Litchfield enquirer., 1876-12-14

which the cunn1ngeSC knaV6 Wluss AAoy may be discounted at once in any such crisis as this. The public knows where to find them, and when found they are of no consequence, except as numerical fac- tors in any controversy. But there IS very large class of Republicans who act from conscientious motives and would not willingly themselves do wrong, and the alarming development of partisansh1p in this class is in the direction of a will ingness to close their eyes to wrong doing or submit to it in unprotesting silence. When THE TRIBUNE, at the beginning of this agitation, demanded an honest count at all hazards, whatever might be the re- l suit. there came from this class many re- sponses of approval, but l fear that time is bunting the edge of their honorable sensitiveness, and that even conscientious Republicans in their honest horror of Democratic misdeeds and their overween- ing anxiety for party success have made up their minds to wash thelr hands of re- sponsibility and sit down contented and even rejoicing at a triumph secured by the very paractices which they so earnest ly detested in their opponents. It IS this silent acquiescence, this consenting to be accessory after the fact, on the part of those from whom we have 8 right to ex- pect a more virile and a aggressive form of morality and virtue, that seems to me the most dangerous feature of the situa- tion and the most fruitful of mischief Tn the future. It is not from the threats of the disappointed that we need harbor ap- prehensions, but from the undisturbed serenity of conscientious men who shlrk responsibility and let the end justify the means. It is not physical violence that we have to fear, but moral rot.
 But then in the the last resort do you say Gov. Hayes is a man of such high character that he will suffer no stain upon it by the acceptance of an ofiice to wnlcn he has not been legally elected !? l hope he is all that. But how can he he escape from it if he waits in the presence of pos sible fraud until by its full consummation the Electoral Colleges are formally con- stituted and commissioned with a major ity of one instructed to vote for him as the representative and candidate of his party? He can neither resign nor decline or do anything by which to restore the operation of law and justice and re-estab. fish the defeated will of the majority. His opportunity will have passed if he waits till then. His time to speak is now, in the presence of the possibility of fraud. 1 believe it to be his duty as an honest man and the candidate of an hon. est party to speak out now with what IS most needed and what is only needed, words of warning against any conduct on the part of the Louisiana or any other re- turning board which should award him the Presidency with any stain upon his title to the place. And I believe it to be the duty. too, of. honest Republicans to take some organized action in opposition to the threatened wrong to free govern ment and in vindication of the reputation of their party and the character of the na- tion. If Truth is to be struck down, let it not be in her own sanctuary, and by those who fought under her banner from lust of plunder and not from devotion to her cause. D.
 New Hauen, Nov. 27, 1876.
 II
 To the Editor of tue Tribune.
 SIR: The nations's duty, it's prosperity, and possibly it's peace, depend upon the verdict of candid men on the Louisiana case. But the testimony proves bluntly contradictory. The best correspondents, who have examined conscientiously the evidence already offered or yet to be of- fered on both sides, set forth the theory of each party and the sustaining proof, show that the theories and proofs are equally irreconcilable, and predict that the blind adherents. of each party will to the end, as they do now, accept it's theory and evidence as conclusive. But the partisans balance each other, and the verdict will be rendered by the can- did men who hear both sides, compare and weigh the evidence, and test 1t by es- tablished rules Conflicting evidence rarely puzzles & sensible jury. If there is nothing in the character, manner, or ap- parent motives of witnesses to show which deserve credence, there is one test which rarely faiIs Truth always fits all known facts and laws of human nature. A lie so cunning that it consists with all attend ing circumstances can rarely be contriv- ed. The Democrats theory is that there was & peaceable and fair election, that thousands of colored men voluntarily vo- ted. with the Democratic party, and that theproved acts of violence were not due to political motives. Much proof has been accumulated to sustain these posi- tions, and as much to sustain the contra rv theory of the Republicans. It is evil dent that terrorism could produce crop of affdavits as easily as crop of votes. and many witnesses appear who swear to Democratic statements in presence of Democrats. but testify in private that votes and oaths have both been extorted by fear of death The proof is contra. dictory. But does the Democratic theory bear that test which truth never fails to meet?
 It is abundantly proved, and now scarcely denied, that an unusual number of active Republicans in certain parishes have been killed, shot, oI horribly beaten. But it is sad that these deeds were com mitted not for political reasons, and did not affect the free choice of voters. In some cases there can be no reasonable doubt as to the motive. The declara- tions of those who shot Republican, while on hls way with poll-box to open strong Republican poll, were scarcely needed to establish the obvious intent. But in most instances. the motive of the crime is disputed or unknown, and, as to each case, taken by itself, the decision would be difficult. Now 1t appears that, while hundreds were Shot or beaten, nearly every one was a Republican Mere wild lawlessness, having no political pur- pose, does not pick it's victims from one party. If fifty murders had been com m;tted in this city within few weeks of an election, the motive in each case being unknown, but the victim in every case be- ing an active Democrat, no sensible man would hesltate to attribute the coinci- dence to a political motive.
 The returns prove that in nearly all the colored counties the Republicans gained, but in some their losses were remarkable. Here, again, there is no room for dispute in some cases-in East Feliciana, for ex- ample. where not Republican vote was cast by more than two thousand register ed Republicans Such change cannot be due to any legitimate cause. But In most cases it is claimed, and aeidavits by the. thousand are produced to prove, that the colored men voluntarily voted the Democratic ticket, because dissatisfied. with their State Government and the hard times and high taxes. Is it credible that such motives influenced great pro- portion of colored Republicans m a few parishes, but did not influence any in the much larger number? Why there, and not elsewhere? No explanation is attempt ed, and no satisfactory explanation seems possible. If returns from ten stroney Re-