The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-17
The Fraudulent Count in Louisiana.

We know of nothing in all our politics
moro audacious or more detostable than
tho assertion which we constantly read and
hear that the fraudulent count in Louisi-
ana Is In regular form, and therefore legal.
Whatever partisans may declare, who
IRE only looking after results regardless of
methods, we presume there yet remain
some fixed standards of law and Justice
And 1t Is both law and equity that fraud
vitiates all bargains all agreements, all
contracts, between man and man. We
should like, therefore, TO know how 1t hap
pens that fraud does not also vitiate an cleo
ton count. into which il enters rs chief
ingredient. The idea Is monstrous that
official scoundres may manipulate cleo
ton returns so as to count out those candi-
dates who are chosen by popular suffrage
and elect minority candidates not chosen
Mt all, provided forms of law are observed
I'm committing the yillainy This is to re-
verse the true and ancient maxim which
declares that fraud invaldates transac-
tions and to assert that IL cheating il
done according to certain forms, II must
stand.
The common sense of mankind rejects
a manifest perverslon OF honesty and jus
tice, that every honest and just man
spurns the sentiment with scorn aud in-
dignation. No form of language used to
pllliate the essential villainy of the doc.
trne can disguise its enornity to the
nverasS understanding. Yet all around is
heard the parrot cry that If legislators aud
partisans do but cheat within the estab-
lished forms of legislative enactment. the
defrauded public must submit to the in
dignity and iniquity! The acts OF the
Returning Board Of Louisiana must be
accepted because we are told they are
literally according to law of that
State. The fact that they are grossly
fraudulent, is to be overborne by
the fact that the villains who have
perpetrated the fraud have not, as it is al
legged, technically violated the statute UNI
der which they have acted.
We condemn and denounce this doctrine
in whole and in part. in bulk and In de-
tail, as indecent and infamous. Ii is an
insult to common honesty. 1t is an
affront to the everlasting principles OF
Justice. and is calculated to bring public
men, public affairs, and the public admin
istration of affairs into universal contempt.
If the villains of the Louisiana Return
Ing Board, under the lead OF Villains else
where, are to be perm tledfo cOnsummate
their iniquity on such grounds-and we are
ashamed TO say there is danger that they
WILT is easy TO say aud believe that II
will result in the Republicans Being ex-
PEELED ANONYMOUSLY from power al
some subsequent election. But how
The people vote in vain If their votes
may safely be miscounted by uuprincipled
scoundrels who have charge OF the ballot
boxes. IL Is the first step that determine,
nll the rest. II the people allow them
selves to be cheated now out OF the cleo.
ton, why shall no, the fraud be repeated
again and againf We do not believe il
submission TO such an outrage. A way
must be found to foil and defeat il, on ON
boosted government OF popular suffrage
wall be converted, almost before we know
A., into n government OF violence nuC
usurpation. And this must lead directly I,
revolution and to new. and we know no
how desperate a contest, for popular rights
L. the Republican party to be allowed Il
drag the country t. the verge of this dan
gerous preclpice? Docs il only exist foi
such reasonable purpose? Is the ooun
try to be frcttcd and excited and aritated
nobody knows for how long a p riod
merely that a band of conscienceless ant
reckless Republican politicians may main
tain Themselves IN power against the vote
OF the people?
This htng must he stopped before he cor
SDtrdcu Is cOnsiflnlaufed
The Proposed reforms in Turkey.