The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-10-26
Stealing a State,

In 1868 the electoral votes Of the State of
New York was secured for the Democratic
candidate by the grossest frauds, carried
through by that veteran politician, Samuel j.
Tilden. This year the same frauds are at
tempted by the same man, now Democrat
ic candidate for President. The registration
in New York City for President reaches near
ly 100000. ten thousand larger than the ho-
toriously fraudulent registration of 1868. and
fifty thousand larger than any honest vote
ever cast in that city. Now as then Tilden
is attempting to steal the vote of the State
through the instrumentality of those masters
in theft, the Tammany local politicians. Then
Horace Greeley wrote to Samuel j. Tilden,
saying:
Mr.. Tilden, I have been voting here for 81 years,
and an active politician for more than 80 of them,
and appeal to God for my sincerity and to my pub.
lie record for witness that in all these years have
earnestly sought and labored TO have our elections
decided by legal votes and none other. have
not confined myself to barren professions, but have
shown my faith by my works.
How is it with you? You hold most responsible
and influential position in the councils of a great
party. You could make that party content itself
with polling legal votes If you only would. In
late Constitutional Convention, tried to erect some
fresh barriers against election frauds; did you? The
very little that was enabled to effect in this drec-
ton shall try to have ratified by the People at our
ensuing election; will yor?
Mr.. Tiden. you cannot escape responsible ity by
saying with the guilty Macbeth,
Thou canst not say did it; never shake
Thy CORY locks at me!
for you were at least passive accomplice in the
frauds OF last November. Your name was used,
without public protest on your ,part in cir
culars sowed broadcast over the State, whereof the
manifest intent was "tO make assurance dOubly
sure that the frauds here perpetraed should not be
overborne by the honest vote Of the rural districts
And you, not merely by silence, but by positive as
sumption, have covered those frauds with the mantle
of your responsibility. On the principle that "he
ceiver is as bad the thief" you as deeply i'm
plicated as though your name were Tweed. O'BIien
Now, Mr.. TiIden, call on you to put q stop to
this business. You have but to walk into the Sher-
ifs, the Mayors and the Supervisors Offices in the
City Hall Park. and say there must be more of it
say it 80 that there shall be no doubt that you
mean it-and we shall have toleraby fair election
once more. Probably good part of the Fifty Thous
Certificates will offer to register and to Vote-some of
them pretending not to know that they no more
citizens Of the United States than the King of Da-
honey is-but very few will vote repeatedly unless
paid for it, and we shall not be cheated more than
Ten Thousand If you simply tell the boss-workmen
that there must be no more Illegal Voting nstigated
and paid for.
The indictment holds good now. Mr., Til
den has it in his power to prevent these
frauds, and to ensure an honest vote in the
city OF New York. Will he do it?