vindication of the
right that it should be. And to this deter
mination the voice of all good citizens, not
blinded by party prejudice and passion,
will respond amen.
New HANOVER MEDICAL SOCIETY. At
the recent monthly meeting of the County
Medical Society held in this city, an essay
on ''NIedical Ethics" was submitted by the
committee appointed for that purpose and
adopted by the meeting. This committee
consisted of Drs. S. S. Satchwell J. B. Pur-
cell and ". J. H. Bethany. The essay was
prepared by DR.. Purcell. at the request of
the committee. We hope to have an OPP
portunity of publishing this paper in few
days.
The Committee on Medical Fee Bill
was continued until the next meeting.
An essay on "Phneumonia was read
by DR.. W. Z. Emmett, and tho subjec
pretty fully discussed.
DR.. Chas. S. Kerr was appointed to de-
l:ver tho next essay a Ne regular monthly
meeting on the third Wednesday in No
vember next.