Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-10-25
WORCESTER
FRIDAY, OCTOBER e5, 1878.
KuI.Iuxism and Republican Voters.

KukIuxism and Republican Voters.
The republicans Of Georgia have resolved to
battle terrorism if possible, and cast their whole
vote, at the presidential election. At irst after
their experience in the state election. they
thought of Withdrawing from the polls alto
gether, on the fifth of November; but, having
considered the matter carefully, they decide to
insist on their rights. In the presidential cleo
ton, they will have some assistance and protec.
ton from the legislation of congress which aims
10 prevent frauds; but kuklux terrorism has
many ways that are Clark, many effective
methods of operation, which may prevail against
anything that can be done to protect voters. 1t
is possible that the controlling leaders of the
Greeley party may shrink from repeating the
atrocities of the state election; for violators Of
the election laws, when there is voting for pres
dent and congressman, can be tried in the fed
eral courts for their offences; but we may be
sure that they will do what they can to make it
impossible for republicans to vote.
1t is plain, now, that there was an organized
conspiracy, in Georgia and several other south
ern states, to prevent the voting of republicans,
by means Of terror, fraud, and every available
form Of trickery. The state election in Georgia
shows what the Greeley leaders had planned to
do in Alabama and several other states. Since
their alliance with Warmoth was fully estab
lished, they have even hoped to make these foul
operations successful in Louisiana. Before
Narmoth formally pledged himself to them,
they had prepared to use the legislation of con-
gress as defence against him. Now they are
angry to see this legislation standing in the way
OF rascalites which he is ready to perpetrate in
their favor. A leading Greeley paper of Louis
lana, which, at one time, praised the election
laws enacted by congress, and, in the same
breath, cursed Warmoth and his notorious
scoundrelism, now glories in Warmoth, and
bursts out against federal interference with
state election laws" 1t gives one view of what
republicans are doing TO protect themselves, as
follows:
Elsewhere we give copy of document
which has been distributed throughout the state
Tor partisan use in connection with the coming
elections. 1t presents, in the first place, three
sections Of an act of congress 'to enforce the
rights of citizens of the United States to vote in
the several states of the Union, and for other
purposes In the next place, it furnishes a Sc
ries of blank forms of application, affidavit, and
grievance, on the part of persons complaining
OF having been unjusty denied the right to reg
lister and vote under the administration Of state
laws. A more insidous and dangerous docu-
ment could not well be conceived"
The document referred to was copied from
the New Orleans Republican. 1t consists of the
act of congress relating TO elections, and three
forms for blanks. The first is form of appli-
cation for registration; the second is a form for
an affidavit showing that the voter made formal
application for registration and could not OBJ
tain it; the third is a form for an affidavit show
ing that the voter went to the polls and was not
permitted to vote. Both afidavits are accom-
panied by forms of certificates by the United
States supervisor of election for the district.
These forms are intended for use in eases where
registration and the right to vote are denied;
and they will make certain the prosecution
of every election officer who shall violate
the law. That is TO say, they ''mean
business" such as the law requires, and serve
as a general notification that no supervisor of
registration or of election will be permitted to
violate the law with impunity. 70 say the doc
ument is 'insidious and dangerous" is to talk
nonsense. 1t shows a lawful, honest, and neces-
sary proceeding, conducted openly, and danger
Gus only to yillalnous law-breakers. 1t means
that the republicans of Louisiana will not sub
nit to such outrages as kukluxism and War
moths creatures have planned against them;
and those who prepared the document have a
right to mean this.
We infer from what the Picayune says on the
subject, that this proceeding of the republicans
will not be without effect. 1t was occaSioned by
the conduct of supervisors who would not regis
ter republican voters. The New Orleans Republ
can regrets that such conduct in many parishes
has made this measure necessary; but those
whose rights are tramped under foot will not
submit tamely to such wrong; if kuklux super
visors will violate the laws, they must be pre-
pared to take the consequences. The Pcayune
regards this measure of defence against outrage
with manifest concern, and says:
Estate registrars and supervisors cannot be
too careful to avoid the least imprudence or in
advertence of word or act that might give pre-
text for initiating such proceedings as this docu
ment is intended to encourage and facili
tate. In all their conduct let them make
it manifest beyon1 question or cavil that they
desire TO administer the registration and election
laws at once vigorously and fairly, so that no
qualified applicant shall be excluded, and no
uhqualhed applicant admitted, on account of
race, color, or party"
If the Warmoth-Greeey officials can be per-
suaded to accept this counsel in good faith,
there will be no difficulty and it is probable
that the document in question will be quite as
persuasive as the Picayune. If the registrars
and supervisors will take the course recon-
mended by that journal, there will be no occasion
to use the atfidavits and certificates, for there
will be no violation Of law. In Louisiana, the
republicans have large majority of the voters
and are not so much at the mercy of Mr..
Greeleys converts" as they are in Georgia
They have much stronger hope of success in
their fight for justice and fair play They are
at some disadvantage, now, chiefly because
Warmoth and his creatures have gone over to
the democrats.