Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-03-28
The Anderson Decision.

The Supreme Court of Louisiana, although
composed of Democratic Judges, has shown
itself to be above partisanship in the decision
releasing General Anderson on the ground
that he was improperly convicted. Its course
will be endorsed by every sound lawyer. The
paper which Anderson was accused of forg-
ing was not an original return, but consoli-
dated statement, and the charge made in it
did not effect the result of the election. The
court held that in order to be forgery an
instrument alledged to be falsied must be
legally capable of committing a fraud. A
consolidated return not being required in law
as declaration of the result, and its altera-
tion in no way effecting the election, does
not come within this definition. This decision
disposes of all the Returning Board cases and
puts an immediate stop to the whole scahda-
lous proceeding of prosecuting the election
officers of Louisiana because they acted ad-
versely to the claims of the Democratic party.
1t is bitter pill for the Democratic news
papers of the North that have been gloating
over the prospect of seeing Wells and Ander-
son go to the Penitentiary for putting Mr..
Hayes in the White House, and have been
"whooping up" the cry of fraud ever since
the New ORLEANS trials began.
The decision is not only sound in law and
vindication of justice, but it is emineutly
sagacious as a matter of public policy. 1t
shows that the violent "Last Ditch" politi-
clans have not got entire control of affairs in
Louisiana, and that the high judicial authori-
ties of the State are conservative, fair minded
men, who will not permit themselves to be
used as tools by the reckless Democratic poll
ticians of the North. 1t is in harmony with
the pledges made by Gov. Nichols and the
Nichols Legislature LIST spring. 1t is an as
surdnce that the bitterness and hatreds re
manning from the long era of violence and
fraud which Louisiana has passed through
will not be allowed to mar her fair prospects
of future growth and prosperity. 1t puts
the State once more in the path of progress.
We heartily congratulate Gov. Nichols and
the conservative men among his advisers on
this result. TIey are probably not fully
dWdTe VI IL VIII CAOi-
else on the future of their city and State, be-
cause they cannot know how deep and wide
spread was the feeling in the North that the
Returning Board prosecutions were purely an
affair of malice and base partisanship, and
indicated purpose on the part of the infiu-
ent;al classes in Louisiana to prosecute Re-
publicans because of their politics. New
Orleans seeks to be the exchange and entire
port of the great Mississippi Valley. Louis.
lana has vast undevelopel agricultural re-
sources which she needs Northern capital to
make productive. The Delta State and her
beautiful capital cannot affort to let rancorous
politicians build wall of hatred and ostracism
between them and a populous wealthy North.
The influence of the Anderson decision on
the politics of the country at large will be
most wholesome. We can scarcely hope that
Cheap John politicians like 8. 3. Cox will
cease firing off their little pop-guns at the