Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-12-12


Tweed was a bold man, but be would not
have dared to strike hundred names off the
lists in this city.-[N. Y. Tribune.
What is 1ile Remedy?
Onion skin Democracy wakes wroth. The
organs of ballot-box stutfing think it well to
assume defiant aif. '.Punish anybody for
violation of law if you can," they say, ''but
Clerk Adams (being Kentucky Democrat)
will admit our members of Congress, two
Democratic Houses of Congress will count the
votes Of our electors, and the Democratic
State Government will settle all questions as
to the election cf State officers. Rave as
much as you like; we have the power and
mean to keep it," Such, in effect, is the an
swer of the ballot box stufing Democracy to
exposures of the wholesale frauds at the
South. And, by way of enlighlening US re-
garding the prospect of the conviction OF any
criminals, Democratic local authorities arrest
witnesses and lock them up on charges OF
crime. In fact, it has become crime under
the rule Of Onion-skin Democracy to make
any effort to prevent fraudulent elections.
1--WE had to do it," said the frank young
Democrat of South Carolina, ''or they would
have beaten US in the State"
The scheme is well planned, and there is no
lack Of impudence or effectiveness in the exc
cution. Let us frankly admit that we have
very little hope that the Southern people will
make any effort whatever to enforce &c
laws, or uphold the Constitution, or to cast
off the black disgrace which is settling down
upon them. Nor is there much reason TO
hope that frauds can be punished. Twenty
six United States officials have been shot al
The South, and not one of the perpetrators has
been punished by Democratic local govern
ment When that state of things exists, it is
not reasonable to expect that the mere stuffing
Of ballot boxes can be punished. Is there,
then, no remedy Has the South actually
become master Of the United States Has
all the heroism of four years of war beer
cancelled, defeated, and robbed of all fruit.
by the tissue'paper ballot?
Not quite! There remains Solid North
Let every Southern State uphold this prosti
tuition of the forms of free government to the
base uses of an infamous tyranny, and still
there will not be votes enough. Public opin-
ion at the North will make it impossible fol
any Democratic defender of government BY
onion-slxin ballots to be elected to any office
To the last man they will be swept from
place. Thousands of honorable Democrats in
every Northern State will join in the indig
nant movement of the people to prevent the
rape of free government. Democratic states
men and politicians, feeling that the torrent
is -esistless, will yield to it, whether they
have OF have not enough of honesty sincerely
to detest the crimes committed in the namC
and for the sake of Democracy. This new
revolution Of public sentiment will transfer tt
Republican ranks many of the worthiest anC
many of the most skilled and adroit Demo
cratic leaders, just as the outburst of loya
feeling in 1861 placed Dix and Logan ano
Butler by the side of Sumner, Greeley ane
Lincoln.
1t is not possible for any section to cu
itself off more absolutely from all share in tht
Government or influence in public affairs thar
the South will if it defends the wholesale ano
systematic prostitution of the ballot-box. 1t!
foremost statesmen, if they ever appeal agair
to Northern sentiment, will be treated with
the contempt and scorn due to exposed anC
baff1ed swindlers. "You gave your honor,
the North will say, ''and when you were
trusted as gentlemen, you stuffed the ballot
boxes" Between the local agent who did the
| job, aud the Democratic statesmen who
planned it, or profited by it, or defended it
or saileo to denounce and punish it, the Nortt
will know no difference, for there is none
If Wade Hampton can go to the Senate by
the stuffing of boxes, and the arrest of wit
nesses on perjured accusations, and the break
ing of his oath to secure fair governmene ant
faithful enforcement of law in South Carolina
he will deserve and get just as much honor Al
Northern hands as was given to either of the
creatures who did the dirty work of cheating
| for Tweed.
1t is net thing to be desired-this deer
gulf of utter antagonlsm between the Nortl
and the South. But it ought to come, anC
the sooner the better. if the South tolerates
countenances, profits by, and refuses to pun
ish, the crimes which have been disclosed
| Words need not be minced about such a mat
ter Between a self-respecting and law
abiding man, however humble, and known
swiudler or thief, there ought to be gulf
| If the South pleases TO take upon itself full
responsibility for the meanest aid most das-
tardly cheating that has ever yet been perpe-
trated under forms of free government, il
must respect all the scorn, all the Indignation,
and all the hostility that communities of free,
law abiding and honest citizens have for the
most despicable offences. 1t must expect all
the loss of power, all the banishment from a
part in the government Of this country, which
minority can suffer when the blackest dis
grace is added to defeat We know the peO-
pie of the North, and we tell the people of
the South that there is not single State north
of the old slave line in which any sympa-
thizer with or apologist for Onion-shin De-
mocracy can escape defeat and contempt
N. Y. Tribune.
--SsS-----
Tribune.isms.