National Republican., 1878-12-09
CoLoREp DEMOCRATIC VOTES.

vocates OF honest elections VIII never see u
in just that light
COLORED DEMOCRATIC VOTES.
The Democrats have been slandering the
colored people Of South Carolina without
stint since the late election by an attempt
to account for the change of political COM
plexion by asserting that the colored citi-
zeus in q large degree voted the Democratic
ticket. This assertion is proved to be alb
surd by careful analysis of the vote. The
Charleston Ncus aud Courier talks fippantly
about political miracles" being "as possible
"in the South as in New England, and more
probable, as being more necessary" This
miracle" was foreshadowed by the Nc'rs
and Courier when II declared in advance Of
the election that the State would be carried
by the Democrats at any cost. However,
the peculiar features OF the late election
cannot be accounted for through colored
stampede into the Democratic party. II
was fraud-shecr fraud-and not colored
votes that produced the late results, with
its marked peculiarities. South Carolina,
under an honest and untrammeled election,
aud with both parties earnestly in the field,
would show Republican majority Of more
than 10000. As it is that majority has
been reversed, not by n change Oh the part
of Republicans, but for the reason that they
have been bull-dozed and intimidated and
ballot-box stuffed out of their rights.
The New York Tribune has made a
careful analysis of the vote in those Con-
| gressional districts where any contest was
made, and with result that shows the
utter absurdity of the assumption
that there has been any material
change In the colorcd vote. 1t will be borne
in mind that the Republicans had no State
ticket in the field, and hence it was only on
the question Of Congressman that there was
any test of strength aud any occasion for
fraud and its concomitauts. II appears that
in the counties where the Democrats were
largely in the minority there is no evidence
that the colored people generally voted the
Democratic ticket. Take the first Congress
ional district, for instance:
In 1870 the coorcd people formed more than
two-thirds of the population of Sumter Couu-
| ty their number exceeding that of the whites
BY lO.3i2. In 1876 the Republicans had ma.
i0rity of l,5il for President, l.I11 for Gov.
ernor. and l,460 for Congressman. This year,
when the Congressional candidates of lS1G
were again in the field, the vote repoited is as
follows: JOHN $. RICHARDSON DEM, i116
JosEPH II. RAISEY (Rep.l, 2,9i9-a Demo-
cratic gain of 1894, aud Republican loss OI
052 since 1876 This change IN county wherC
the Republicans expected n majority Of about
1000 Is explained by the fact that at the poll
ing.placcs where the vote was found to b'
greater than the registered number Of voters
the Democratic votes and "kiSs-joke" ballot
were returned to the boxes first, so that tn,
Republican vote was drawn upon for almost, !
not quite, all of the excess.
About two.thirds of the population Of viii
liamsburg County Is colorcd and the Rspubli
can vote ut recent elections has ranged from
1900 to 2,iO0, while the Democrats have pOllet
from l50O to |, 100 votes. In 1876 the Repub
licans had 1O6 majority for President, Cos 70
Congressman, and 6S6 for Governor Thi
year the vote is reported as follows RICHARD
, SON DEM, 3,037; RAISEY rep, 2,lH5-
2 Republican loss Of about 2i0 votes, and Dem
oCTatic gain of 2s0. This Is the county i
which Kingstrce is situated, and IN whic
I United States Supervisor IASSA and his iathe
r aad others were thrown into jail, accused 9
perjury, for making charges of ballOt.bOx stuff
ing against the election managers.
{ In ls.6 Darlington County (twO-thirds OF I'll
lcan majority of 7Si for President, 80 fC
Congressman, and 755 for Governor. This yea
/. u Democratic majority Of ,l37 is reported, th
!. vote being given as follows: RICHhRDso
:. (Dcm.l, 800; RAISEI tRep.h 2,U3-a Repul
A ican loss of 7i-, and II Democratic gain Of Ia
n since 1876.
: In Marlboro County the vote Is said to hay
been 1858 for the Democrats, and l ,232 for Il
Rcpublicaus-a Republican loss OF 3s) vote
6 and % Democratic gain Of 6}S. In this count
Il more than ouc-half of the population / co
:, ored. In 1915 tho vote for President Wal
u Republican, 1917; Democratic, 1912. ~
u Governor the vote was: Republican, 6Ds
d Democratic. l9i5. The Democratic majorit
Is Tor Congressman in the same year WAS 3i2.
The colored population of Georgetown
's about fire times as large as tho white pOpul
rt tion, aud in 1876 the Republican mujoriti
al were as follows: l,1B for President, SEQ {
Governor, and ,532 for Congressman. Th
'e year Democratic majority is reported Il
If vote standing: RCIIAEDsOS lDcm.) LIS
&c RATSEY Ilep.J, 1897. This is an apparel
loss Of l,ls2 votes for the Republicans and
gain of 4lO for the Democrats. The color
, people may have staid away from the polls,
u been denied actual suffrage, but they did II
II, vote the Democratic ticket
ms In Marion County, where the two races q
=. nearly equal the changes since lo'G are not
marked Us ia the other counties. The Dem
cr cratic majoritics ranged from G3s for Congre
c. man to G57 for Governor In 1876. This yc
- the Democrats claim ! ,iO2 majority, the VI
" being reported as follows: Democratic, 3,6i
t. Republican, 2,23o-a Republican loss of
IN votes, aud Democratic gain Of iOl NO
- since 1876.
Chesterfield County reports l,5ij Den
ss cratic aad 80 Republican votes, being De
he ocratic loss Of sd votes since 1876 but
nd change in the Republican vote. Horny rcpo
- las Democratic and i2G Republican votes
VI Democratic loss OF 1876, and Republican i
he of lGs votes. The Democratic majority In Il
,ot was ,S29 this year 1t Is ,;322.
bo The total vote of the district shows an
'' parent increase Of 6,0i6 Democratic votes, a
to a Republican loss of i,0sI votes since Is
ng comparing with the vote for Congressman
rj that year
kc NEU IJELIC.I1IONS.
We nnunEs OLE CIIlI nunnn OLD ERIENnS