Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-11-22
wi PLOT THICKRNn.

When the LkDGER predicted some
weeks before the election, that the Re,
publicans would not submit quietly to
the will of the people if defeated by the
ballot, many of our readers were in
credulous. 1t was something unheard
Of for a party in power to attempt to
hold on by fraud and force after being
notified to quit. Many of the people,
even here in the South, had not realized
the depths of infamy reached by the
leaders of the Republican party. Yet
that prediction proved too true. A bold
conspiracy was entered into long before
the election to thwart the will Of the
people in the event Of a Democratic sac
cess at the polls. It was not done in a
day or a north. 1t formed itself in the
hearts Of the more desperate and un.
prircipled managers loon after Blaine
made his fierce bloody speech against
Jefferson Davis aad the South in Con-
gress. 1t grew day after day and took
shape. From q vague idea it became a
fixed purpose, that they we're not afraid
or ashamed to mention to each other
The ofice-holders and their strikers
caught the idea and expressed it in the
shape OF threats; and even Grant alluded
remotely to it when be spoke of a con
tiugeucy" hat might arise. More re
spectacle and conscientious members Of
the party persuaded themselves that
desperate measures would be j~usti6able
to keep the Government cut Of the hands
Of those so often beld up as its enemies.
When the conspiracy had ripsnsd and
all was ready an Illegal order was issued
instrueiing United States mArshsls to
chl for troops over the heads Of Govern
o-s ana Legislatures. and auih0riziug
them to slmnon eVsry mar over ifeea
years old 10 serve Oh a posse. This, how
ever, vas 10. likely 10 work veil; the
nsrshals could not be relied upon in
every case. A change CT policy was
Quickly determined upon. and 81 army
vas shrovn into South Carolina to en-.
courage the negroes, force doubling Re
~pa5leans 10 Tsts tie party ticket and to
iniinida,s the white people throughout
be Soatb, as we'll IS to familiarizs the
country with the mems whereby s Re.
publican ADMINISTRATION vas to be per-
petussei. The election came. The
tidal wave Of reform swept o7er the
country far above the high water mark
Of 1874 Fear and dismay fell upon
the eouspirators, aud it was more than
tW~enty-four hours before they b~ethought
themselves Of any scheme to avert the
ealamitous results of their defeat. Sam
uel J. Tilden carried twenty one States,
if we count Oregon, which went Demo.
cratic at the last election. or 2O6 cleo
toral votes, Will. Hayes carried seven.
teen States, with l63 electoral votes.
Added TO this was the moral effect Of the
fact that Tilden's majority of the popu-
lar vote ives nearly half a million. To
overcome such odds and difficulties by
demonstrations and arbitrary methods
was 3 desperate undertaking. The lead
ing Republican papers conceded Tildsn's
election, and took il for granted be would
be inaugursted. Tilden had positively
1874 votos without Oregon or the
three carpet : Dag States. The man
aging conspirators Lesiisted, but
finding Grant frm, and knowing
his contempt and ignorance Of
civil Law and his military nerve, they
decided to make the desperate effort
Troops we're thrown into Florida and
Louisiana; Pha Sheridan was cent down,
aud the clnvassing boards we're given to
understand what was expected Of them
The very men aud the same board, con,
dsmned aud denounced by o Republican
Congressional Committee, ore nov de
pended upon 70 throw out 5000 Demo
cratic votes and COUNT in Hayes. AS v
predicted, Grant has begun to concer
trate troops at Washington. Sensations
rpmors are telegrsphed, to such paper
as will use them. that Their
is a Confederate plot to seiz
the Capitol and make the Preside,
and his cabinet prisoners. NotAiu
could be more silly, malicious or hurtf
than 10 create such an impression. Y
it answers . purpose aud diveris the pa
lie mind from the real puFpoSes Ct Il
administration. General shsrpan VI
Don Cameron and Grant deny that the
is anything significant in this movemer
Yet it looks very much like a part OF ii
general plan to set aside gildeu's N
iarity. They even denied that troo
were coming from South Caroline Ru
the day of their arrival. i afterwar
turu,d oat that 4 number Of Geaer
shermau's staff had gone to South Gar.
ina for four companies Of the -Four
srtillery-armed as infantry-nunb0
ing two hundred and City men, a
brought them in hot hsste. It is belieV
now that Grant intends 70 order eve
soldier to Washington who can 10 spar
from the frontier, outside Of thoss in
South. All this means something. I
conspirators seem to have eSerythi
their own way. The Northern peoE
hall believe al the ISLANDERS on The Sou
ern people, and will acquiesce IN a.