The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-01-09
Reflections OF u Democrat on the
Late Louisiana Election.
BELLAIRE. o. January S. ISL.

Editors Ia,cll'Ecrcer:
The man who is true to his conyic-
lions, and who has manliness and jim
dependence enough to advocate them
regardless Of consequences, will always
compel respect, even from those who hold
the most antagonistiC opinion. The In
TELLIUENcEE mas repeatedly demonstrate
ed the fact, that it represents n patriot
ism which is above party, and is bounded
only by true love OF country and justice.
The people OF this country, without dis
tinCtion OF party, are not dull,-they are
admirable Judges Of facts ii not Of
theories, and il either Tilden or Hayes
should bo declared elected through fraud
or chicanery Of any kind, the party
guilty Of such fraud might as well make
quit claim deed for all time 10 come. /
have tried TO convince myself, that
could view our present critical situation
without party prejudice-a hard task,
but one hope TO have accomplished.
The election has been so close
the testimony in the disputed
states so contradictory, the opinions
OF astute, moderate, honest men
so wide apart, that it is not TO be won-
dered at, that the mass Of the adhercnts
OF both parties firmly and consciencious-
ly believe that their party has been sue.
cesslul am in quest OF truth, and pre-
fer to talk to Republicans that they may
have chance TO sift and expose any
false or erroneous conclusions l may
reach. Facts, not theories, are the i'm
portant factors by which this intricate
problem must be ciphered out. will
call your attention to q few. First, up.
on the face OF the returns Tilden has been
elected, for these give Louisiana to the
Democrats. Under the laws Of that State,
however, there is u Returning Board with
power to canvass and throw out, under
certain restrictions, certain polls. That
Board rightfully or wrongly, as the
case may be, threw out enough votes to
give the State to Hayes. That Board
was composed entirely Of Republicans,
although there was vacancy IN it which
should have been filed with Democrat.
Again, according to Republican his
tory, the members OF that Board
were badly tainted. Two ugly facts
standing in the way OF the conclusion
that they have acted fairly in this case.
There were in that State acts Of intimi.
dation and gross frauds, which no man
condemns more heartily than l do, but
those acts were by no means confined to
one party, nor were they Of such char.
acter rs in my opinion should have in.
validated the election. The State Gov.
eminent, since the war, has been exces.
sively corrupt-all parties agree on this
point. II is doing gross injustice to the
facts in the case, as we'll rs 10 the intelli.
sence Of the colored voters, to presume
that they were not cognizant Of this fact,
and that they were not influenced BY il in
the last election. II is no uncommon
thing in the North to see nearly all The
employees OF some Of our large manuiac.
turing establishments voting the same
ticket the owners vote, on the principle
that whatever would advance the EN-.
ployers' interest would also advance the
employees interests. Is il strange that
tho colored voters Of the South should
act also upon this principle? Under the
laws Of Louisiana this Returning Board
had no power TO canvass and throw ont
any vote OF any parish or voting place,
unless written protest fully described
in the law was made by the officers con.
Quoting the election and accompanied the
returns, which were to be made AT n
fixed date, II this Returning Board had
not perjured themselves by violating this
law, they wouldbe compelled to give the
State to Tilden. They have counted in
Hayes, and il isclaimed thatif they have
done wrong, it is our misfortune, rs Con.
gress has no power TO go behind their
action--that their action is final and con.
elusive. This view is moi only at war
even with Republican precedents, butt
would count Tildcnin by the action Of the