The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1876-12-20
WHOLE NO. 1928.

would be large unless unlawfully pre-
vented, for in so doing it might be ex-
pected that, should any majority they
could thus obtain in such parishes be
rejected, they would nevertheless at
tain their purpose by the suppression
Of large Republican vote.
In pursuance Of this plan ave Of
the parishes selected, 10 which the
greatest violence and intimidation
were practiced, were East and West
Feliciana, East Baton Rouge, Qua
ehita and Morehouse The white
vote 10 these parishes numbered but
5,li4, the black, 1924.
These returns Of votes actually
cast in these Eve parishes suggests
that the clubs to whom was assigned
the task OF securing the Democratic
msjorities therein had performediheir
part of violence and intimidation ef-
iectaally, while the proof discloses in
brief summaries, portions Of which
are hereto annexed, that where vio-
lenee aud intimidation were inefficient.
murder, manning, mutilatiOn, and
whipping were resorted to.
Instead Of a majority of SIX or
seven thousand, which the Republi-
cans should have bad in these par
ishes upon fair election. there was
actually returned to the Returning
Board Democratic majority for the
parishes Of East and West Feliciana.
MorehOuse, and Ouachita Of 3,SIS.
and 10 East Felieiana, where the reg.
lstered colored voters number 2,I2T,
not u Republican vote for Electors
IVES cast.
la East Baton Rouge, containing
3, ,553 colOred registered voters and
but | sol whites. the Democrats claim
a msJOrlty OF Gil, which but for the
rejection oi several polls by the com
missIuhers and supervisors Of election
would have been returned to the
Returning Beard as votes actually
Cast.
II to the Democratic majority from
the five parishes as above stated We
add the GIT Inus claimed and Insisted
upon before the Returning Board,
Democratic majority of 4,49j is the
result Of an election in five parishes
containing 1924 colored Kepubll-
caus and G.l34 white Democratic
voters. The conclusion that intimi-
daIion and violence alone could have
produced this is almost Irresistible,
and that such influences were en-
ployed and were supplemented by
murder when that was thought nee
essary is established by the proofs
already referred 10.
A result so suggestive Of violence
and intimidation was Obtained by
means Of the most terrible and revolt
ing organized clubs Of masked armed
men, formed as recommended bv the
Central Democratic Committee, rode
through the country at night, mark
ing their course by the whipping,
shooting, wounding, manning, mutils- /
ton and murder OF women, children
and defenseless men, whose houses .
were forcibly entered while they
slept, and, as their inmates fed
through fear, the pistol, the rife, the
knife and the rope were employed 10
do their horrid work.
The proof of violence and iniimi-
da;ion and armed disturbance in many .
other parishes is Of the same general .
character, although more general and .
decisive as to the i've parishes par
iiculsrly referred to.
The members of the board, acting
under oath, were bound by law, if
convinced by the that riot, tumult,
acts Of violence or armed disturbance
did materially interfere with the puri-
" ana freedom of the election 10 any
poll or voting place, or did materially
change the result Of the election
ihereai; TO reject the vote thus east
and exclude them from the final re-
turn
OF the effect Of such testimony the
Board was sole and final Judge, and il
in reaching a conclusion it exercised .
good faith, and was guided By an /
honest desire 70 do justice. It's deter
mination should be respected. even .
if on ike proof different conclusion .
might have been reached by o,her
tribunals or persons.
To guard the purity Of the ballot,
70 protect the citizen in the free and
peaceful exercise OF bis right 10 vote,
to secure him against violence, IN
timidsiiOn, outrage. and especially .
murder, when be attempts 70 perform .
bis duty, should be the desire q al I
men and the aim Of every TePresen,s-
tive government
II political saecess shall be attained
By such violence aDd terrible means
s. we're resorled 70 IN many parishes
Of Louisiana. complaint should not
be made If the votes thus Cbtained I
are denounced by Judicial tribaSas
and all honest men as Illegal and .
void.
JoHS SHERNaS, New York
T.. " S9OUGHTOS, New IOFk
J. II. VAN ALLEN, New York ! .
EUGEzE HALE, Maine
J A. GARFIELD, Ohio.
CORTLAND PAREEk, y. Jersey
". d KELLEY, Pennsylvania.
SIDSEY CLARK, and
j e. WILsOS, Kansas
The Man Who viii Make = speech
A msn wearing passsbly good