The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1872-11-22
Niasks of.


When so large majority was declar.
ed for the Republican State ticket on
the Sth OF October, we stated that we
did not regard the result as fraudulent.
Our Judgment rested on the belief that
General Grants prestige and the de.
moralization Of the Democracy In con-
sequence of the surrender at Baltimore,
had done the work but every hours
subsequent experience has proved q
system of frauds unparalleled In the
records Of elections In this country.
The last evidence Is that revealed In
the Court Of Common Pleas on Satur.
day last, reported at length in our local
department. 1t does not depend upon
newspaper surmises, but is the result OF
an examination made on the authority
of Judge Peirce, of the same court, by
a member OF the Municipal Reform
Association (Mr. Albert Williams, J
whose affidavit was read by the emil
nent counsel of that association, Il.
Spencer Miller, Esq, before his Honor
Judge Finletter. We need only refer
our readers to this painful and extraor
dinary disclosure, not the less painful
because evidently perpetrated by Re.
publican election officers, and not the
less extraordinary cause, in our opin-
| from defeat the Objectionable men on
our State ticket. Judge Finletter made
| very significant remark on this start
ling disclosure, and followed it by an
order on Prothonotary Loughridge
which must lead to still further evil
deuces of the deeply.planned conspir-
acy of the Sth of October last. The
light thrown on this conspiracy on Sat-
| urday shows a state of affairs so dis
| graceful as to call blush of shame to
| the cheek Of every honest citizen.
The affidavit read before Junge Fin
| letter shows that various alterations,
erasures, and changes of figures are
apparent in the returns; that some OF
the envelopes containing the hourly
lists of the division 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 confined to only thirty-five divis.
ions of twelve wards. The plan was
systematic, and 1t is safe to assert that
there were numerous cases, as yet un-
discovered, of alteration 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 in extent in only
one-half of the others land fraud in the
great majority of them Is not only poss.
ible but pr0bable,) the vote of Phila-
delphia was falsified at least fifteen
thousand on the evening of the 9Th of
October by the election officers alone.
This is exclusive of the repeating, per.
sonating and ballot.box stuffing by the
tools of the Ring on the same 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 r. Buckalew
carried Philadelphia by clear and
ample majority.
1t is to be hoped that such an exam.
ination 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 change to be made in our laws
soon, which, If it will not make the
perpetration of frauds at elections i'm
possible, will secure their certain pun
ishment. With this change, an incor.
ruptible judiciary, and proper public
spirit, we are not apprehensive of the
future. Fraud may triumph for while
but it will not flaunt the evidences of
its guilt in the faces of our people much
longer. This community, patient and
g.suffering as it is, has the virtue
and manhood not to connive at and en-.
dorse q wrong. When 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
fress mas been made target for un-
measured prescription by men calling
themselves Republican leaders! Even
the Union League was dragooned to
read us out of the Republican party,
and our merchants were canvassed 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 before our courts
on Saturday, that they may understand
at once our motives, and the enorm ity
OF the Injustice perpetrated upon the
ballot box in the name of the Repub.
lican party. And this is but the begin.
ming of the end.
Bear in mind, also. that these proved
frauds were not necessary to the re. elec.
tion of Grant, as the vote on the candi-
dates for COngressmen.at. large abun-
dantly establishes. They were alone
planned to save Hartranft and Allen,
and to send to Harrisburg a corrupt
Legislature. What Republican who
oves his great party will not blush
black with anger at outrages carried on
in the name of that glorious brother
hood, followed by an odious ostracism
of the independent paper bold enough
to oppose them? What Republican
will not insist upon the punishment of
the election officers who have thus de.
liberately spoliated the ballot and sent
men into offices and trusts to a0hich
they haze neUer been electedS
We look to the Constitutional Con.
vention to reform these frightful abuses;
but is there no way to punish election
officerswho have boldly altered election
returns,and 80 trampied under foot our
most sacred franchises? The scene on
Thursday, the 10th ult., after the elec.
tl0n, when the return judges met and
adjourned without being sworn or cast.
Ing up the votes, aroused the detestation
OF nearly all our newspapers. Now
we realize the secret of this stupendous
The frauds in the division