The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1872-11-08
MASKS OFF!

OF October, we stated IhaJ we Qlu not re-
gard the result as fraudulent Our judg-
ment rested on the belief that General
Grants prestige and the decentralization of
the Democracy in consequence of the sur
render at Baltimore, had done the work
but every houI S subsequent experience has
proved u system of frauds unparalleled in
the records of elections III this country.
The last evidence is that revealed in the
Court of Common Please on Saturday last,
reported at length in our local department.
1t does not depend upon newspaper surml-
ses, but is the result of an examination
made on the authority of Judge Pierce, OF
the same court, by a member of the MUM
cipal Reform Association (Mr. Albert VII
liams(, whose affidavit was read by the
eminent counsel of that association, b.
Spencer Miller, ESQ, before his Honor
Judge Finletter. We need only refer our
readers to this painful and extraordinary
disclosure, not the less painful because
evidently perpetrated by republican cleo
ton officers, and not the less extraordinary
because, in our opinion, wholly unneces-
sary, except to save from defeat the OBJ
jectionable men on our State ticket. Judge
Finletter made very significant remark
on this startling disclosure, and followed it
by an order on ProthonOtary Loughridge
which must lead to still further evidence of
tie deeply-plauned conspiracy of the Sth
Of October last. The light thrown on this
conspiracy on Saturday shows a state of
affairs SO disgraceful as to call a blush of
shame to the cheek of every honest citizen
The affidavit read before Judge Finletter
shows that various alterations, erasures,
and changes of figures are apparent In the
returns that some of the envelopes con-
tanning the hourly lists of the divisions are
missing =; that many of the returns cannot
be found, and that numerous of them are
not signed by the proper officers required
by law to certify TO their correctness. The
exposures of frauds perpetrated are con-
fined to only thirty-fiYe divisions of twelve
wards. The plan was systematic, and it
is safe to assert that there were numerous
cases, as yet undiscovered, of alterations of
the vote in the other three hundred and
twenty four divisions. The divisions in
which the frauds were perpetrated include
about One-tenth of the vote of the city.
If they were equal i'll extent in only one
half of the others (and fraud in the great
majority of them is not only possible but
probaEle), the vote of Philadelphia was
falsitied at least fiftcet thousand on the
evening of the eighth of October by the
election officers alone. This is exclusive
of the repeating, personating, and ballot
box stuffing by the tools of the Ring on
the esame day. We now verify believe that
an examination Of the entire returns and
contest in which the frauds committed but
not apparent upon them, could be exposed,
would put the stamp of guilt upon at
least five hundred men in Philadelphia,
and show that Charles Il. Buckalew carried
Philadelphia by clear and ample ma
jority.
1t is to be hoped that such an examina-
tion will be had, and that the men who
sold the honor of the Republican party and
betrayed the Commonwealth may meet the
fate they deserve. We expect a change to
be made in our laws soon, which, if it will
not make the perpetration of frauds at cleo
tions impossible, will secure their certain
punishment. With this change, an incor-
ruptible judiciary, and proper. public
spirit, We are not apprehenSive of ithe fu-
ture. Fraud may triumph for a while, but
1t will not tiaunt the evidences of its guilt
in the faces of our people much longer.
This community, patient and long-suffer-
ing as it is has the virtue and manhood
not to cOnuive at and endorse a wrong.
" hen once thoroughly aroused, its power
OF truth and honesty will be more than
match for all the corruptions and weapons
the enemy can use.
And for resisting these wrongs THE
PRESS has been made target for un-
measured proscri ptions by men calling
themselves Republican leaders Even the
Union League was dragooned to read us
OuI VI tic anu our 1ncr-
chants were canyasSed to attack us in our
business. We hope the gentlemen of the
League and the great leaders Of commerce
in this city will read the record spread be-
fore our courts on Saturday, that they may
understand at once our motives and the
enormity of the injustice perpetrated upon
the ballot-box in the name of the Repub-
Gcan party. And this is but the beginning
of the end.
-, I loI- II. II ,
were not necessary to the reelection of
Grant, rs the vote on the candidates for
congressman at-large abundantly estab-
lsheS. They were alone planned to save
Hartranft and Allen, and to send to Har-
risburg corrupt Legislature. What Re-
publican who loves his great party will
not blush black with anger at outrages
carried on in the name of that glorious
brotherhood, followed by an odious ostra-
cisnl of the independent paper bold enough
to oppose them? What Republican will
not insist upon the punishment of the cleo
tion officers who have thus deliberately
spoliated the ballot and sent men into Off
ces and trusts to tohich they hare nerer been
elected?
We look to the Constitutional Conven-
tion to reform these frightful abuses but
is there no way to punish election officers
who have boldly altered election returns
and so trampled under foot our most sa-
cred franchises g? The scene on Thursday,
the 10th ult., after the election, when the
Return Judges met and adjourned without
being sworn or casting up the votes,
aroused the detestation of nearly all our
newspapers. Now we realize the secret OF
this stupendous wickedness. The frauds
an the dIutSiOn could not be srp0sed By a
fair final count!
What safety is there for Philadelphia,
for our Pennsylvania, for our whole coun-
try, II crime like this is to go unrebuked
and unpunished ?-Phita. Press
CURIOUS CASE OF IIrrAcv 4 n,,rin,,r