Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-11-03
From the New York Tribune
Responsibility for Fraudulent Reg
istratiOu.

istratiOn.
The registration is over 1t was intend
ed to elect Mr.. Tilden. and it ought to de-
feat him. Pat everything else aside; sup
pose that on every other issue he deserves
success; and yet the single fact that there
are 40, 900 illegal votes registered in this
city, Brooklyn and Jersey City, ought TO
convince every honest citizen that ii is his
duty to vote against Mr.. Tilden and his
party. Pettiiogging DISCUSSES will not
serve here. We all know by which party
these things are done. We all know, also.
that there is one man in New York who
cannot possibly be ignorant of them, who
might have stopped them at any moment,
and who consents to this wholesale rob-
berry of the people Just as he seemed to
consent before, when the same thing was
done by the thieves OF Tammany. But
this time be consents without the POSSIBLE
ity of ignorance he looks on in silence,
when word from him would stop the
swindle, because he wants To be President.
Many crimes have been laid at Mr.. Til
den's door. (most of them, as we think,
falsely, but not one as black as this, of
which his own conduct accuses him. They
say he stole railroads, wronged clients,
defrauded the revenue. These are mere
peccadilloes beside the stupendous crime
Of robbing the nation of self-government.
Mr.. Tilden's friends are trying to steal the
Presidency. Filching railroads becomes
mere petty larceny by comparison. Who
can measure the decentralization which
would flow from one successful attempt to
secure the Presidency by fraud? We may
as well wipe out all laws against Illegal
voting, we may as well open our jails and
take from them the most notorious repeat
ers to serve Us in places of honor if the
man who knows that the nation is being
robbed of the right to choose its chief
ruler. and utters not word to restrain his
followers, can be chosen President of these
United States. The receiver is as bad AS
the thief. The man who knowingly ac-
cepts perjured, voting places himself on a
level with the periurer
We have not been willing to believe that
Mr., Tilden was personally cognizint of
the Infamous frauds perpetrated by Tam
many in 1868. He pleads ignorance, and
in the absence OF proof is entitled to his
plea. But now he cannot be ignorant
He cannot have forgotten what Infamous
things were done eight years ago, nor in
what districts; the most callous creature
on earth cannot have forgotten the scorch-
ing facts OF Mr.. Greeley's letter. Mr.
Tlden has been Chairman of the Demo-
cratic State Committee, and, as a candi-
date, has now more direct interest than
ever in the personal supervision of the
campaign in this. the city of his home.
He has read in The Tribune proof that the
very crimes committed by Tammay in
1868 are now being repeated to secure his
election. No man living will doubt that
he has then turned to the reports of regis
tra.ion in certain well-known districts to
see what they prove. He knows the city
we'll The figures have told him the mag
nitude of the robbery. And yet, so far as
the public can perceive, he has not lifted
his little finger to prevent it, but permits,
without objection, repeaters to rob the
people for him if they can, even while he
asks the votes of decent citizens as great
reformer.
Laws against fraud are worse than
worthless, if public sentiment holds to no
responsibility the party leaders and candi-
dates who cause the fraud There is but
one way to preserve the purity of the bal
lot-box and the liberties of the people.
The mere form of self-government will
soon be abandoned as costly swindle, if
elections are to be decided by opposing
gangs of reporters. Elections will be so
decided, in spite of all the laws that can
be devised, if we only punish the poor,
Ignorant tools, but honor and elect the
men who cause or countenance their
crime. Mr.. Samuel j. Tiden is person.
ally responsible for the frauds which he
knows TO exist and refuses to prevent A
word from him would stop the robbery
If he does not speak that word he ought
to be held to strict responsibility as the
chief of the robbers.