The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1877-03-09
The County Court and the Election
Judges.

S.8Nne
The Scheme and Charter case now
on trial before the Court Of Appeals
presents some strange and painful con-
tradictions on the part Of the officers Of
the CopEty ,Court, The Judges Of the
County Court seiected As Judges 81
Election. u certain prccincts, persons'
whom they Endorsed 10 the people as
worthy OF entire confidence in the per-
formance ofa duty involving the high
est interests OF the citizen. These Sc
lections we're not made hurriedIy or ig-
norantly, but with every opportunity and
facility 10 secure what the voters de-
handed; unexceptionable officers. To
the County Court was entrusted the re-
sponsible dCty Of making these selec-
tions, because the people supposed that
the nature and high character Of the
trust and the great danger which would
inevitably follow its abuse, would pre-
vent its execution in the interests Of
improper or base purposes. In this,
however, they have been cruelty de-
ceived. The testimony shows that per-
sons were selected as officers of the
Scheme and Charter election who not
only did, but were expected TO, per-
petrate unlimited fraud upon an unsus-
pecting public And now we have the
pitiable spectacle presented. after these
election officers have failed to supple
ment the fraud enacted at the polls
by perjury on the witness stand,
OF an effort on the part
of those who selected, induced and
commissioned them as both suitable and
reliable, to make the people believe that
they are not entitled to credit. Ii these
officers we're proper persons to be en-
trusted with the grave duties assigned
them on the day Of election, and for
whom they who appointed them stood
sponsor in August last, then they are
also the proper persons by whom to
prove what they did and how they did
it in effecting the purpose Of their APP
pointment. 1t is too late TO talk about
character, or seek means to discredit
these election officers. II they were
selected for purpose, and were true
TO it, secured it, then those who are
responsible for their selection
ought TO take a back seat while the
disgusting story is being told, instead
of crying aloud that these appointees
must not be believed. Must not be be-
lieyed! Why notP Did they not serve
the end Of their appointment? Were
they not faithful servants? Did they
not keep faith, and silence, too, until
forced by the strong arm Of the law to
expose the solemn hypocrisy practised
upon the people on the 22d Of August
last? No apology can be offered for
the conduct of these persons as cleo
ton officers, but their courage as wit
nesses on the stand in disclosing what
they did and why they did il. is vastly
more commendable than the skulk-
ing cowardice which permits
a man to commit an outrage
and then when called to the stand
forces MIN to deny it or sneak behind
his privilege" Whatever may be
said against the election officer, or in
favor Of the truthful and courageous
witness, in one thing all can and will
unite, viz: 70 those who selected or
are responsible for the appointment Of
these persons as election judges no
hearing can or will be granted in or
der that they may denounce as I'm
worthy Of credit their own selections,
the men who bear their commissions.
These Witnesses tell the truth. The
report Of the commissioners as to the
contents Of these ballot-boxes shows it
and the people believe it.-Repubji-
can, 2lsi. sf