The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-08-02
PARTY Degradation"


1t is not only in the matter OF contested
elections before Republican Houses OF Rep
resentatives that the Republican party has
degraded itself and the country. From
the beginning OF the career OF their party
until the meeting OF Democratic House OF
Representatives in December last, the Re
publicans marked every step OF their way
by violations OF the Constitution, by tram
ping upon the dearest rights OF the
citizen, by using the offices OF the
Government as u means OF filling
their own pockets with money, and by
other acts which ought to have driven them
from power long ago, and would have done
it but for the unreasoning masses OF the
North. who hated "rebel" more than a
thief or a villain OF any sort. All these VIII
famous acts were done, too, by men who
proiessed to be the leaders OF the party OF
morality. Their notions were, however,
like JONATHAN WILD's, not exactly up to
the standard OF the outside world. They
protested not to knoHsthat they were viola
ting thu Constitution, nor that they were
perpetrating outrages upon the people, nor
that there was anything wrong in their me-
thod OF disposing OF the public money. And
they now profess to regard themselves rs
injured innocents when any OF these crimes
are charged against them
The latest illustration OF the theory OF the
Republicans that anything they may do Is
justiiiablc, and that the Constitution and the
laws Of the country must bend TO the neces-
sites OF their party, is to be found in the re-
port to the House OF Representatives OF the
minority OF the Committee on Expenditures
in the Department OF Justice. The COM
mittee's report was to the effect that JOHN J..
DAVENPORT had by the President been I'M
lawfully supplied with money to be used in
carrying elections for the Republicans in
New York city. The case is rs clearly made
out as one of fraud, or corruption, or mis-
use OF public money, ever was; and yet The
Republican minority are either too foolish
to be able to see the fact, or else too kna1isll
TO acknowledge it. They have made n
long report, attempting to justify the
infamous practices of DAVENPORT, and re-
commencing their continuance! They de-
clare that there was IN absolute necessity
for some such system rs DAyESPoRT's rs the
only way OF preventing election frauds in
New York city!
We cannot here tell the half that DAvEN-
POET did in New York city in 1868, GRANT
himself being the candidate to be. benefited
by the DAVENPORT outrascs. He made out
lists Of the voters, employed hundreds OF
men ut the expense Of the United States to
make out these lists and to serve as Federal
supervisors or rather guardians or watchers
OF the election, and did all manner OF I'M
lawful acts, all ut the cost OF the Federal
Treasury. 1t is sufficient to say that any
President could force his own election I'M
der the system pursued by DAVENPORT, and
that the States would soon become utterly
contemplate as guardians OF the right to
vote and OF the ballot-boX. In fact, II
DAvENroHT's system were continued, and
extended all over the Union, the mar
shals, supervisors, makers OF rcglstra-
ton books, guardians OF the ballot
box, and other miniOns OF power
appointed by the Acknowledgement, or the
President, would control every election ;
returning not only all the members OF the
House OF Representatives but all the MEN,
bcrs of the electoral college, thereby gain
ing and holding possession not only OF every
executive Office, from the President down,
but OF the legislative department OF the
Government also. Yet these usurpatious OF
power By DAVENPORT and his ally Attorney
General WILLIAMS and their master
President GRANT arc not only fully
justified by the Republican party, but are
recommended for future use as an " abso-
Lutte necessity" Is there any depth OF
party degradation lower than this? Under
the system, Mr.. TILDEN and Democratic
Congress, once installed iii power, need
never surrender their places. But Mr..
TILDEN wants no such laws. AS says his
platform, so says he
"Reform can only be had by Il peaceful
civic revolution. We demand change OF
system, change OF Administration, 4
change OF parties, that we may lave =
change OF measures and OF men,