The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1876-12-21
NO. 50.


600, which the Republicans should have
had in these parishes upon fair election,
there was actually returned to the Return
ing Board "A Democratic majority In the
parishes of Bast and West Feliciana. More
house, and Ouachita of ], ,878 and in East
tellciana, where the registered colored
voters number 2,127, not a Republican
vote for elector was cast. In East Baton
Rouge, containing 1852 colored registered
voters and but l,801 whites, the Demo
Gratis claim majority of 617, which but
Tor the rejection of several polls by the
commissioners and supervisors of election
would have been returned to the Return
ing Board as votes actually cast
1t to the Democratic majority from the
four parishes, as above stated we add the
6l7 thus claimed and iuisited upon before
the Returning Board, Democratic ma
Jorltyeof 4 ,495 is the result Of an election
IN i've parishes containing 3,2I4 coiored
Republicans and 5,l34 white Democratic
voters. The conclusion that intimidation
and violence alone could have produced this
Is almost irresistible, and that such inf,s-
ences were employed and were supple
mentcd by murder when that was thought
necessary is established by the proofs
already referred to. 1t but confirms this
conclusion to refer to the vote cast in these
five parishes in 1874, when no special
motives existed for the use of cruel means
to influence the eleetion. The Republican
majority therein was then 1879
a result so suggestive of violence and
intimidation was obtained by means the
most terrible and revolting. Organized
clubs Of masked armed men, formed as
recommended by the Central Democratic
| Committee, rode through the country at
night, marking their course by the whip
| ping, shooting, woending, manning, mutila-
ton and murder of women, children and
defenseless men, whose houses were forcibly
entered while they slept, and, as their ir-
mates fled through fear, the pistol, the rife,
the knife and the rope were EMPLOYED to
DO their horrid work Grimes like these.
testified to by scores Of witnesses, were the
means employed in Louisiana to elect a
President of the United States. And when
they shall succeed the glories of the Re-
public will have departed, and shame and
horror will supplant in the hearts of our
| people that love and veneration with which
they have hitherto regarded the institu
tions of their country The proof of
violence and intimidation and armed dis
turbance IN many other parishes is of the
same general character, although more
general and decisive as to the five parishes
particularly referred to. In others these
causes prevailed at particular polling places,
at many of which Republican vote was
to considerable extent prevented.
THE BOARD THE FINAL JUDGE.
We hope to be able to furnish full copies
OF all testimony taken by the board, that
the justice of its conclusions may be ap-
preclated. II is tribunal from which
| there can be no appeal, and in view Of the
possible consequences of its adjudication we
have closely observed its proceedings and
have carefully weighed the force of large
mass of the testimony upon which that ad
Judlcatlon has been reached Members of
the board, acting under oath, we're bound
by law, If convinced by testimony that riot,
tumult, acts Of violence. or armed distur-
bance did materially interfere with the
purity and freedom Of the election at any
poll or voting place, or did materially change
the result of the election thereat, to reject
votes thus cast and exclude them from their
final return. OF the effect of such testi-
mony the board was sole and final Judge,
and if in reaching conclusion it exercised
good faith and was guided by an honest
desire to do justice its determination should
be respected, even if upon like proof diff
ferent conclusion might have been reached
by other tribunals or persons
To guard the purity Of the ballot, to
protect the citizen in the free and peaceful
exercise OF his rights, to vote to secure him
against violence, intimidation and outrage,
and especially murder, when he attempts
| to perform this duty should be the desire
of all men and the aim of every representa-
tive government. If political success shall
be attained by such violent and terrible
means as were resorted to in many parishes
of Louisiana, complaint should not be made
If votes thus obtained are denounced by
judicial tribunals and all honest men as
illegal and void.
JOHN SHERMAN, Ohio,
+. w. SToUGHToN, New York,
j. H. VAN ALIEN, New York,
EUGENE HALE, Maine,
j. A. GARFIELD, Ohio,
CORTLAND PARKER, New Jersey,
W. D. KELLEY, Pennsylvania,
SIDNEY CLARK, Kansas,
j. C. WILSON, Kansas.
IT Is not generally known that an effect
i've remedy for neuralgia is horseradish.
Crate and mix it in vinegar, the same as
for table purposes, and apply to the tenn
pie when the face or head is affected, on
the wrist when she pain is in the arm or
shoulder.