Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-07-06
Eph Holland Sentenced.

in the United States Court yesterday,
Eph. Holland, the agent who organized
frauds upon the ballot boz, was sentenced
to the penitentiary for thirteen months.
Considering the crime this was light sem
tence. 1t was justice tempered very large
ly with mercy. In fact, il was one grain
Of justice to ten Of mercy. The crime Of
which Holland pleaded guilty is,reIs Judge
Swing said, among the worst IN eng cata-
logue. 1t was aimed at the foIldintion Of
society. The ballot box is the bulWark Of
American institutions. II this il corrupt
ed-if thieves and gamblers can be hired
with impunity to stuff illegal ballots into
the box and thus ReutraliLe tue honest
votes Of honest citizens, then our institu-
tions must crumbe and society, which rests
upon law, will be at the mercy OF the rab-
bie. 1t was the boast OF Eph. Holland
that through his influence bu. two Demo
Gratis chosen on the Democratic tickent last
October were honestly elected. Thus we
have Judges sitting on the bench we have
Sheriff and other county officers, and two
members OF Congress who we're elected by
fraud and whose title to Office has no bet
ter foundation than the illegal votes cast
by the Infamous organization Of which
Holland was at the head, and at the back
OF which were respectable citizens" who
furnished the money. Judge Swing was
right in portraying the infamy Of this
crime, but he was exceedingly unfortunate
in comparing it 10 the crime Of rebelH1n
with view, we understand, Of laying
foundation for 4 petition for pardon.
Those who went into the rebellion took
their lives into their hands and fought
openly for what they believed to be right.
This ia the fact about the rebels. But
Holland and his gang and his hackers con-
spired against the purity Of the ballot box.
The very worst elements were selected to
destroy the foundations of society. The
one did il for money, and the other to de-
feat the will of the people as fairly ex-
pressed through the only channel open 10
American citizens. The people will sub"
nit to the will Of the majority if honestly
expressed, but If this will shall be stuffed
| by fraudulent votes cast by hired perjurers
and villains, a storm must ultimately re-
suit that would wreck both courts and ju-
ries. II one thousand cut-throats and viii
lains can control an election in Hamilton
county where there are sixty thousand vo.
ters, what would Judge Swings court be
worth; what would any court be worth ;
what would anything be worth but revo-
luton? Justice cannot be trihed with
without endangering the very foundations
upon which law and order rest.
One of the most remarkable features in
this case was the plea of the attorney oi
Holland for mercy, and the spirit of that
plea. Holland was notoriously the head Of
the gang that corrupted the ballot box.
He received and disbursed the money paid
TO the hirelings, part of whom are now in
the peHitentiary. There nre worse men
than Holland. They are the men who
hired him. These are in the background
Next to these is Holland. He hns it in hin
power to expose his employers. He chooset
not to do it, and yet through his attorney
he has the impudence to plead for mercv
and actually did succeed in getting of with
only thirteen months IN the penitentinry
while some Of his dUpes, hired for five anC
ten dollars, had sentence equally al
heavy pronounced upon them; and ever
the execution of this light sentence wa
suspended in order that application Nigh
be made to the President for pardon. Par
don Why should Holland be pArdoned
Has he done anything to promote the caus
of justice7 If so, what is it? PardoI
from Hayes Holland has said that i
the officers of the law had not taken hole
OF him and his gang in October, TildeI
would have carried Ohio in November
With this confession upon his lips he ask
pardon. What a mockery of jnstice tha
would be 1t might be possible for Hol
land to do something to promote the end
of justice that would deserve executive
elemency, but thus far his conduct has heel
an aggravation Of his offense. Pardon
Shall Justice be doubly Knocked? Has tn
State no rights to be respected7 These ar
questions for the people to consider, nn'
they will consider them. II the election
laws nre to be feebly administered, the
farewell to the influence OF the ballot-bo,
and good-by to honest eleetionI.-CI
Gazette.