The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1877-01-27
The Fraudulent Count in
Louisiana.

We know of nothing in all our
politics more audacious or more
detestable than the assertion
which We constantly read and
hear that the fraudulent count in
is III regular form, and
therefore legal.
Whatever partisans may de-
clare, who are only looking after
results regardless of methods, we
presume there yet remain some
fixed standards of law and JUS
tice. And it is both law and eaui.
ty that fraud vitiates all bargains
all agreements. all contracts, be
tween nan and man. We should
like therefore, to know how it
happens that frand hoes not also
vitiate an election count, into
which it enters as a chief ingre>
dent. The idea is mOnstrouS that
official scoundrels may manipu
late election returns so AS TO
count out those candidates who
are chosen by popular suffrage,
and elect minority candidates not
chosen at all, provided forms Of
law are observed in committing
the villainy. This is to reverse
the true and ancient maxim
| which declares that fraud invali>
dates transactions, and to assert
that if cheating is done according
to certain forms, it must stand.
The common sense of mankind
rejects this notion with adherence
1t is such a manifest perversion
of honesty and justice, that every
honest and just man spurns the
sentiment with scorn and indigna
ton. No form of language used
to palliate the essential villainy
of the doctrine can disguise Its
enormity to the average under
standing. Yet all around is heard
the parrot cry that if Legislators
and partisans do but cheat with
in the established forms o. legis
lative enactment, the defrauded
public must submit to the indig
nifty and iniquity! The acts OF the
Returning Board of Louisiana
must he accepted because we are
told they are literally according
to a law OF that State. The fact
that they are grossly fraudulent,
is to be oveaborne by the fact
that the villains who have perpe
tuated the fraud have rot, as it
is alleged, technically violated
the statute under which they
have acted.
We condemn and denounce
this doctrine in whole and in
part, in bulk aud in detail, as in>
decent aud infamous. 1t IS an in
!, suit to common honesty. 1t is an
! affront to the everlasting princi
plies of justice, and is calculated
!. to bring public men, public affairs
b and the public administration oa
! affairs into universal contempt.
, If the villains OF the Louisiana
: : Returning Board, under the lead
! of villains elsewhere, are to be
permitted to consummate their
. iniquity on such gronnds-and
we are ashamed to say that there
is danger that they WILT is
I easy to say and believe that il
: will result in the Republicans
. being expelled ANONYMOUSLY from
= power at some subsequent ele<
Z ton. But bowl The people vote
in vain if their votes may safely
be miscounted by unprlncipled
Q s%coundrels who have charge O.
|! the ballot boxes. 1t is the frs
step that determines all the rest
If the people allow themselves tc
t be cheated now ont of the elet
It ton, why shall not the fraud be
repeated again and again? W.
do not believe in submission t.
such an outrage. A way must b.
found to foil and defeat it. or oul
boosted government of popular
o suffrage will be converted, almos
e before we know it, into a govern
y ment of violence and usurpation
IS And this must lead directly t,
70 revolution aud to a new, end W.
d know not how desperate a col
y test, for popular rights.
e Is the Republican party to b.
= allowed to drag the country t,
e abe verge of this dangerous prec
IF pices Does it only exist for sucl
n a reasonable purposes Is tn
IS country to be fretted and excitet
l. and agltated, nobody knows fo1
IS how long a period, merely that
d, band of constituencies and reel
less Republican politicians ma,
10 maintain themselves in pOwe
j. against the votes of the people
c. This thing must be stopped befor
II the conspiracy is consumated.-
- sun.