Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1878-05-08
DISCO UNITING TIE GREA 4
CRIME.


fessions have been received by the Re.
publican organs and BY many in the
party who are not politicians, affords
a humiliating illustration OF the blind.
ness and pervcrsity Of partisanry. The
crime confessed by Mcl.in and his ac-
completes is one Of no ordinary magni-
tude. Itis, in fact, the greatest poll.
tical crime known to the history Of this
country, crime so heinous in itself
and so far.rcaching in It's effects that
there is no greater Of its kind. If the
votes of States may bc stolen, and If an
important general election, involving
the choice Of the President and vicc
President Of the United States, may be
vitiated by the perjury and ballot-stuf-
fing of knot of corrupt politicians in
an obscure county s4at without any
means appearing for redrcssing the
wrong, the attention of the whole coun-
try is imperatively demanded at least
to prevent the repetition OF the out
rage, and all parties should join in hold
ing the criminals up to iniamy. The
confession Of such crime o few years
ago would have shaken tho Union from
centre TO circumference. Above all, the
Republican party-tho party Of con-
science, the party Of intelligence, the
party of great moral ideas would have
FASTENED TO clear Its skirts of 80 grea,
an iniquity. But it is the old story
Vice Is a monster Of 50 frightful micn
As to be hated needs but 10 be seen;
Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face.
We hrst endure, then pity, then embrace.
Respectable journals that once indig-
nantly repelled the imputation offraud
in Florida and Louisiana as the coin
age Of the brain Of bnll-dozing Demo
Gratis, have arrived at that point where
they either make it matter of jest or,
virtually acknowledging the truth Of
the charges, simply want to know, in
the fashion of Tweed in his days Of sue
cesstul roguery, what tho people 'are
going TO do about it' Not one that
bas came under our observation has
had the honesty and the maniness TO
stand up and say that If the confessions
are true great crime was committed,
or TO demand, in the name OF their
party, that the matter shall be investi-
gated. Indeed, the mere threat Of in
vestigation throws many of them into
o passion, which tells more plainly than
any words that the truth thus ascer-
tanned would be too great load for
the party to carry and with such par
tisans the party is above honesty, above
country, above everything. The de-
votion to truth tor its own sake which
characterized the founders Of that par
ty and made the lessons Of their lives
sublime is thing OF the past. Into
these sad straits has Republicanism
fallen through the manipulation Of the
unclean hands 10 which, of late, its des-
tiny has been confided
Nothing can be truer, however, than
that, unless the present administration
and the party responsible for its Undue.
tion into Office shall disprovc these
charges, they will be buried in the same
grave. This is one OF the cases in
which by.gones will not be by-gones
1t is not meet that they should. The
whole world knows that great crime
was committed Somebody above pre-
cinct judges Of election and above Re-
turning Boards was responsible for it.
The nation has right to know where
this responsibility lies. The Rcpubli-
can party reaped the benefit Of the vic
tory fraudulently secured the Presi. |
dent Is in the possession ofstolen goods,
which have beep traced TO his door.
The burden of proof is on their side. If
they are innocent why do they block
the way OF investigation by indignant
protests and abuse OF the witnesses
and in any case why do they insult in |
telligenceby pushing the Florida frauds
aside rs little matter? The tools
used 10 stuff ballot.boxes and forge re-
turns were dirty ones, but no other
kind would have consented To the dirty |
service. Abuse Of them by those who
handled them will not answer the pur-
pose. We never find honest men turn,
ing States evidence, for they have
nothing TO confess. These confessions,
such as they are, must be the basis OF
investigation, and those who stand in
the way Of investigation will be crush
cd to powder - Philadelphia Times.