The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1873-09-26
THE ALLEGED ELECTION FRAUDS.
IFrom tho New Orleans Picavune.

determine the result of the election in
favor Of that party to which he is at
tached may be admitted. But il the
Inference is attempted to be drawn that
the returns Of the election held on No
Eember 4th, whilst Blanchard was
State Register and Supervisor of Elec-
ton, were, by reason Of his character
the Fusion ticket, we emphatically dis
sent. Because, all the facts upon which
to predicate this opinion are not stated.
We admit that the Radical election
and registration laws of which he was
the chief administrative officer. were
enacted for the purpose of fraudulently
perpetuating power in the hands of the
administration in Office. We also ad-
| nit that this man had proved himself,
IN 1870. to bc an unprincipled and un-
scrupuloaas agent in tho execution of
these laws. But, however willing he
| may have been to commit wrong at the
last election, he was deprived of tho
power of doing SO by later Radical
| United States law enacted expressly to
meet and neutralize these infamous
| Radical State laws. We refer to what
! Is known in this State as the "Kellogg
| law" drawn up by or under the aus
pices and in the interest of Kellogg, and
introduced by him in Congress. There
| is not section, clause or line of the
| Radical State election law but is met,
checked or neutralized by United
States counter enactment.
Now, when it is considered that this
law is that of the United States, and
| its execution is by United States officials
whose power was predominant and
before whom all bowed submissively,
especially in these Southern States, the
inability of Blanchard, watched and
guarded as he was by a superior power,
| to manipulate the ballOt-boxes or to
determine the result of the election is
manifestly obvious.
Blanchard alleges that stupendous
election frauds under his manipulation,
were committed in New Orleans, in
behalf OF the Fusion party. This, under
the active supervision and untiring
watchfulness of the United States Off
| cIais, in the interest Of the Republican
party, and the adherents of the Reform
party, who united to guard the polls
| against tho other wing of the Fusion
combination,i is nanifcstly untrue. But
rejecting the official returns, collateral
| circumstances clearly indicate that if
frauds were committed, the Fusion
party and not the Radical, were the
sufferers.
| An exceedingly accurate estimate of
the legal voters of each party can be
deduced from the respective population
of New Orleans. By the census of 1870,
taken during the summer months,
when it is we'll known that not less
10000 white persons were absent, an
undue proportion of which were adult
males, who leave on business, the
whites LAC, 900 and the blacks,
or colored, $4,000. In this city it is not
| hat ,I,S%
the Republican ticket; as, outside of
the Custom-Housc,a white Radical was
unknown. The Radical vote was, in
round numbers, 1900, and that of the
Fusionists 1000.
Assuming the accuracy of the Radi-
cal vote, the white vote should have
been about 3O,0OO-less 1000 Radicals
and unnaturalizcd. One Thousand for
the latter is a large estimate, as, owing
to an entire absence of Immigration
from abroad for the last twelve years,
and the untiring efforts of the indepen-
dent and ward clubs, almost every resi-
dent OF foreign birth has been natural
lied.
1t thus appears that one in four of
the colored population in New Orleans
is voter, whilst only one in six of the
white enjoys the privilege of voting.
This difference is the more cxtraordi-
nary as the census of 1870 gives a ma
jority of 2OOO to tho negro population,
but gives a majority of 151 to tho white
males above 81 years over the negroes
of the same age.
This discrepancy may be accounted
for by the adroit manipulation OF this
same blanchard, who, Radical in
1870, taught the negroes the art of re
peated registration and voting-, les
son apparently not forgotten in 1872
This they do with almost perfect impu
nifty, as their identification is almost
impossible.
In relation to the city of New Orleans
J at least, We are constrained from the
circumstances narrated, and from per
sonal observation, to believe that tho
, sworn statement of Blanchard, as tt
frauds which he says that he committed
and instigatcd, in face of his sworr
duty, arc false, not from an indisposi
: ton to commit the crimes with which
9 he charges himself, but from his inabii
ity to pcrpetrate them.
= TIE DEVIL HIS DUE.
= 4.