New-York tribune., 1872-10-11

Majority for Hartranft, by above estimates 20,S90.
WHAT MADE FRAUD POssIBLE-THE WEALTHY
BUSINESS MEN RESPONSIBLE THEY
SUSTAINED THE CAMERON RING.
lFROM THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRBUNEl
PHILADELPHIA, Oct 10.-NOw that the smoke
Of the battle hitting begin 10 realize the fun enor
nifty of the shameful wrong perperaed by the Cameron
Ring upon the people of Pennsylvania. 1t is perhaps
confession Of simplicity our part 10 say that we did
not dream Of the possibility Of the successful execution
of the gigantic scheme of fraud which we knew they
mad devised. We fully of their desperation
We that they would go to any length TO keep the
accounts the State and city from the scrutiny Of hon
est officials; that they had everything at stake in the
contest: that they bold and shrewd and rich
with the plumber Of the people, We believed that they
woud cheat us TO OF least 10000 votes In
Philadelphia; were apprised OF their wholesale I'M
portations of Maryland aud Virginia negroesj we saw
their repeaters from New-fOfk by the carload
stnl we hoped that the vigilance Of honest citizens
would avail 10 keep their frauds down within such limits
tnat we could beat them. We now see that all the
effort VIC cid make unavailing, and that If we had
made ten times much IL would not have changed the
pIearrapgcd result Let MS inquire why these
monstrous frauds were possible. What Is there
in the condition OF politics in Pennsyl
vania that enabled handful OF bad men TO manufac-
ure any majority they please for their candidates The
answer is Because they had the approval and sup
port OF large body Of wealthy and respectable people,
who broke the wave Of indignant public opinion that
would otherwise have annihiated them. Prominent
merchants bankers, editors, railroad managers, and
manufacturers deliberately shielded the coruptonists
from the storm that threatened TO Overwhelm them
Behind the friendly shelter of eminent respecabiy The
rascas were enabled compass the rum OF as righteous
cause as ever appealed to the sufTrages of people
But this explanation does not suffice Another ques
ton demands an answer. Why did these worthy and
vrtuous men thus conniye at fraud Why did they ex
change congratulations Tuesday night at the Union
League with fellows who they knew had just from
organizing repeaters and fasifyng returns Why did
they give largely of their during the canvass 10
mako commital Of these outrages possible Their
motives various selfinteres lying at the bottom
Of them all few, like Childs, Stuart, and Borie were
perso1al friends Grant. ana anxious for his
succes that they shut their eyes HartTants record
and character and consented TO the employment OF
means that would elect him. A larger number had
friends in Office, had business interests, for the
success OF which they thought the extension Of Grants
Administration essential still larger number had had
dealings with the State Government which made them
want oblivion the past and security for the future
They belong powerful corporations thahaye amassed
vast wealth. and the way IN which they obtained ana
have kept their power toOppres the people wonld not
bear investigation. They feared any change In the old
methods Of legsaing and administering the State Gov
ernment. To these added a class much less re-
spectabe-the governing politicians Of Philadelphia,
who hold Office by virtue Of their own frauds, and
whose maladministration and peculatons Reform
state Government would bring to light
We could have fought and conquered the Cameron
Ring and the City RING combined had they not been s
tained by the influence and mOneybags OF the eminent
respectaby of Philadelphia and the wealthy and sell
fish corporations all the State. But for this support
their frauds upon the ballot would have had limit AS
81 WAS they were overwhelming and appalling. The
responsibility for these frands upon these respectable
peOple-these wealthy merchants, bankers, and manu-
faeturers who assented TO them. When they come to
the Liberal leaders, they will before year passes
and beg them to help protect their property from the
rogues they put in power their conduct in this
campaign will not be forgotten.
Since writing the above, have been informed by
Republican who voted for Hartrant that be witnessed
with his own eyes the operation OF forging majority in
his own election division One Of the retrn inspectors
deliberately crossed the actual footing Of tho vote
and added over 100 to the Eartranft The gen.
teman is self city Official and does not give his
name for fear he will lose his place Another gentleman
informs that In his division the thing done,
and that he believes evidence be obtained OF the
systematie practice Of this species OF fraud in most OF
the divisions the city, 1t rendered perfectly easy.
he Says by tie appointment Democratic inspectors
Of men who we're not Democrats by corruptng such
INSPECTORS as were The inspectors all appointed
tv tbe Board OF Aldesmen-a body composed with few
exceptions, OF unscrupulous Republican politicians.
THREE SEPARATE MAJoRITIRs RRPoRTED AFTER |
TILE VOTES WERE COuNTED-fARTRANFT'S |
MAJORITY RAISED TO SAVE THE WAGERs OF |
THE RING - CITIZENS CHEATED OUT OF /
THEIR VOTES BY REPEATERs-THE GOVERN |
MEKT COMPELLED MEN TO VOTE FOR HART !
RAEFT-HOw IT WAS DONE.
IFRoM THR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRiBuNEI !
PHILADELPHIA, Oct 10.-The greatest out !
rage ever peIpetTated upon the balotbOI, throwing
into the shade even the gigantic frauds Of which Tam
many wac guilty in 1863 completed to-day by the
socaed official canvass the Return Judges OF Pba-
delphia Hartrapffs majority after having been Te