The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1876-12-21
tFrom iiaFpsf'a weckiy.l
An Honest Count"


/ There l. an univet al agreement among
all good citizens that a President must
not be brought in by fraud. There Is
also a great deal said about stealing the
/ the vote OF this or that State. and cheat
| ing candidates out Of their election. The
/ Republicans a. being in the majority
upon the Returning Boards Ia the dis.
/ puted States. have been accused OF con.
/ temphtinR the most hagrant frauds But
are frauds only possible In the counting
I Of the votes ? Because one side may de-
clare that all IL wishes is an honest count.
does IA follow that IL may not have al
ready stolen the voter Does any body
seriously suppose that Democrats are
TN ore iastidious about political cheating Z
and stealing than Republicans We
agree that fraud at the polls or in the
count is one OF the most fatal perils Of
the government We agree that good
men OF all parties ought TO insist that
there shall be Tree. full. aud lair elrc-
ton aud an honest canvass. Upon this.
honorable Republicans aud Democrats
do not differ
Now We ask any honorable Democrat
whether he believes that II in any pre-.
cinct Of the State Of Louisiana or Miss.
issippi only four or Eve or SIX R~publi.
can votes are cast nc an election where
AZ the previous election there were one
or two or three thousand Republican
majority, there has been a fair election 7
We ask him further whether an hon.
e.t count Of the returns Of the vote cast
would make it fair and honest slection7
And We ask him again whether the
fraud upon the ballot box IL not equally
hagrant however IL may have BEEN &C
complished. whether by 'stufiing." by re-
p-ating. by destroying the ballots. or by
preventing them from being cast3 IL
there be poll surrounded by adhercnt.
OF one party openly threatenisg with
arms any who vote against them do they
not steal" the vote OF that poll7 u the
same adherrnts have so terrorized by
-courging aud blood.hed and harrying
their political opponents. have they.
again. or have they not "stolan" the
vote And IL the election Of constable
ur OF Governor or OF q Presidant de-
ponds upon that poll. has not the party
which succeeds by such means cheated
the people out OF their vote Ia 'he
case supposed. would the tsrrorists not
insist upon an honest countT' Having
taken care by Illicit means that the re-
turns shall b. precisely what they wish.
would they not strenuously demand an
honest countG Aud yet. under these
would an honest count
be anything more than a mere consum.
nation Of fraud
Republicans can certainly not stand an
imputation Of fraud upun the election Of
their candidate. Can thsDrmocrats7 lfI
the Republican Returning Board OF Lou.
isiana is n su-piciou. body. i the Demo
cratic White league any less soP II nc.
tive Republican politicians in the dis
puted States are scalawags, do not active
Democratic politicians refuse 90 put a
stop To assassination and terror which
enurs 10 their party advantage Will
any decent Democrat say upon his honor
that he believes there was no designed
and general intimidation Of the colored
, ote in any OF the disputed States for the
purpose Of securing Democratic success /.
and IL 80. will he deny that Mr Tilden's /
election. 90 obtained. would be tainted I
With the warst form OF fraud So In /
south Carolina. The Returning Board /
i personally as worthy of respect as the /
supreme Court. IL the Returning Board /
meant To secure one result anyhow" |
the court equally meant 10 secure an
other in the same way. The affectation Of |
superior virtue on either side u useless. |
4 trustworthy evidence shows that the /
election in any State or district was not l
q free election in any State or district |
was not a free election. then an honest /
count is merely register Of roguery.