The Jasper weekly courier., 1877-11-16
The Greatest Political Crime OF the
Century.

4 Extract from "A Recent Speech by Hon. sam.
uel j. Tiden.l
| In the c4nyass OF 1sI0the Federal Govern
ment embfrked In the contest with unscru-
pulous activity of the-C Cabinet
was the head Of partisan committee.
Agents stood at the doors Of the pay-ofices
To exact contributions from ofIigial- sub0r-
| dinates- THE whole Office class
were made 10 exhaust their powef. Even
the army, ior tine frst time, 70 the disgust
of the soldiers and many Of the officers, was
moved about the country as an electioneer-
ing instrument. All this was done under
the eye Of the beneficiary OF 1t, who was
making the air vocal with professions Of
civil-service reform to be begun after he
had himself exhausted all the immoral ad-
vantages OF civil-service abuses. Public
opinion In some States was overborne by
corrupt influences and by fraud, but so
strong was the desire for reform that the
Democratic candidates received 100000
suffrages. This was majority Of the pop.
ular vote OF about 10000, and 100000 Of
the white citizens. 1t was vote 100000
larger than Gen. Grant received in 1872, and
100000 larger than he received In 1853.
The step from an extreme degree Of cor
rupt abuses In the elections TO subyersion
OF the elective system itself Il natural. No
sooner was the election over than the whole
power OF the 0ffice-h holding class, led by .
Cabinet minister, was exerted TO procure
and did procure from the State canvassers
OF two States illegal and fraudulent certif-
Gates, which were made pretext for afalse
count Of the electoral votes. To enable
these officers TO exercise the immoral cour-
age necessary TO the parts assigned 70 them,
and to relieve them from the timidity which
God has implanted In the human bosom as
q limit to criminal audacity, detachments of
the army were sent 70 afford them shelter.
The expedients by which the votes Of the
Electors chosen by the people Of these two
States were rejected, and the votes of the
Electors having the illegal and fraudulent
certificates were counted, and the menace of
usurpation by the President Of the Senate
Of dictatorial power over all the questions
in controversy, and the menace OF the en-
f0rcement Of his pretended authority by the
Army and Navy, the terrorism Of the busi-
ness classes, and the kindred measures by
which the false count was consummated, are
known.
The result il the establishment OF prece-
dent destructive Of our whole elective sye-
tenn. The temptation 10 those in possession
OF the Government TO perpetuate their own
power by similar methods will always exist,
and, II the example shall be sanctioned by
success, the succession OF Government in
this country will come to be determined by
fraud or force, as II has been In almost every
other country, and the experience will be
reproduced here which has led 10 the gene
raj adoption Of the hereditary system, In or
der to avoid confusion and civil war.
The magnitude OF a political crime must
be measured by its natural and necessary
consequences. Our great republic has been
the only example In the world of a regular
and orderly transfer OF governmental sue
cession by the elective system. To destroy
the habit Of traditionary respect for
the will of the peope, as declared
through the electoral forms, and to exhibit
our institutions as a failure, Is the greatest
possible wrong to our country. 1t Il also q
heavy blow to the hopes Of patriots strug-
Cling TO establish self-government in other
countries. II Is a greater crime against
2, 1851, depicted by the ilustrious pen Of
Victor Hugo. The American people will
not condone IL under any pretext for any
purpose.