Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-04-30
THE ANTT.GRANT REVELATION.

/
Col. A. K. Mcclure, who was counted
out of bis election to the Pennsylvania
Senate in obedience to what were instruc-
tons from Washington, and the certificate
given to the Grant candidate, but who final
ly obtained his seat by proving the whole
sale frauds both in receiving and counting
the ballots, has taken position with the
anti-Grant Republicans. In letter to the
Philadelphia Bulletin he gives his reasons
for joining the liberal movement, in the
course of which he reviews with some
severity the history of his recent contest,
and "the Presidents personal, official and
malignant hostility TO reform-s declaring
that 'the Administration of President
Grant was the head and front, the bulwark
and shield, Of the men who struggled
in desperation 10 commit a double fraud
upon the people of Philadelphia, by perpet-
uating the dominion Of the rings, FOUNDERS
and repeateTS in our municipal affairs"
Nor did the interference of the White
House end with the election. While the
evidence of fraud was being prepared for
presentation to the Senate, "The command
came from the President that there must be
no Investigation" The Republican Senators
rushed into caucuses, under the lash of the
administration and personally importuned
and driven by officials direct from the
| throne, TO devise how not to allow inquiry
into what they knew to be deliberate fraud
upon the best citizens Of Philadelphia. A
few Republican Senators meant to co right,
but they were unwilling to incur the
wrath Of power until there was no hope
| OF investigation by obedience to
caucus. For two weeks the ap-
planes Of the administration were success
full, aud only when three brave men de-
cl4red with the Democrats, that they would
at once vote to select committee, under
| the constitutional powers Of the Senate,
without regard to law, was an act allowed
to pass authorizing a committee" Nor did
the desperation Of the administration end
was proven from day to day how the Gus
tomhouse, the Postof1ice, the Navy Yard,
the Arsenal, and the Revenue offices had
vomited forth their repeaters, their perured
election officers, their leaders of gangs of
FOUNDERS, their sienCed balot-bOx suffers,
and their expert forgers of returns.
One by one, by name and official
position, they were pointed out,
by sworn testimony that no effort
was made TO impeach, and clrcum
stantially convicted of their crimes" Not
wi,hstanding the Presidents profuse pro-
fsssion and public proclamations In favor of
Civil Service Reform, not one of these off
cials has been removed; but two or three
have actually been rewarded by promotion
IA their respective departments.
These charges, let it be remembered, are
made by Republican, who, in making a
stand for an election without Federal dicta-
ton and for an honest canvass, had the sup
! port Of the best men Of his party and of
three-fourths of the press of Philadelphia.
! Col. Mcclure concludes his letter as follows:
! GIf you doubt that th ese men, under the
! protecting power of the President, have alb
| solute control Of the Republican organiza-
| tons In Philadelphia, and mainly through
! out the States, can the men who are TO re-
present you, and 10000 Republicans of our
| city, in the National Convention. They
| WILL in that great body, assuming to reflect
the wishes Of the Republicans Of the ma
ton, simply repay the obligations they owe
| to the administration for maintaining them
! in place and power at the sacrifice of public
decency. oppose the denomination of
! President Grant because he is the foe of
/ every principle of reform; because | am full
! ly convinced that tWo-thiTds or more of the
Reform Republicans Of Philadelphia sincere
! " desire another candidate, and because he
cannot and should not be elected
against any other candidate with a loyai re-
cord. Assured by the character OF the
delegates chosen to the Philadelphia Con-
| vention, so far as ! can personally Judge,
that they wilt merely dc the bidding of
power regardless of the convictions or pref
erences of the party / shall consult with
other independent Republicans at Cincin-
natl, and act as my duty 70 Republican
principles, to a Republican constituency,
and to the country, shall dictate. If By
this, disaster comes upon our organization.
tell me in truth mad soberness who must
answer for 1t p
That Col. Mcclure is not alops in tb,,