New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-11-14
TU1T IS TIE REMEDY

further, and insist that mere legal techhical-
ties shall not be employed to defeat the VIII OF
the lawful voters. But he is not decent ana
law-obiding citizen who does not sustain All
enforcement of law tina, is necessary to give
effect 10 the will of the people, and to prevent
the success of either party 10y fraud, intimida-
ton, or violence.
Tins far. We arc bound to say, the presump-
tion is in favor of the officials III those States.
They have urged that eminent citizens OF both
parties, in whom the country has the utmost
confidence. should be present to witness the
counting of the votes. In not single specihc
act. thus far, is it alleged by Democrats that
these officials have departed from their sworn
duty. II is wildly asserted that Cows. Cham
bcrlain, Sterns, and Kellogg, and the return
ing boards. inttad Ia commit frauds and gross
outrageS, hut thus far il Is not pretended That
they have done anything III disregard OF law.
As much cannot he claimed in behalf Of the
Democrats. On Saturday four leaders oi that
rarty were brought from Columbia County,
Fjorida. to Tallahassee, by the United States
Marshal, who had arrested them for acts OF
violence by which colorcd men had been pre-
vented from voting In jackson, a county in
fIai Slilt lNllI vi 'I INC NN'i ia ''i''''' VIZ
poH, were assaulted and the boXc, destroyed
in four large Republican precincts. In con'c-
mrncc, the pretended Democratic majority J.
1CG; but in 1867 That county registered GSl
white and IG9 colored voters; in lSG0 II east
562 Democratic and l,3IO Republican votes;
i'm SO. in spite of the general disturbance, 1t
gave II small Republican majority; III lN'2 1t
gave 92O Democratic and 100 Republican
votes. and in 1871 it gave S97 Democratic
and I.256 Republican votes. by violence nj
certain polls an actual Republican majority OF
3J9 has been changed To a pretended Demo
cratic majority OF 1906. Is there 10 remedy F!
Again. in Louisiana armed men destroyed the
ballot-boNcs i'm Madison Parish. hoping thereby
to DESTROY over 100 Republican majority
honestly given. In five parishes violence was
50 effective that in place of u Republican ma
iority of 1884 in 1874 and 1872 in 1872
and 2,4j5 even in 1870, these par
ishcs now give pretended Democratic
majority of l.llG. Possibly the change Of
over 5000 in these parishes may overcome
the real will of the people Of Louisiana, and,
rs consequence elect President by law
breaking, violence, and assassination. Is there
no remedy
The laws of these States provide only an
imperfect remedy They require that the can
vasScr, shall first cast up the returns from
marshes or counties in which the election was
legal and peaceful; that they shall NEXT take
M the returns rs to which formal complaint
has been made by the United States o. state
officials of illcgality or violence, and shall in
ycstigatc the facts; that if there appears
pripd 6cie ground f0r doubling the legality
of the election, they shall investigate further,
with opportunity for both sides to he heard;
and that they shall not include or count u re-
turn if, upon investigation, they find that the
election was so Ear Illegal, fraudulent, or con-
trolcd by violence as seriously to affect the
result and defeat the will of the people Such
are, not the privileges, bnt the duties of can
vasscrs, as prescribed in the most specific man
ncr by State laws. The object was to afford
some measure Of protection against the Infamous
brutality which, beginning with the massacre
of "A Republican State Convention, had cul-
minated in "a sO-callcd collection" in 1868 at
which only LIS Republican votes were east
in Newt Orleans for Grant, and III fifteen other
parishes only ten Republican votes III all,
against over $4,000 Democratic votes. In
these same fifteen parishes about 10000 Re
publican votes were polled at the next Prcsi-
Dental election. and in Orleans Parish over
1900. out of 5000 actual Republican
voters only 1.1SS votes were permitted TO be
cast The remedy devised is obviously mad
c0uate. If violence drives 1000 Republicans
from the polls, and 1000 Democrats return
| 200 Democratic majority, the mere eXclu-
sion of that return still permits the will of
the people to be defeated by the virtual dis
franchisement of / 900 Republicans But we
have no business to ask whether the law is
law of Louisiana, and also, in substance, of
Florida and South Carolina. Now the ques-
ton is whether the law shall be enforced.
Grant that such a law would not be enacted
in a Northern State. Fortunately, Northern
States have not had to deal with armed bands
of men, ruling whole districts by violence
They are responsible for the existence of such
a law who have perpCtratca or excused the
violence which made it necessary. Grant that
it gives dangerous power; it cannot be rs
dangerous as the mastery of elections by rife
clubs If that dangerous power should be
abused, as it was in 1874, and employed, not
to give effect to the will of the people, but to
defeat that will, then THE TRIBUNE will
again condemn the abuse and usurpation. But
it is in the last degree important to under
stand that this dangerous trust is imposed by
law. To say that it must not be
abused is one thing. To say that it
shall not be exercised, if proper occasion
exists ia to saw that the laws shall