The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-07-23

Of delegates to the Baton Rouge Con-
vention from the country parishes. and
they must have noticed with some sur
prise the fact that during the holly con-
tested election held on Thursday there
was hardly IN incident or quarrel that
rose TO tho dignity OF q disturbance.
Elections In large cities, when they are
of character to deeply arouse the In
terest OF the participants, are generally
associated in the public mind, especially
In the country, with riots. brawls and
street fights but in the instance under
consideration nothing Of the kind took
place. There may have been here and
there few quarrels and heated discus
sions over the merits OF the respective
tickets In the field. but the records OF
the police stations do not show single
arrest on Thursday growing out OF the
election.
This IL fact worthy Of special notice
and calculated TO disabuse the minds OF
country delegates Of the long cherished
notion that elections In this city are
controlled by violence and disorder.
The reverse Ii the fact, and II Is time
that this should be understood and
properly appreciated.
II IL true that allegations Of fraud In
registration and voting are freely made
on one side or the other, but no unjust
inference should be drawn from this
fact. Nothing is more common after an
election than charges Of fraud. They
constitute the only consolation OF the
defeated party. and furnish an admira-
BILE safety-valve for their soreness and
disappointment over the result.
Eternal vigilance Ii the price of
liberty, and the best guarantee Of fair
ness at the polls. II Is not to be pre-
sumed that one faction Is less vigilant
than the other; II 1t IL, then II
estops itself from making whole
sale charges OF fraud without the
production Of specific proofs. The
fact that ut tho recent election the
vote In no ward OF the city even ap-
preached the number OF registered
voters belonging to the ward, would
seem, OF itself, TO rebut any presump-
ton or suspicion of fraud. We are too
sincerely democratic In our political
faith, we have too much confidence In
the masses, to believe that fraud and
corruption can control to any great
extent the election of delegates or OF
public officers. When we find one class
OF the community claiming for itself u
monopoly OF public virtue and charging
fraud upon the victors at the polls, we
are inclined to pay little heed TO their
complaints. When the matter Is
thoroughly investigated, 1t will, we
think, generally be found that the cause
OF the defeat OF these complainants lies
In the fact that either they and their
friends constitute the minority OF Il
given ward, and consequently are not
entitled to rule 1t, or, IL they are the
majority, that their friends have been
too apathetic or Indifferent to their
political duty to subject themselves
to the trouble OF registering and
voting. This indifference on the part
OF hundreds and thousands OF those
who consider themselves the flower
OF public society Is the greatest vice
In our political system, and should be
condemned. II every man
In the community would consecrate a
few hours OF each year to the perform
anco OF his political duties, such at
registering and voting, as well at
primary rs ut general elections, the
soundness Of the democratic system OF
government would be fully vindicated, |
and good government be the rule, in
stead OF the exception, In our political
life.
While we lay this down as a general
theory, there are, beyond question, oc-
casions in which the will OF the voter is
defeated by fraud or violence. When
This Is the case, the wronged parties are
entitled to full and ample justice at the
hands Of the proper tribunal, and they
should 50 fully and carefully collect and
digest their evidence as to expedite the
and facilitate the judg-
ment OF the committee or convention to
which the case is to be referred.