Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-05-29

remedy and congress should hereafter BY
approval ofthe president, or BY two-thirds
OF both houses without that approval, pro-
vtde one, Why should a legal liberalization
thereafter had Any more produce sdisthrn-
ance than the decision ofsfhe electoral COM
raission did, tits exactly because this is
not Mexico, and because the people prefer
determining questions bv legal methods,
and II legal methods have not been provid-
ca, to invent legal methods of determining
them, and to submit to the determination
thus arrived at, that this country cannot be
M~exicanized. Iadmit that the presidency
is not worth q civil war, butt have not be.
lleved there was any danger of such. war.
The generation who charged the heights of
Fredericksburg md defe1ded tho works of
Petersburg will not 90 lightly in another
civil struggle. We must get yeafsa further
on before that will happen. I admit the
success Of republican leaders. Having lain
down when. the law was on our aide
and when We ought to have stood up it is
not for us now to stand up as long rs the law
remains against us. But you will ask,
whether, if there be no danger to public or.
der from galproceedings there may not be
from the action BY congress. No; no more
than from the action Of the courts. Should
fraud connected with the electoral count ap-
pear 30 gross and palpabls that you and all
honorable men should unite in dsnouncing
it, congress might then take action; but II
so, what congress might do, being the result
of the action Of men of all parties of the
great body Of the people, not a party would
be effected quietly, certainly and without
violence or disturbance. In saying this I
donot mean that I expect the investigation
to be followed by either legal or congress
sional action.
What, if anything, should be done because
OF the inquiry, must depend upon the results
Of the inquiry; but l do not mean that
whatever action, If any should follow the
investigation, such action can neither destroy
order nor prosperity of the country.
This cry Ut wolf when there is no wolf, this
effort to make it appear that there is danger
to peace or order from this investigation, is
3 republican pretense like the "bloody
justification of the carpet-bag gov
eminent; like the "public danger" excuse
advanced for the enforcement of Durrelrs
Infamous order, and the protection of the
returning board by bayonets like the cry
'et up after the election to prevent any agi-
and to secure the administration.
What, then, you ask, il the purpose of the
investigation? l answer, to ascertain the
acts, 80 that if frauds be established, a repe-
ition of such frauds may be prevented, and
+ not, to clearup the general belief through
nut the country that there were such frauds.
The feeling among many republicans after
he election was that while we had been cheat
d in the returns, We had bulldozed negroes
3 badly, SO that accounts of wrong were
bout equal. This belief in bulldozing Of
egroes was based mainly on the fact that
= onpSaSnL Isett. 80 a ar,1th |
'hich usually gave republican major
les there was not returned a single republi.
IN vote. Now the people of the north
ave never understood thatthis condition Of
lings was fraudulently prepared by repub-
cans. They ought to understand that, and
,yond that they ought to understand that
ere never was anything so dangerous to =
row out votes Of one side and keep in votes
the other without cause; to invent 4 pre-
for such wrongs; to accept, after con-
'ued protests and manufactured objections,
color for their action, to permit figures
DO altered, returns to be forged, frauds to
perfected, and generally every means by ,
aich the will Of the people may be frus.
sted and the popular voice stifled. 1t then
comes possible and there may be thus a J
ndition of things absolutely destructive Of
&c government. We believe that it was
such proceedings We were cheated out of
. election, and unless the proceedings be
posed, the outrage will be repeated.
'hatever may result from the proposed in
'stigation, you may be sure that nothing
n occur that will disturb either your focks ,
your balances. Trouble to capital, prop
ty and freedom will come, not perhaps in
'ur time or mine, but will come at last
om refusing to inquire into frauds. To
evil if you may not right it, is to
event its repetition. To shut your eyes to
supinely is to jeopardize and not to pre-
rye the future peace, safety and prosperity
the country.