New-York tribune., 1870-10-13

THE DEMOCRACY AND ELECTION LAWS.
The slight disturbance at the polls in Phila-
delphia on Tuesday was good Illustration OF
the policy of the Democracy with regard to
the election laws. In one district, containing
large colored population, it seems to have been
arranged that negroes, if they voted ut all,
shopld NOT vote until the white men had fin
isbed and. as lthe district WAS too large for
all tbe ballots to be got in, the effect of this
would be to throw out II large part oil the
colored vote. After # o'clock, the colOred
men, forming in separate line, were allowed
t) vote alternately with the whites; but even
this was unfair, for the newly enfrancbised
citizens. eager to exercise their privilege for
tbc first time, had been upon the ground since
early dawn, and the first to arrive ought to
have been the first to vote, whatever Their
complexion. There were many improper chal-
lcnges and unjust arrests the negroes were
hustled and crowded away from the polls, ana
il is asserted that inspectors appointed under
the new Act of Congress were locked up by
the police when they attempted to interfere.
There being every premonitory symptom Of a
riot. the United States Marshal sent to the
Nayy-Yard for a company OF marines, ana,
under the protection Of this force, the election
thereafter proceeded quietly At once tho
Mayor and the whole Democracy OF Philadcl-
phia ruflc up their feathers, and cXclaim at
"miitary Interference" "hireling s0ldiery,"
"bayonets,7 intimidation" Insult to the
"pcople and the civic authorities" and charge
the Marshal with melting riot when it is no
torious that his action alone prevented riot
and secured an orderly and impartial election
in that district for the rest of the day.
In Ncw-YOrk the Democratic organ has given
fair notice that riot such as nearly occurred
in Philadelphia, will be precipitatcd by any
attempt to restrict Democratic citizens to one
vote apiece, or TO prevent Democratic aliens
from voting at all. The rcpcaters are invited
to go armed TO the polls; the police are in
siruc,ed not only to arrest inspectors who at
tempt 20 interfere with fraudulent voters, but
to prevent the Marshal's deputies from remain
inc near the ballotng places. The new Let OF
Congress is to be resisted, by force il neces-
sary, and the Tammany courts are to be used
for the protection of anybody who may get
into trouble by his devotion to the party.
The infamy Of these threats and of this advice
seems indeed to have alarmed The more astute
leaders of the Ring Democracy, and the jour
nal which made them has probably been or
dered TO hold its tOngue-f0r after Its hrst
fiery utterances it has been discrectly silent
but the word has gone forth; the purpose has
been revealed.
1t is only kindness 30 warn the deludcd rank
and file who may DO led astray by the advice
of The World that the new election law gives
the proper officers abundant power to insure
It's enforcement, and it win be enforced with
the utmost strictness. Vote honestly, and you
will not be offended by obtrusiye deputy mar
shals but we mean to have fair election
this time if the United States is strong
enough to give us one. II Tammany attempt
TO use the police, as it threatens, in putting
down the law and opening the door to the
repcaters, Marshal Sharpe will have no more
hesitation in calling for "bayonets D,fhan had
Marshal Gregory.