The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-11-11
Contes,lng the election.

We observe that large portion Of the
Democratic press Of the State has expressed
a decided wish that the election Of John w.
Geary should be contested. We cannot con-
cur in the policy of the NOV ement. AL
though we resisted his election with ali the
. yigor and ability We possessed. and although
We feel deeply mortified at the result, re-
garding it a burning disgrace to the
State, still We are unable to perceive that
any possible good could result from q con-
test. That the most glarng aud outrageous
freuis were perpetrated in Philadelphia, is
admitted by more than 8 score Of Radical
editors 1t is confessed even by some Of
the Radical papers Of that city. Bat it is
not pretended that Geary's entire maj rty
in Philadelphia was fraudulent. kvsn if
such was the fact, and it could be clearly
proven before committee of the Legisla-
ture, aud Ii that entire majority was thrown
out, It still would not alter the result in the
State
It Is not contended, We bel ieye, that there
were any frauds on the ballot box commit
ted in the strong Radical county Of Alle-
ghcny. Geary's loss Of five thousand votes
in that county would effectually ignore any
such allegation. Nor have we seen it al
legged that frauds were perpetraled n Lu-
zerne OF Schuylkill counties. where the usu-
al Democratic majorities were so largely re-
duced.
1t rarely happens that illegal voting is ac
complished to any great extent in the rural
districts, that sort of political swindling be-
ing confined to the largely populated cities.
We admit that in the country districts an
illegal vote occasion ally finds its way into
the ballot>box. and that, too, without any
intentional violation Of duty by the board Of
officers. In the memorable contest between
Porter and Ritner, in 1898. it is well known
that at the instigation of Thaddeus Stevens.
the Anti-Masonic party of that day perpe-
trated the most stupendous frauds in the
counties of Adams, Lycoming and Hunting
don but since that timo the practice Of
Wholesale illegal voting in any of the coun-
ties Of the State. has not been seriously
charged. To examine the list of voters at
the last election in every election district in
the State, in order to discover an illegal vote
here and another there, would be an endless
labor. Besides all this, it must be borne in
mind that the question would have to be
decided by a partisan committee, to be Sc
ected by Rldical Legislature. This be-
ing the case, can any man doubt the result ?
No matter what the proof might be, we can
foretell with absolute certainty what would
be the fual action of the committee. SO far
as Philadelphia is concerned, if the District
Attorney of that city would arrert the scoun-
drsls who altered the returns Of the election,
and prosecute them to speedy conviction and
punishment. It would be a Wholesome ex-
ample and would have beneficial effect il
the future. But this will not be done, for
the reason that in the contested election ca
ses in that city the Radical judges Of the
court, few days after the election, decided
that Furman Sheppard. the late able and
efficient District Attorney, and who was a
Democrat. had not been legally elected to
the oAACe' auu d pPOiIASu III uis etCdu NhdiieS
Gibbons, the author Of the Registry Ian Of
the last session Of the Legislature. OF course
Charles Gibbons is not the man to prose-
cute his Radical friends and vindcate the
majesty Of the law and the rights Of The peo-
pie.
For the reasons We have assigned We can
not see the propriety Of the advice given to
the State Central Com mmittee to contest the
election.