The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-12-27
Whe Sentinst.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER y.
FTDFLIr TO Duty.


that by a rugular system Of fraud
their rights as freeman are endangeredY
There is wide difference of opinion in re-
gard to what duty imperatively demands
We are not willing to dismiss the fact that
republicans as well as democrats and men
who confess TO no party allegiance, are
equally interested A reign OF despotism in
this country will not ultimate in the we'll
being OF any class of citizens Fraud in the
long run can not be made to pay.
In the discussion of such questions there
ought to be entire unanimity. The people,
without regard to party. ought to be in per-
feet accord. This, however, is not the case.
A great majority of the radical party up
hold the fraudulent practices of the mana
gers Of the party. They excuse acts of
despotism that threaten the perpet-
uity of republican institutions = in
fact such acts are often applauded-
In the intensity of partisan zeal
country is lost sight of. only the triumph of
their party is considered. They see consti-
buttons disregarded, laws trampled upon,
courts overthrown, legislatures dispersed.
They see the military Throttle the civil
power, spd, since all OF these infamous acts
are performed in the interest OF their party,
they are Endorsed. They see the
sovereign VAIL OF the people, as
expressed at the tallot-box, reversed by
the most infamous methods ever devised.
but as this is done in the interest of their
party, as 1t perpetuates power in the hands
of party friends who have The right to dis
tribute patronage. no protest is made. 1t
comes to this then: If the liberties of the
people are to be preserved. the task
must be performed by the demo-
cratic party, and by men who,
rising superior 70 party tranmels, are first
and last for their country. With regard to
the frauds and military intimidation in
South Carolina, Florida and Louisiana there
is no longer any need for controversy. All
honorable men admit the absolute truth of
the charge. In the states mentioned the
will of the people has been reversed by party
machinery introduced for the purpose of Civ
ing fraud the sembiance of honesty. These
frauds not only reverse the will of the
people in those states, but of the entire coun-
try. The frauds complained of touch every
state, every institution, every right and
every constitutional guarantee. They sub
vert the government. They ARE. in fact,
revolutionary. They strike at the very
foundation of the liberties of the people.
Under such circumstances, with such show
ing. what is the duty of the peopleS What
does fidelity to duty demand7 The interests
are sacred, the danger great
If men assert their rights they must as
sumo great responsibilities. If the liberties
of the people are preserved and maintained
great sacrifices may have to be made Such
has been the case always Men are no more
exempt now than they were in 1776. Fidei-
ity to duty demands the sternest regard
for the right. The Nation of last Thursday
discusses the subject at some length. AS
everybody knows the Nation is not a dem
ocratic journal. but it processes, however, to
deal fairly with political questions. 1t says:
The terms Of some OF these circumstances
make IL plain that on some points we have
not made ourselves fully understood. Let Us
say, In the first place, that we have little doubt
that II the officers appointed. by law in the
fhei- duty honestly they would have given
the msJosites TO Tiiden, and that we consider
the counter charges of intimidation brought
by republicans against the Tildenites OF no
more weight In the present case than
indireet claims In court OF law. be
able, before competent and impartial ribu-
nal. In other words, we believe in the cleo
ton Of president by legal IN .chInery and legal
proof, Angio-Saxon fashion, and not by news
paper charges or popular rumor, or the 'ssoi-
emn belief" OF philanthropic men-French or
Mexican fashion We have little doubt. too,
that the operations Of the returning boards, IL
not tnstlgated, have been connived at or co.
couraged by the republican official hierarchy,
from top 70 bottom and that their indifference
10 the moral character of the process, provided
the result b. in their favor, has been brazeu
and shameless
The Nation is OF the opinion that those who
think that Hayes has not been fairly elected
should say 50. That the time has come for
bold. manly expressions. but beyond this the
Nation sees no other duty except that of
quiet Submission. In this connection it
says:
No matter what happens at the count of the
presidential vote, the present congress will
dissolve almost Immediately afterwards. On
the 4th Of Mach the government will be in
the hands OF the president and the senate,
and that they will inahsurate Hayes-Hayes
being villing-n0 matter what the STAT of
public opinion may b, We have little doubt.
The republican managers are not the men TO
stick at tribes, aud the opposition ought there
fore to be fully prepared In their own minds
for this contingency and leave no question in
the public mind as to what they mean TO do.
They may argue and protest as much as they
please In the meantime, and leave no means
untried Of informing the public judgment;
but, this dome: the part OF wisdom and
patriotism Is TO let the engineers of this great
fraud have their way, In the full confidence
that their victory Will prove their ruin. The
public conscience Is becoming more aud
more aroused: the remoter consequences of
these monstrous proceedings at the south are
Grafton and good sense OF the southern
democrats at least are gradually bring
Ing them and their interests into more
wholesome relations to northern opin-
ton- The republican LEADERS, straining
eyes and ears for massacres. outrages, and