Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1875-12-03
The Election Frauds.

On tuesday evening large ana respec-
table body of citizens met at the Mary
land Institute in Baltimore to protest
against the alleged frauds perpetrated in
the recent election in that city. The meet
ing was presided over by the venerable
Prot. N. r. Smith, together with long
list of Vice Presidents composed Of the
most respectable citizens. 1t was address
ed by Gen. Chas. E. Phelps and Hon. A.
B. Hagner.
When a movement participated in by
so large and respectable body of our
fellow-citizens charges, that gross frauds
have been practiced We are bound to be-
lieve that those who thus speak are sim
cere in their belief. This being so, it will
not do for the Democratic party longer to
shut their care to this cry of fraud, and il
it does it virtually endorses the wrong and
becomes responsible for it. On the other
hand, if it causes an investigation to be
had that fact will be the best evidence OF
an utter reputation of such iniquity, and
would restore the confidence of the people
now severely shaken by the action of the
bad men who have sought to control ii
for their own selfish ends. As we have
said before, we will battle against the in
vasion of the ballot box by frauds and vio-
lence, whether under the guise of our own
party men or that Of the opposition. We
can have nothing in common with men
who do this thing. If they perpetrate it
under our colors we would deal with them
more severely than if they were on the
other side. We saw too much of this sort
of thing during the Know Nothing reign
in Baltimore, when that unctious Refor-
mer of to-day, Morrison Harris, was gar
laned with flowers as the hero of ruffianism
and fraud, and we saw it again during the
war when the Radical party, now such re-
formers, with brutal soldiery at their
beck and call, hesitated not to violate al
most every law, human and divine, and
respected not age or sex. God forbid we
should ever witness again scenes like
these!
If frauds and outrages have been perpe-
trated, let us find out those who have
done these things and punish them. They
are our enemies, the enemies OF law and
order. To-day they disfranchise one party
and tomorrow it will be another. Inves-
tigation has been asked by respectable
men and our party should show itself
prompt to grant it. 1t is its duty to take
the lead in the matter, lest perhaps the
people in their indignation will hurl il
from power. Investigation can do nc
harm. 1t can only right a wrong. This
it is our duty to do. Surely we should be
brave enough to do that.
Whilst we are thus earnest in our desire
for prompt investigation, now that these
charges of fraud emanate from respectable
sources, yet at the same time it is well to re-
member that thus far the charges are loose
general and without specification, and
such as party meeting with Waterloo
defeat is very apt to make. And as pre-
senting this view in a strong light we call
attention to the editorial of the Gazette on
this subject, to be found elsewhere in to-
days paper. But whilst we agree with
much which that paper says, we want the
matter fully Investigated, and that the par
ty skirts may be cleared OF this charge Sc
that when we enter upon the Presidential
race next year we may not be handicapped
with its weight. In this connection we
notice that Democratic meeting has been