The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-11-23
Henry A. Parsons, Jr., Editor.
THURSDAY, NOV. 23RD.. 1876.
From the Pittsburgh Dispatch,
Iudiscreet Talk.

lnd1SCreet lntk.
Just now the leaders Of 10th parties
are charging each other with delfber-
ate fraud, and an attempt to corrupt
the ballot-box. An individual who
listens to them, who il ignorant of the
wilcs and schemes politicians some
times resort to to carry their point and
secure victory, would come to the
conclusion that they are all the very
pinks of moral perfection and honesty.
Every one of them den@inces fraud
in as strong terms as the English
language supplies, and declares he
wants nothing more than the votes
east in Louisiana and Florida shall be
counted fairly, by which he generally
means that they shall be 80 counted as
that his candidate shall not he left out
in the cold. The height Of honesty,
In the estimation Of these gentlemen
who have gone down South to exer-
else their powers Of numeration, Is,
that their candidate shall be declared
elected, if not by an overwhelming, at
least by q decisive majority. IF any
other count should be made the
partisans against whom 1t shall be
made will cry, "fraud," until their
throats are hoarse.
This is our opinion, which wc base
not only on the declarations that have
been made, but also on the course
which has usually been followed by
politicians. We believe that there Is
not one of those who have gone down
South, but is convinced that his cam
didate has been elected and If the
votes should be counted till doomsday,
he will not change his mind upon this
subject. Every one asserts there has
been fraud, and that it must be ex-
posed. When men indulge in de-
clarations of this kind, they are not in
the best frame and temper of mind
for coming to just and impartial con-
elusions.
The animus of the leaders of the two
parties is seen in the indiscreet words
to which they often give utterance.
1t has not been an uncommon thing,
for nearly two weeks, for papers and
politicians to hint, and in some iu-
stances to declare in so many words,
that if the vote does not show that
ghcir candidate has been elected, there
must have been fraud pcrpetrated,
afad that the representative of those
who committed it, can never be in-
stalled President of the United States.
Even some very grave men, who are
not accustomed to be demOnstratiye
on any occasion. have not hesitated to
declare that if any other candidate
than the one of their party should be
counted in, he cannot and must not be
inaugurated. Such language is un-
American, and unwise. The univcr-
sal law among lis is, that the majority
shall rule, aud if it should be declared
that Hayes las majority of the elec-
DOrs chosen he must be the next Prcsi-
dent of the United Statea. Bat If, on
the other hand, it shall appear that
Tilden is the choice Of the people of
the country, there must be no OBJ
structions thrown in the way to pre-
vent his entry into the White House
rs the Chief Magistrate of the nation.
Vhe country is not prepared for
another war, and such tn ng as
determining at the point of the
bayoneb who shall be the next Presi-
dent of the United States, should not
be thought of for moment. Those
editors and hair-brained politicians
who suggest such thing as war to
determine the question, would be the
very last persons who would shoulder
muskct or unsheath q sword. They
might take great pleasure in seeing
Others engaging in mortal combat, but
they would be very careful to keep in
the rear, and out of range of musketry
and artillery.
When Abraham Lincoln was cleo.
ted honestly and fairly to preside ovei
the country from the 4th of March
1861, for four years, the cry of the
disappointed was we will never sub.
nie, amt a vile rail splitter shall not
be allowed to exercise the functions OF
Chief Magistrate in this country
When such talk was first INDUCED in
some people laughed at it, and said /,
WAS merely tbe bluster of brsDva ri =
who had no serious intention of carry
ing their threats into execution. But
as the time for Lincoln's inauguration
drew near, it began to appear that
there was some reality in the threat.
uttered, and If it had not been for the
extreme caution exercised, he would
never have escaped alive out of tn,
hands of the "plug-uglies" of Balti
more.
But the people were determineC
that the man who had been fairly
elected should be installed Presiden
of the United States, and he was
Despite the opposition shown to hi
Presidency Abraham Lincoln stooC
at the helm of the ship of State TO
four years. and never disappeared
from the deck even when 1t was il
flames, and the noble craft seemed a
fit would be burned to the water
eige.
Some of the papers of the countr,
ir., nf off nf Il ~ I,,1