Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1876-12-14
Stealing an Electoral Vote.

Stealing an Electoral Vote.
1t is as we feared. Our Demo-
ocratic friends attempted TO steal
Que of Hayes's electoral votes. With
South Carolina, Florida and Louisi-
ana for Hayes he is elected by one
vote-185 against 184 tor Tilden.
CHANGE one vote and the order is re-
versed - 1876 for Tilden and 1874 for
Hayes. A study of the standing and
character of Tilden in connection
with the history of the Democratic
party and its machinery, led Us TO
the belief that any means, lawful or
unlawful, honorable or dishoncrable,
would be used to secure that one
vote. The way most readily
thought of was the purchase OF one
OF the Republican Electors. 1t is
scarcely supposable that conventions
of men chosen promiscuously could
select 1855 men from all parts of the
Union, not one of whom would be
purchasahle There was not one
found who could be bought. An
other way was invented to accom-
plish the bellish work. What conld
not 30 accomplished in the South by
means OF the thong and shotgun
and threats of starvation, is attempt
ed by a Democrat who happened to
be a Governor of Northern State.
Oregon is that unfortunate State. 1t
has but three electors. The Repub-
licaDs elected them by l, 165 major
ity. Their majority and their elect
ion was not questioned, aud the ma
jority is as large proportionetel Y as
10000 would be in Wisconsin. One of
them named Watts WAS q Postmas>
ter at the time OF the election, and
the Constitution Of tho United States
says that no person can be an elect
or who holds government appoint
ment Governor Grover therefore
gives the certificate of election To q
Democrat named Cronln, who recleV
cd 1865 votes lees than Watts did
The people by this majority gave
their votes to Watts, but this Demo
cratic Governor under oath certified
that the people elected Cronin And
this did not complete the infamy.
He put the certificates for the other
two Electors into the hands of this
dog CroniD, so that they did not re-
ceive formal notifications of their
election. They were in waiting at
The Capitol to receive their cert'fi-
Gates and cast their votes, but Cron-
il assdmed that he was the Elsctor =
o. College and declared two vacan-
i3s, which he flied by appointing
two pups like himself. They then
voted, his two fellows in infamy
voting for Hayes and he voting for
Tllden. He declined to recognize
the other chosen electors because
they being in the majority would al
least not appoint him to carry the
vote to Washington, and probably
not recognize him as an Elector, but
would, es the law directs, declare q
q vacancy in the place of tho inelig.
ible Watts and fill his place by ar-
pointment. But the Republican
Electors were not idle. They pre-
cured from the Secretary of State q
certificate of the canvas of votes
which showed who was entitled to
the certificates of election. Watts
had previously resigned his Postmas-
tership and be now also resigned bis
Electorship. This made him in
every way eligible and they ap-
pointed him to the place the
people had elected him. Then
they voted for Hayes. Their votes
will be carried to Washington and
we have full confidence that they
will be counted. The Republicans
of the United States Senate are no.
such ninnie's as to be put upon by
the Oregon Democratic monkeys,
and We trust in any event the Amer
lean people are not vassals that will
submis y an such pr0cee dings. 1t
~ disgrace to tho American nation
and an impeachment of the inteii>
genes of the average American
voter that such men as the Oregon
Grover ever get into office, aud when
they do, it ought TO be the right OF
DISTINGUISHED maioritios who receive
their insults to hang them to the
nearest lamp-post. We trust the
United States Senate and the people
of Oregon will have the good sense
to bury Grover and Cronin in the
infsmy they deserve.
Gambling for the Presidency.
frslIan3S Sp50 = .