The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1875-01-20

gro vote was given to the conserve
tive candidates is an additional proof
that the result of the election, as
first declared, was consistent with
probability, And then how. could
the reports in the public press, 50
correct in relation to all the other
States, be utterly mistaken and erro-,
neons in the one State Of Louisiana?
There was no reason for Questioning,
and in point Of fact, nobody did
question the decided success Of the
conservatives in that State until the
Returning Board met to manipulate
the returns. There is, therefore,
the strongest possible prin,a .tacie
case against the honesty Of the Re.
turning Board, ''- -
The Returning Board met, and af-
ter incubating on the returns for the
long space Of six or seven weeks in
secret conc1ave, they declared re-
suit which contradicted all the pub
lie information on subject q, open to
general inspection, as as all elecctin re- e;
suits always are in a country where
a alert newspaper press. furnishes
such easily accessible news as soon
a., every election is over. Tbere, is
authentic evidence of Wholesale for
geries in the official returns. It IS
proved that on Thanksgiving Day,
in, the absence Of the Board. its
c Gle ks opened envelopes, altered the
returns and resealed athe envelopes.
It is proved that the returns from
strong conservative parishes we're
thrown out, and that radical candi-
dates for the Legislature were de-
claredI elected in such fragrant viola
ton of, truth that the candidates ben,
Gifted refused to take the, offices. It
is the general opinion of the country
that the action of; the Returning
Board was deliberately fraudulent,
and that the purpose Of their secret
labors was to circumyent and nullify
the will of the people as declared BY
ti1eir votes. ,... L,., d. ,;l,;...,ao $3.50.
r. While the Returning Board were
engaged in this attempt, and. while
the dishonesty Of their motives was
generally, suspected. the President
made, a ppblic declaration that he
would support their action whatever
might be the result. This was, at
least, a singular method of ,discour.
aging the fraud which. was imputed
to the Returning Board on what
seemed to. the public very strong
grounds. It was telling them, in
effect, that if they counted in repub.
licans who were not elected the fed.
eral government would maintain
them in power. 1t was inqthe high
est degree imprpdent-we employ q
mild word-to give this emphatic as
surance to body so widely accused
of fraudulent intentions. After The
close Of their labors the President
with view to make his promise
good, sends the most energetic off
Ger of the army to New Orleans to b,
present at the critical moment.
1t SO happened that the radica
majority of two in the lower hous,
of the Legislature, which the dis
honesty Returning Board had count
led in, was destroyed at the last mo
ment BY the, arrest of one membe
for felony and the honorable refu
sal of two others to take offices t,
which they knew they had not beel
elected. The consequence was al
unexpected conservative lmajorit,
when the Legislature assembled
The conservative majority, of course
controlled the organization of til
House, and they strengthened them
selves by admitting to seats fv
members whose claims were no
passed upon by the Returning BOARD
but referred to the House for decis
ion. They had at least colorado
claim to election, for otherwise tn
Returning Board, who were so littl
scrupulous in other cases, woul'
have counted them out in advance
They were in no sense intruders, 70
it is customary in all legislative bod
les to admit such claimants in tn
preliminary organization and decid
on their rights to seats afterward.-
Their title to seats was a question
within the proper jurisdiction of tA
House by the law which makes i
the judge Of the qualification Of it
members, and this Jurisdiction wa
admitted by the Republican Boar,
by turning over the question to TIL