New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-11-10

the national and State elections are SO in
timately blended so inseperably CON
nected, as in the present instance-a Pc.
vision Of the vote on national affairs. nee
essarily includes that on State matters.
! OF course this can only be done on the
hypothesis Of fraud. But the ciccum.
stances and facts justifying these suspi-
cions SO faE as relates 20 louisiana poll
tics are too apparent for doubt and denial!
At che last election, two years ago, the
Republican majority exceeded twenty-five
thousand votes. The opposition a: chat
time was q unit Conceding tina. public
opinion has greatly changed since then, il
does not warrant the suppoSition shat it
has altered to an extent that gives 20 one
wing Of divided and disputing opposi.
ton an ascendency almost equal 70 the
| Republican majority in 1870 70 10 So
would require a detection from the Re
publican party equal 20 two-thiris Of its
| actual voters That such has NOE been
the case is disclosed in the FAC: tina: the
aggregate vote Of the Republican party is
even greater than il was two years ago.
The majority, therefore, claimed by the
Democratic OF fusion party must be &C.
counted for on the basis of increase Of
population and newly acquired suffrage
or fraud. This would involve an Access
sion OF at least sixty thousand 20 the
voting population Of Louisiana, OF al ad-
dition Of nearly one-haIf 20 the actual
vote Of 1870, or a fraud equivalent 70 the
deficiency. The statistics OF immigra-
ton, nor the census returns marking the
progress Of adolescence. do noe justify
this calculation. On the contrary, ii has
been notable complaint of our people
that we have made but little progress in
any Of the elements of increased popula.
ton. Trade, agriculture and commercial
progress have been notably diIitory, and
within the past two years have scarcely
reached the minimum they maintained at
the close Of the war. The change, there
FORE can not be accounted for on these /!
grounds. It certainly can not be on the |
hypothesis that the colored vote has as.
sisted in procuring this result The per.
sistent adhesion Of the negro 20 tie Re
publican party has been one Of the chief
sources Of its strength. It is well u:der-
stood that the colore3 element forms at
least moiety Of the population, and
their vote, combined with the Republican
white vote, gives to the party an unques-
tionable ascendency. IN the parish Of
Orleans alone the negro vote is fully
equal if not superior to the colored vote
Of 1870. The present registration, made
under Democratic or Liberal auspices. Is.
tablishes the fact. Upon what basis.
then, can the Democracy account f5r tbeiv
vast accessions? Is it 20 be found in the
sailor boarding-houses on Front and New
Levee streets, where each separate tene-
ment turns out from one 20 five hundred
fraudulent registration papaIs: Papers
that from the time Of their issuance 10
he day Of the election rested securely in
he pocket Of the fusion candidate for
Of Police; or in the Repub-
lean precinct of AlgieEs, where the 412
;olQred votes, under Democratic manipu.
alton, disclosed l28 fusion majority:
These are but instances, certainly, but
I the face Of the prevalent suspicious and
.ctual certainties Of fraud and corruption
n the ballot constitute landmarks and
tarting points for future investigation. |
Ne charge no particular individual with
he preparation Of these villainies. iJu:
nevertheless yillainies have bee4 Yerpe.
rated, and individuals are responsible.
hey are crimes against TIE State ana
utrages upon the ballot Nor can :hey
e permitted with impunity. Society
'ould sUccumb 70 its blighting ana dele
erious influences and free government
ecomc a mockery and farce. Justice
emands that this dark cloud e suspicion l
hall be lifted from the ballot. and the
auds and intrigues Of political soxup-
onists be exposed in their enormity. In :
packed Legislature, and with 2artici- c
ants in vilIoiny for judges, 40 good re-
Its are attainable. Only the protecting I
5ency Of the federal government viii be j
und sufficiently powerful 70 combat cor Y
ption and secure the violated rights ana Q
suited honor Of the people Of the State s
} this tribunal, then, the appeal viii Ie P
ade. OF its justice and freedom from 9
as and prejudice there is a popular and e
plicit confidence On its decision at b
Il yepose in peace. a
Il
HELPING OURSELVES II