The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-11-07
ENFORCING THE LAW.


From the NJ T. TTibune
The resistance of the Democratic press to
the Presidents precautions against riot on
election day began with bluster and threat
and sank, through the various stages of de-
nunciation, anger, indignant remonstrance,
and expostulation, to a sort of srgumentative
opposition which differs but slightly from en-
treaty. To all these manifestations of Demo
cratic temper, General Grant has remained
calmly Indifferent; he knows his duty; he will
do it fearessy and thanks to his firmness we
shall have an honest election, and there will
be no disorder. The wild nonsense of dema-
gogues about Federal soldiers 'coercing'
voters, and bayonets intimidating the Demo
cratic host, deceives nobody. Not a man in
New York supposes that soldier will inter-
fere with his voting exactly as he pleases.
Not man believes that if the whole United
States army were brought into the city the
legal vote would be affected in any way what
ever. In the fact that sufficient force to
preserve order is held within CALL to be used
in case of need, nobody hasreason for chagrin
who does not purpose committing some crime.
We hold that President Grant would have
failed in his duty if he had not taken ample
precautions to put down any disturbance
which bad men might create on the day of
election. The frauds at the polls in New
York had for years been SO notorious that
Congress was at last driven to pass a strin-
gent law for their prevention, and the Presi-
dent was charged with the enforcement of it,
When the ring which had hitherto supported
itself by fraud saw how this law would inter-
fere with their crimes, they expressed in the
most violent language a determination to
resist it, The World, the Egpress aud
other organs of the Tammany party nov
deny that there was ever the slightest proba-
bility of any resistance except Through the
legitimate and satisfactory channel of the
| lNr1l - |, - In,.k al
tone was very different. They have pro-
fessed peace only since it became evident
that the President was unmoved by threats,
and that respectable citizens of all par
ties were horrifed at their menaces to riot.
On the Sth of October the W0rld announced
that the appointment of deputy marshal5 was
equivalent to the Inauguration of a reign of
terror, and urged freemen to consider what,
! in the face of such an emergency, they were
"wiling to do and dare" The new election
law, it furthermore said, was calculated to
create riot, and provoke the people ''to go
| to the polls with arms in their hands" At
| Democratic meeting in this city on the ltth
of October, speaker named Wolff used these
words:-'Now, fellow-citizens arguments
have failed in this country, and if you desire
! your liberties if you desire free ballot-boxes
if you desire to perpetuate those institutions
for the benefit of your children, 1 sag StdRd
! By g0ltr drHlS!" On the 2Gth of October the
Hon. James Brooks said in a public speech
eff the Federal Government attempts to en-
force the elections as they have in South
| Carolina, one hundred thousand Democrats
in this city will rise in opposition and pitch
all the troops they have ordered here into the
river"
In these and similar utterances of Demo-
cratic editors and orators there is evidence
Of deliberate purpose to instigate disorder
and it was only when that purpose was de-
feated by the firm attitude of the Govern
ment that they changed their tone. They
have since made frantic efforts in other ways
to counteract the law. They have threatened
marshals and supervisors with the direst
penalties; they have warned Federal officials
to beware of the wrath of Barnard and Car
dozo; they have offered bribes by the hun
dred thousand dollars to secure lax enforce
ment of the law; they have solemnly an
nounced their 'infexible determination to
have the law declared unconstitutional" and
to punish with all possible severity every
one concerned in its execution. But threats
of violence at the polls bribery, and persecu-
tion by corrupt Judiciary have alike proved
harmless. For once Tammany must submit
to an honest election.
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