The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-03-28

aerrymandering State Is an old political
trick In this country, but no party has ever
been as perfect In this trickery as the Radi-
Gals. They forge census, forge, change, alter
and transpose the returns Of population, and,
on the basis OF that fraudulent census, fix a
boldly unjust and unequal representation
on the State. The whole country was
Disguised few years ago when the
enormity Of this outrage was laid bare
In the Ohio and Indiana elections. The
Democrats carried these two States by
overwhelming maiorities On the vote for Con-
gressmen, but SO cunningly were the districts
made, secured only eight out of thlfty-UWo
Congressman. In Louisiana the Raucal
apportionment was fully as outrageous, great
care being taken in the Senatorial Dlstricts
to tack on Democratic parishes to Republican
districts 30 ais to prevent the Democrats from
getting control Of the Senate.
But In New York the Republicans seem to
have zone to greater extremities in this out
rage on voters than in any other State in the
Union. They have for years refused to allow
q new apportionment to be made, although
the State constitution specifically orders 1t.
This year there was no chance to dodge the
issue any longer, and an apportionment bill
was framed by the Republicans, which is
about the finest specimen of political roguery
ever seen. The bill will give the Repub-
leans the control of the Legislature Of that
State forever. 1t will, in fact require the
Democrats to secure a majority OF over
100000 votes to win the Legislatures politi-
cal impossibility.
The State is beautifully gerrymandered
and cut up to accomplish this end. Not
only this, but, ito make assurance doubly
sure" the Radical statesmen laugh at
figures and mathematics. When the bill
came up In the Legislature it was found that
Staten Island and two wards in New York
city had been omitted, forgotten, left without
representation. Not at all confused at this,
the Republicans added them to strong Dem
0cratic district with q population emitting 1t
to larger representation than it then had.
Another ward being found forgotten in the
bill, the Republicans refused'to add it to any
district for fear OF changing the political re-
suit; so that 1t will not be represented at all
ia the Legislature.
As the work went on the Republicans, find
ing the party solid on all these measures,
became even holder. Coming to the rural
districts they found the representation ir
certain counties as follows: Suffolk $4,000,
two representatives; Niagara 47,620, two
representatives Cattaraugus 45,736, one
representative Broome $4,000, one repre-
sentative. The two larger counties being
Democratic, and the smaller ones Repub-
lican, Republican member moved that
one representative be taken from Niagara
and given to Cattaraugus, and another taken
from Suffolk and given to Broome, SO as to
give the two smaller Republican counties
double the representation of the larger Dem
ocratic ones. This, of course, was done by q
strict party vote. m~
The Democratic members made an appeal
to the Republicans to act justly, fairly
and squarely in this matter, but these
laughed at the appeal and replied in Tweed's
very words: "This is party measure. What
are you going to do about it z"
The Democrats have carried New York year
after but find it impossible to secure the Leg
islature Under this new apporti bill
the Republicans will have 80 entrenched
themselves that they can safely look forward
to the eternal control Of the New York Legis-
lature