The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1878-05-04

kStath All Oihce acquired by fraud he was
willing to acquire the same office fraudulently
For him to hold on in the face of these con
LESSONS is in effect for him to plead guilty.
More of the Florida Confessions.
Their True Inwariness Explained by the Man Who
Unearthed Them.
The Philadelphia Times of Wednesday.
| says Mr.. II. W. Grady, one of the editors
of the Atlanta Constitution. who went to Tai
lahassee for the purpose, is the gentleman
who secured the confessions from McLin and
his accomplices and gave them to the world
through the press. We publish this morning
some OF his remarks in view of the whole
matter after careful investigation. He is
certain not only that the resident RepubIicans
[ were determined to have Florida for HAYES
at any cost, but that the Hayes commission
ers on the ground, notably Governor Moves
the present Minister to France, either insti
gated or were privy to the frauds. We re-
greet to observe that so careful an investigator
himself Of the proceedings Of the Returning
Board IN making the count goes even further.
making deliberate statement of his belief
that ''Mr. Hayes himself knew of the frauds
/ by which he was put in Office If this be
true Mr.. Hayes is not only the beneficiary of
the crime, but an accessory before the fact:
and that is conclusion to which the country
will most unwillingly come. Mr.. Grady also
brings out more prominently the fact that the
revelations as to the Florida frauds do not
depend upon the testimony of one or two men
who had grudge against the President. Not
McLin and Dennis only, but dozen or more
of the rascals have turned States evidence.
and the confessions are said to be backed up
by the production of original, altered and
mutilated papers, kept by the ballot-thieves
for their own protection, and circumstantial
proof so direct that it cannot be doubted
Here is starting point for an investigation
that must produce some good result Let
1t be undertaken at once, without regard To
whom it may affect. 1t were gross injustice,
1t were condoning these great crimes. for
Congress to refuse to act under such circum
stances.
Mr.. II. W. Grady in the Atlanta (Ga.
C0RsfitutioB makes the following STARTLING
revelations Having disseeted the causes
that brought the confessions into existence.
will now say something about the confes.
sions themselves:
l. As to their commences. Despite the
particularly with which all my statements
have been made, and the promptness with
which my kilograms have been confirmed
who doubt even now the genuineness of the
confessions. There need be no doubt an
this subject. Before telegraphing a word
had with my own eyes seen o dozen of the
atfidavits properly attested in fact all of the
important ones, except that of Dennis. By
this time the ailidavits are in New York. and
have been seen by dozens of persons.
copy of the most of them was there before
the matter was opened in Florida at all. In
deed, | have little doubt that by this time an
of them or the most of them have been pub
lished in their official form in the New York
papers. 1t is true that many of the Florida
Republicans, haye denied and still DENY that
such confessions have bean made. This Is
simply because they we're not consulted about
them and probably really did not believe in
their existence. Thoze who did know OF
it were bound by the most solemn pledges and
by their own interest to suppress their knowl.
edge and keep the matter under In a con-
yersatlon with Dennis he at first bitterly de-
MED having,giVen $ statement, and only ac-
knowledged it when he was convinced that
the thing had really leaked out.
The genuineness of the confessions being
established, the extent to which they 20 Is
the next question. To this there is but one
answer. They are absolutely full and com.
plete. There was not a fraud committed
thet IS not thoroughly exposed. All the ras-
calls have confessed. McLin has told about
the general canvass; bennis, VANCE and
Black about the Aachua fraud; Allen. Greene
and Martin about the Baker fraud; Hardin
about the Columbia county fraud; Edwards
and Bowers about the Leon county fraud:
HnTlburt about the Leon fraud, and so on to
the end Of the list Every secret has been
yielded up. Nothing is now hidden. The
confessions are backed by the production of
original, altered or muiilated papers, and by
such circumstantial proof as cannot be
doubted, much less disproved The Florida
fraud-the most outrageous, villain Gus and
sinking that ever disgraced the ballot system
Stands hideous in the light of day, con
iessed, exposed proven.
The stories show that the Republicans were
determined to have Florida for Hayes at any
price and IN any event. 1t is certain beyond
question that the Northern Republicans knew
the infamous frauds that the local ReBuhli.
cans were committing day after day and night
after night. Dennis says that Moves. who
was Hayes confessed representative in Flor
ida, knew of these events as they transpired.
When he was pressing Dennis TO swear IN the
Alachqa case, Dennis said ell you nut me
under oath yQH will lose your case, for viii
not swear to a lie. Iii fool alang all | can
till | get on the stand, and then tits business.
won't swear falsely" At this Moves told
him h6 needn't swear; and after this admis-
sion on the part of Dennis depended the Ala
chua count as correct, The Yhola crowd
eaucussed together, aud tho repenlanis sag
all affairs were discussed openly In tbs eau
Gus. 1t was simply impossible that the thing
should not have been known by both sections
Of the party. Il IS unfortunate that there is
little room TO doubt lb2t Mr.. Hayes himself
Of no l. i,tsy f,.,f.--
Office. Dennis told me that he bad the MOST
positive proof that hSyas knew Of every
movement that was made In Florida, and
that he would prove it at the proper time by
the most undoubted authority. Il is to be
hoped for the honor of American institutions
that This i not trne.
The FlGnds Republicans are all bitter
against Hayes HE'S jereIiy without friends
in the State. The only protest that IS made
against the present exposures IL beeausa" 81
some party affection that is felt for Bisbee.
the ReEpblican member of Congress, whose
seat Is in contest ard is ieopardized BY these
exposures. They denoGnGe Hayes in the
roundest terms, Dennis remarking IN sEo;ca
yeyFacglar that he Is the damnedest traitor
that ever 4vcg since Judas went out and
hung himself. .tf
The confessions viii show rev uLase of
American politics. Il reveals q more aes
perate stai6 Of things than was ever suspec-
ted One witness sSaaFs Niat the Republi
cans attempted to hire him TO assaSsigaia Dr.
BabcOck, n Democratic editor at Jacksonville;
that he refused TO do this, and was given ten
dollars to beat him on the public streets.
which, having got the money. be faithfully
tired 70 do. 1t is sworn, also, that move
ment 70 Epru down the State House was pro.
posed. and thar l. v.aS rejected after Stearns
and Lew Wallace aud dennis lad consulted
over 1t, simply beeaaza il was belEyeq uct
the Democrats had copies OF Gis FstEsns ca
closed therein.
The Commercial Club, - Chic1co, has in
yted the Southern Senators ahd Ker,sserta.
| tiyes, the guests of the Comm rcial Club OF
/ Boston, TO dine with them in Chicago. on the
/ 1lth of Mn md lie ;-..;tn.in, L. - =