The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-10-26
THE PRESS.
Wednesday, Morning, October 26, 1870.
Another Democratic Rebellion Inre"'
ened--The Approaching Election IN
New York.

New York.
It has perbaps occurred to many people |
that the city of New York under the control |
of the reckless and unprincipled Tammany |
Democracy is a source of danger to the peace
of the country only second to that which was
removed when slavery was abolished. AT
the last election in that city more Democratic
votes were thu own than the entire population,
men, women and children, comprised within
its limits. The frauds in the whole city were
sufficient to give Hoffman, the Tammany Gov
ernor his election, and defeat the will OF the
majority of the voters. The usual number OF
fraudulent votes is almost sufficient to turn
the scale in favor of the Democracy. 1t IS
not by any means an impossible or even an
improbable event that sometimes the fraudu-
lently chosen electors IF New York may turn
the scale in a closely contested Presidential
election. A few hundred or few thousand
such votes would sometimes be sufficient, by
determining the political character of so large
number of electors, to defeat the choice of
Presidential candidate who has received a
large popular majority and who would also
have a majority of fairly chosen electoral
college, ANY one who reflects can easily see
what dangerous complications would ensue
from such state of affairs. So far in its his
tory this country has, by a series of fortunate
accidents, which cannot be expected perpetu-
ally to recur, escaped that doubt as to who is
the legitimate chief magistrate which in 9TH
er lands has been so prolific source of dis
cord and public strife. Under the present alb
surd system of choosing electors of President
and Vice President instead of electing those
officers by direct popular vote, there is al
ways danger that the doubt may arise, especi
ally when single city like New York habitu
ally throws hundreds of fraudulent votes. Il
is true that the danger arising from fraud
would still exist if the President were elected
by direct vote of the people, but it would be
very much lessened from the fact that the az
gregate of the popular vote is so enormous
that there would be in almost every case dit
ference in the legitimate votes of the opposing
candidates that no ordinary fraud could over
come.
The Congress Of the United States, perceiv
ing not only that the peace of the country i
endangered by the unlawful practices of tn
New York Democracy, but that the will Q
the people is constantly defeated in that cit
by the arts of unprincipled politicians has re
Gently passed an act in which provision
made for securing fair registration of voter
through the Intervention of United State
authorities. Arrangements have been mad
for the enforcement of this law in anticipa
ton of the election which occurs on tn
eighth of next month. These arrangement
have exasperated the dominant party to tn
last degree. The Democracy meoer provid
for fair registration where they have tn
power to do so, and when such provision j
made by their political opponents rebellion
spirit is always excited. So it is now
Threats of resistance are freely made. TIL
employment of United States troops to en-
force order is among the dsagreeable meth
DDS of executing the law to which the author
tiles may be driven. The Democratic Mayor
A. Oakley Hall, issues incendiary manifestoes
exciting the people to resistance by chargn
the agents Of the general government wit
improper conduct and with fraud. The cas-
has become so serious that prominent Unite
States officials are reported to have been i
consultation in New York with reference I
the best means Of executing the laws. 1t
another Democratic rebellion on small seal
the purpose being almost as wicked as that
the first one-that of 1861 being in the int
est of slavery, and this of 1870 being in tt
interest Of that greatest enemy to democrat
government, fraudulent. voting.