Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-05-15

the Republican party that the Republican
party deliberately stole the Presidency
There Is not an intelligent nor an honest
man in the country who has not known from
the hour in which the electoral commission
rendered It's decision that the verdict of the
people in the Presidential election was multi
fed and set aside by that "eight to seven"
tribunal. There are those, and they are but
few, however, who believe, either from in
difference on the subject, or on account of
blind party prejudice, that Hayes was really
elected. The time has come when even these
will soon be undeceived. No southern mem
Der of congress can oppose an investigation
made necessary by the new confessions that
have startled the country. 1t has been
charged that southern members of congress
are parties to the fraud; that they bargained
and connived at the inauguration of Hayes.
This charge makes it absolutely obligatory
on southern members of congress to heartily
support Potter's resolution. To he instru-
mental in defeating an investigation will be
tantamount to confession of such a bar
gain. A vote against investigation would be
ground for ,u~I icion. The Democrats, in
the course H., NV. pursued, are actuated by
the belief that the country should know the
whole truth, in order that similar frauds in
the future may not be attempted. There Is
no apology for any opposition to investiga-
ton, and the fact that the men who have
confessed are known to be scoundrels;
that they have been disappointed in
their expectations of reward for their
villainies; and that, therefore, they
desire to make tardy reparation, should
not be needed. 1t is hardly to be expected
that President Hayes, Minister Noyes, Su-
preme Justice Harlan, Senator Mathews,
Hon. Wayne M'Veigh, and others promi-
nent in the transaction. would, like M Lin
and Dennis, step from under the influences of
"quickened conscience" and admit the
truthfulness of the charges. What they
know on the subject will have to be drawn
from them by patient and thorough inquiry.
They should be the ones to now rise up and,
if they can honestly do so, denounce the con-
LESSONS as falsehoods and declare themselves
prepared to prove them such But will they?
The Republican party is responsible for Hayes;
it is responsible for the Florida and Louisiana
frauds; it is responsible for the thwarting Of
the will of the people; it is responsible for
the stealing of the electoral votes of at least
two sovereign States, and, therefore, the
country rightfully looks to it for an explana-
ton of its conduct. Failing to meet this re-
QUESTION, they and the party they represent
must accept the popular verdict of condem-
nation. The Republicans, if conscious of in
nocence, would join in the popular demand
for an investIgatian of the Florida and Lou
lsiana Presidential election frauds. All the
parties to these villainous transactions were
Republicans; the recipient of the benefits re-
sultipg from them is a Republican, and there
fore, in order to substantiate the boast that
the party, as whole, desires-as il evidently
it now becomes them
to stand up, manfully acknowledge the
wrong, and join IN The general popular
demand for an investigation that will throw
the fullest possible light upon the subject. If
the Florida confessions and Louisiana revela-
tions are without foundation, let the fact be
shown. Such showing would be immense
ly beneficial to the Republican party, and no
one will pretend to say that it does not need
help. 1t is the confession of Republicans,
not Democrats, that have made an investiga-
ton necessary. If Democrats in Florida had
made affidavit as to the discovery of new
frauds, no one would have proposed to re-
open the question. But now that subsequent
disclosures of fraud by those who committed
it have been made under the sanctity of an
oath, the cry of the Democratic party, from
one section of the Union to the other, is ION
with the investigation