New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-12-02

from tacit consent to the procurement OF party
enccoss by transactions that will not bear the ght
of dayf Consider for moment the effect upon All
branches of the public service of the loose practices
which during the past few years have been so freely
charged and in many instances proved against the
heads of departments the influence of these things
,ipop social life and individual morals, and the gem
eTal lowering Of tone, the impairment OF confidence
and growth of distrust that followed. And
A. for the effect upon faith in repub-
lean institutions, do need recall the
time when the Tammany Rings perpetuation of its
own power through It's control OF the balOt-boAes-
Just rs the Louisiana Republican Ring has perpetn-
ated tself-led rejecting persons TO Doubt the ca
pacitv of the experiment Of self-govornment to
stand such a straini The reputation Of the nation
has suffered terribly already from the scandals OF
orr politics; but how should we ,stand, beg TO
know II 10 all these are added the disgrace and dis
honor of having the government administered by
Marty which resOrted TO intrigue, falsehood and
corruption to retain power? The scandals of adj
pinistration might be lived down, but this crime
would be the damned spot" that would not cont
for any Washing in the long night of the nations
sleep-walkiug and remcrse.
But perhaps you viii assent TO all that have said
regarding the baloful influence upon society and the
State OF The lapse of Che party OF moral ideas into
immoral practices and fall back upon q denial OF
the existence of any such danger. You may say
that NV fears are idle that there is probability
of tine penetration of fraud; that it would not he
countenanccd by Republicans, and that Gov. Hayes
In the last resort would not consent to take the
Office with any faint suspicion of fraud upon his
ttle. / read this view OF il IN TIE TRIBUNE some
DAYS aso and for the moment accepted II. My
opinions have been modified by subsequent events
and by more careful study Of Republican
opinions. Let US see. Is there no danger of
Inv Inc
turning Board If ! am suspicious of the hon
estv of the persons CONFUSING that remarkable
tribunal / learned my disjrust from LIE llIBUNT,
which time after time during the past four years,
has denounced them as the most INSCRIPTIONS and
corrupt set of scamps that ever held Office learned
ii from TIE TRIBUNE's impartial correspondents
who visited the State and made themselves familiar
with all the facts both sides, and on Them gave
their unbiased Judgment; / learned it from able
aud honest Republican Members of Congress and
Senators who investigated the transactions OF the
hoard and its management of elections j learned
il from current report and sworn testimony and
most OF all learned il from the fact thai while all
sorts OF rascality were freely charged upon these
men there has not yet been found any reputable per
son to deny their guilt or defend their character
dstrust them. Mr.. Editor, and plead guilty to MS
trusting them even before they have been canght la
any overt act. Character does go for something;
bad character for the faint upon II, jnst as
much as good character for its worth ana
weirht And l submit that even if these
men were appearing now for the first time IN this
relation and were not covered all over with charges
of dishonesty and fraud, there is euou gh in their
manner Of conducting the present proceedings to
warrant the gayest suspicious anu The closest
watching Your own correspondent, 90 Il. L. W."
has given us his belicf-and ne is not man who IN
dulges in any loose assertions, or who makes any
A.. Ia 81 i. q tlfnf ttf tn of
actually cast the Tilden electors bad minority OF
from 1000 to 5000 Notwithstanding this, 1T Is
notorious that the Kellogg Returning Board intends
10 declare the election OF the Republican ticket
Were this board composed of reputable men, who
had never fallen under suspicion and who proposed
10 act fairly and with all the forms OF law IN TINS
matter, even such men would see the necessity as
well as the DrOpTety of inviting taelr ol-
ponents 10 careful scrutiny of the whole pro-
oeeding. Any cOnccament or evasion or under
haudeduess in the matter would subject men Of the
highest character and most unimpeaChable integrity
TO suspicion under such circumstances, aud men OF
a nice sense Of honor who were conscious OF 10
oIcuse would have been specially careful to have
everything done openly and above board Bu, these
men, already loaded with charges of tanpeilng with
ballots aud returns have taken hardly single step
that has not suggested fraudulent intent anC fur
nisbed additional reasons for distrust leave cut
of view then South Carolina and Florida aud con-
fnng the question to Louisiana say that in that
State there is good reason for believing that
fraud is contemplated, by which the triumph OF jhe
Republican party and its candidates rs to be secured
bv Oycrturning and reversing the legally expressed
viii Of the majority. Ii my statement is too strong
let me qualify it-for wish to be entirely within
bouu6s-y saving there is % reasonable basis of sus-
picion that the Returning Board viii not hesitate at
tho preparation of fraud if 1t shall be found ncces-
eary, and that the Republican party cannot afford 80
take the election from their hands while that
reasonable suspicion exists. Observe that do not
here enter into the discussion Of the question
whether under the legislation TO enforce the
amendments the Louisiana Board has the nght
To assume that the entire co)red vote
is naturally Republican, and that any APP
pearauce TO the contrary must be accounted for upon
the ground of intimidation, which warrants the
board IN disIcgaIdmg the actual returns and re-
storing he cOlOIed vote 70 its natural order anc re-
Iarion; q great deal might be SAID on that question.
take il lOr granted that the board Will stretch To
their utmost tension all the laws, general and special
which have been passed TO meet these eases, ana
when an tLis is done and all the measures adopted
that have the fantest color Of law OF authority
believe d viii simply set law aside and accomplish
lis purpose in spite OF it, These men nave cheated
before the temptation now is greater than ever;
every step in their proceedings thus far adycrtlNes
their purpose to do it, and il is carrying credulity
too faf 10 ask as TO believe that they have 10 such
intention.
And now do you say that the Republican party is
SO pure in its patriotism and clean and honest in
It's instincts that t will not consent 20 profit by any
such dishonori l fear then you have not fairly