The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1878-05-03
Frauds In Politics.

80 fqIIy and vigorously expressed our opinion
uped eIfticn frauds as the one we publish in
anotI er lumn under the caption, "a Vigorous
Prot ss'ysainst, Fraud which we take from the
Sun Rafchn,an. We could not add one word
to ~ s4icle that weuld present our opinion in
stfSSS Might, nor would we take from it
sentence that would weaken ts denupcation of
any and all parties who would commit election
frauds or coantenance the commission of such
frauds by others. We endorse the sentiments
Of our respected cotemporary: "Great God,
WHAT'S to DO the character of our young men,
if this is the moral school in which they are to
be brought up? No harm TO cheat, because we
have Peen cheatcd2 Not wrong to defraud |
Smithbecause he has defrauded me Because
my neghbor is thief. q liar, perjured viii |
lain, I'm justified in becoming one also? Is
this q be our standard ?''
And again, where he says: ''If it is neoes-
sary to cheat, defraud aad lie, in order to carry
hselection, ten thousand times better is it that
we be defeated. If we are to sacrifice in the
efoJt to be victorious, all that makes victory de-
sirable or valuable, where is the good to come
from vctory?'
This " stspng language, but II is the truth.
What 7 condemn q scoundrel the man who
commits afraud against us, and them when an
opportunik offers, do the very same act of
scoundrel n ourselves? 1t is base inconsis
tency aacannot be successfully defended up
on any einceivablc grounds of excuse-moral,
legal or lalitical.
But there is another kind Of fraud which,
though not entailing 50 much social demoraliza-
tion, has proved to be political curse to the
State:
We have always been satisfied that the hon
csty and intelligence of this State, if properly and
vigorously applied, could and would control our
elections, without resort TO fraud, and we verify
believe that sufferings under Radical
government were greatly prolonged in conse
quence of the deceit and duplcity which the
democratic leaders practiced upon the people,
in coalescing with men who they all knew were
oooundrels, -ond trwurt-wfYum We air had the
bittcrest hatred. 1t was fraud upon the peo-
pie, and its effects visible now and will be
seriously felt in organizing for, if not during,
the coming campaign. 1t taught the people 10
believe there was nothing wrong in coalescing
with the enemies Of the State, to obtain a share
Of the official positions, and We find to-day men
who were then considered good democrats prac-
ticing the lessons then taught them, by coales-
cling with Radicals, upon independent tickets, to
obtain office. 1t is the great danger We have to
contend with now.
That, perhaps, might not be considered so
much q fraud error Of judgment, or an
error of policy, under the circumstances at that
time, for many good men honestly believed 1t was
the only way to secure a counteracting influence
A~-~--~--As-s---v~vrv5--p rffero
were, also, maryland they among the leaders
of the policy-who were actuated more by self
interest than from o desire to benefit the State;
and on their part it was fraud and wrong
from which the whole state suffered for years
We have ever believed that in politics, as in
every other transaction, honesty is the best pol.
icy.
But the effect of fraud in an election-par-
ticularly If successful-is very apt to have per-
ncious influence upon the Legislative branch of
our government, and prevent the passage of
laws that would insure an honest vote at the
ballot box. If We are not greatly deceived the
passage of the Registration bill was postponed
through that very influence. No party can
long retain power obtained by fraud. If we
wink at stealing votes we shall soon wink at
stealing the voters hO6ey.