The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1872-04-11
A Sidnifcant Case

/ we tl ING lHVSt u uSIllHS TeDuheS OF IN
EQUITY upheld by ''the powers that be, y
saws the Hartford Times-one Of the most
inspiring results of time which has deve-
oped much cause OF alarm, and afforded
but few substantial assurances to honest
men who care most for their country and
the salvation Of our imperilled free gov
er,,ment-is the final issue OF the singular
local question in Pennsylvania over the
contested seat for the fourth senatorial
district, It is tie little cloud which prom
i,es ram, and an end OF the famine in the
land. Under other circumstances, such
local squabble would attract no atten-
ton outside of the State where il occurred
As it is, this case is one of great signit-
cance. 1t possesses an important bearing
on national politics and. while its result
is q stern and emphatic rebuke of official
misconduct on the part OF President Grant,
it IS also a propitious omen to those who
have been anXiously consulting the politi-
cal oracles in this stormy time concerning
our country's immediate future. 1t is a
GRAY the Senator who has last been eject
ed from the sea- to which he had been so
recently and 30 unustly admitted, was
the acknowledged candidate Of the ad-
uinstration At Washington; and as such
he was presented to the voters OF Phila-
delphia Against him stood Col. A. NJ
Mcclure reform Republican, voted
for by the Democrats and the liberal or
reform Republicans. 1t was the first test
outsideot Missouri, of the practical strength
Of the proposed union OF Democrats ana
anti-ttrant Republicans; and as such the
contest was watched with some interest
by parties in other States. The district, a
part Of Philadelphia, was an overwhem-
ngv radical district, the usual Republic
can majority being nearly 800. 1t was
known and stated by the Democrats wear
after wear, that this immense majority,
which frequently decided the political
!
tent fraudulent and the result OF rowdyism
/ and ballot bo>->tuIhng bnt. SO long as
the victims OF these practices were only
the Democrats, not one word of comment
was ever made IN the Republican press OF
the country Dioested of its systematic
frauds the district was apparently Repub-
ny or hI1t In
by such state of things as the recent
special election brought about was there
any chance Of separating the honest from
the fraudulent vote. Col. Mcclure, who
seems TO have fully understood the system
OF organized ruff tnispn and ballot box
stutling upon which the Republicans have
long relied to carry Philadelphia, took
measures to have these proceedings duly
reported when directed against him II
is pity that the Democrats, also, not
only in Philadelphia but everywhere
throughout the country, could not have
secured a systematized and detailed or
ganlzation which would have been ade
/ quate, if not to proven: these wrongs up.
on the ballOt-box, at least to expose and
locate them and specify their individual
authors. That detail and systemin party or
ganization has given the Republicans THEN
victory in almost every State where they
have carried the day the want of it has
been the fatal failure of the Democrats
for a great many years. Possibly the
time may come when they will meet this
obvious and essential requirement; posi-
| bly, the defect exists in the very constitu
ton OF things, in the nature of the ele
ments Of a great portion of the party
Whatever the explanation may be, GER
tain it is that our opponents are always
better organized than we are, and tina
their organization is even carried out Gas
we trust. no Democratic organization
ever will be- in systematized operations
of bribery at the elections, and the exclu.
sion, in every county, OF hundreds of fair
y entitled names from the registry list
In this Philadelphia case, Col. Nee lure
organized his forces to combat these sys
tematic frauds, and to report such a.
could not be prevented. The union o
Democrats and anti-Grant Republicans
resulted in the obliteration of the 800 il
the fourth district. While the Grant par
ty claimed a margin Of 700 or 800, the
friends of Mcclure claimed that he wa
elected by nearly 5000. He presented
overwhelming proof, not only of organ
lied rowdyism and ballot box smashing
and stuffing by the Grant Republicans
but also Of the active personal interior
ence (under orders from Washington) 0
an army of custom house, post-otfice, in
:, ternal revenue and other federal Office
holders in the election. The Senate ad
mitted Gray to The seat but the vigorous
persistence of Mcclure proved too mucl
for even party drill to resist. After re
fusng for some time to permit any inves
LEGATION, the Pennsylvania Senate at las
appointed committee. The testimon,
proved to be astounding. Nobody dare
to stand up against it. 1t disclosed
general system Of ring rowdylsm an6
brutal violence, under the direction 0
the police and other officials, such as nc
other city in America has been curset
with. 1t disclosed an organized system Q
fraudulent voting, on other mems name
(the police and other officials abetting tn
crime), which is absolutely astounding
No room remained for even question
that the pretended 300 majority for Ora.
was fraudulent, the result of taking on
legal votes for Mcclure, and the stuff nj
of illegal votes for Gray into the ballot