The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-02-06
dahat Stlan BE.
OUR HISTORY ANTICIPATED.
NauaIIve q az Imaginary Coup D,Etat.

VoA AAoAVAA AN4AV4FA1ED.
Narrative Of an Imaginary Coup D'Etat.
A PARrIzAs on lxPERiALisu DESCRIBES A rAS.
cIEp REVOLUTION BY WHICH Z. =. @. MAKES
HIMSELF DICTATOR IL THE YEAR 1877.
At II o'clock, the hour fixed upon iar the
Of the Senate, and the counting
Of the votes Of the Electoral College, the pri-
yate secretary Of the president stepped into
his carriage and proceeded first to the Gov
eminent Printing Bureau, whore he remained
for a few moments, and then proceeded to
the Senate chamber. He was attended by
body guard Of three hundred marines from
the capital navy yard. On reaching the cap.
itol building the marines were ordered to take
possession Of the halls and corridors leading 10
the Senate chamber and the House Of Repre-.
sentatiyes. The Senate was already in SEES.
sion, and at the conclusion Of the prayer by the
chaplain, the members Of the Lower House
presented themselves at the doors Of the
Senate chamber, in obedience to the consti.
tutional order requiring their presence at the
counting Of the electoral vote, seats being
provided for them on the floor Of the cham
Der. At the proper moment Senator Ereling-
huysen rose in his seat aud moved that the
vote be counted. AT this moment the private
secretary Of the President entered, and was
recognized at once by the clerk Of the Senate
with the usual 'Mr. President, message from
the President lnplacs Of heexpeeted mes
sage, the following proclamation fell upon
the stunned cars of the Democratic Senators !:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Feb. 30, 1877
70 Ne President Of ne Ssldie.
Extensive and glaring frauds having been detected
IN the electoral certificates returned By eeslin of the
ta.Fa
and acting in its behalf forbid the counting OF abe
votes OF the Electoral College aud hereby declare
the Senate dissolved.
Given under my hand and seal this 10Th day Of
February 1871, &c.
THE SENATE sURRESDgRs.
A similar proclamation was sent to the
House Of Representatives upon its reaSsem-
bling. The Senate always the exponent of
centralism, surrendered without struggle,
after voting down resol luton offered by one
Morton to postpone the counting Of the vote
to q subsequent day. The House, the imme.
diAte representative of the people, refused to
adjourn, and scene Of the widest confusion
followed, during which member from New
Jersey, Andrew Jackson Smith, jumped into
Speakers desk and commenced to address the
House. He had scarcely begun when squad
Of soldiers under General Babcock entered
the hall. Order was instantly restored, aud
in firm, distinct tone, the proclamation of
the President was again read by the clerk of
the House by the order Of the General. In
five minutes the hall was closed aud the ma
tional Legislature was suspended, and a guard
Of 500 regulars was stationed around the Cap
itol. On passing into the street proclama-
ton from the President to the people Of the
United States was in the hands of the popu.
lace, now occupying every avenue and cross
81 laadtuo 70 tha loNttal kol
posted besides in every public place, and
read as follows
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Feb. 20. ISL.
10 he heple Of the tai.sd States
CITIZENS Frauds. the most glaring and over
whelming have been detected In the returns OF the
electoral vote transmitted to the Electoral college
The sacred right of suffrage has been trampled In
to the dust by those who should have upheld it.
the United States, have placed the whole country
under martial law. The military power Of the ma
ton Is atthis moment IN full possession of every State
and Territory and subject to my order.
have forbidden the counting OF the electoral vote
IN the Senate, and haye dissolved the national Le
gislatufe
new election will DO Immediately orlercd. hut
In the interim the civil power Of the nation will give
place TO the military arm, in order that justieemay
De promoted and the public tranquility be Preserved
SECURING Tue CAPITAL
Passing under the bayonets Of strong
guard into the street, the members of both
Houses beheld scene never before witnessed
by Republican eyes in Republican America.
There were no baTricades thrown up at the
corners Of streets like those that met the gaze
of all Paris at the fatal insurrection of June,
1S4S. No mob sent its discordant wells TO
the clouds on that memorable day. In place
Of barricades and bastions, the glare of torch
es, and the sobs Of women flying before an
Infatuated populace, there were seen here and
there, at convenient points between the Capt.
toi and the Treasury, the mouth of cannon
guarded by squad Of regulars or marines.
In an hour, as if by magic, every vulnerable
point in city of more than hundred and
hfty thousand souls was secure against any
attack that could have been made upon il BY
an unarmed mob. AT the Navy Yard, around
the Capitol, the Pos, Office, Treasury, Inter.
Tor, War, and Navy buildings, a strong guard
was placed, ready for any emergency that
might arise. At the sight Of the soldiery a
panic ensued, not one which arose from any
fear OF immediate disaster, but from name
less apprehension Of something terrible to
come. vague feeling that the nation had
surrendered and without blow being any
shere struck in its defence paralyzed fear
tself and for the moment resistance was
impossible. Would the reaction ever come.
,r would these little squads of armed men
continue to hold q nation in spbjection at
slil? At l o'clock rush was made for the |
telegraph Offices throughout the city The |
military had taken possession of each, and an |
rider had been issued prohibiting the sending !
u telegram not authorized by the officer in |
Simultaneous with the order to place Wash. |
ngton under martial law, similar order had |
been executed at each State capital, so that by |
by the click of a single |
ARTERY, the whole nation lay PROSTATE at the |
Get Of its military master. Five thousand /
annon and $4,000 armed soldiers without
helding drop Of blood, had awsd nation
! 10000, 900 into silence profounder than I
eath ITSELF At several of the State capitals |
eeble attempts were made to wrest the State
overnments from the hands of the military
but without success.
SURPRISING THE PRESS.
The day following came the order for a new
lection for President and Vice President.
he day fixed for it was the 2sih Of February.
he order was the signal for the exercise of
hat gift still dearer than all othersto every
rue American, the gift Of free speech when Il
eholds an opportunity to crystalize into
ratory. Meetings were called throughout
ne country to discuss the order for the cleo
ion. The press, with the exception of the
seW lork TRIBUNE, the Sun, the World, and
he Cincinnati Commereiql, which had been
by an order issued on the morning
4 the 10th, denounced the order and suggest
ID IN vague terms resiEtance.to it.
AT the time appointed for the meetings in
eyeral OF the larger cities, the military took
possession Of the halls and no meetings were
'eld. The press muttered its thunders again,
tut in vain, and before the day arrived for
he vote 70 be taken all practical opposition
Q the order bad ceased The election was
ERECTED by the military, but to show that |
here had been no intimidation of the voters, |
he people had been permitted to appoint a |
rev set ofinspectors in each election precinct. |
he vote proved an unusually light one, as |
vas shown by the various tallies, but the |
returns revealed frauds more glarinr than
before. So debapched had the people them |
'elyes become through the men who had |
the ballot for years, that the CON
'lusion was irresistible that an honest election
would never again be held under the Republic.
On the list Of March, the day set down for
he counting Of the votes in accordance with
ne order, the election was declared null and
ioid. The nation stood breathless with ex-
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