National Republican., 1878-05-08
MORE ABOUT ELECTION FRAUDS.

The New Orleans Piecgune' Is now very
much absorbed in the delicate task Of set
ting the Louisiana members right before
the people. 1t is explaining, apologizing,
and palavering to the public mind with II
view TO creating the impression that Louisi-
ana Democrats are all red hot for invcstiga-
ton to uproot President HAYES title under
the Electoral Commission deed. II thinks
that Mr.. EuSTIs occupies position that
will meet the approval Of the people Of his
own State. What that position Is now, or
may be, is not clearly set forth II is in-
tmated that he has not formed, and il is
doubtful if he will support, any plan 70
eject Mr.. HAYES from Office So far as can
be discovered, he is for opening the question,
with a view TO exposing the methods by
which, us he assumes, "thc people of the
United States were dcfrauded of their
choice in 1876 and 1871" This is precisely
what THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN has sug-
gested, and what we trust may be done.
Let the investigation of the election in 1870
in the States we cited be thorough, search
ing, and fair TO all parties and interests con-
ccrned. A fair election In any State Is
based upon the facts that all those entitled
to vote were permitted to do so freely, with,
out mClestation, intimidation, or improper
interference of any kind, and that no per.
sons not clearly entitled to vote have beer
permitted to exercise the right Of suffrage n
any voting precinct. For this we contend
| In 10 ha in
vestigation is to become the order of tn,
day.
The Picdyane represents the views o
Messrs. ELLIS, GIBSON, ELAM and ROBERT
son to be in coincidence with those of Mr.
EUsTIs, while 1t attempts to explain ant
apologize for the position of Mr.. ACKLIN
as represented In the New York Herald
wherein he had expressed the opinion tina
1t would be "the basest ingratitude on tn
part Of the South to conspire against MI
"HAYEs" This the Picdyune characterize
as IN unfortunate expression, which Nj
ACKLIN is called upon to modify. 1t thei
assumes to speak for him SO far as to ex
press the view that he "probably did no
"mean what he said, or what he is reported
"as saying-or rather he did not say wha
"he meant" This is followed by yer,
pious remark on the part Of the Pioayun
that 1T would be base on the part of tn
South to conspire against anybody.
That is what the Republicans hay
held from the first. They have regarded |
as base beyond forgiveness for the Demo
Gratis of the South to conspire under whit
Leagues" rife clubs" and bull-dozing
combinations against both white and blacl
Republicans, to intimidate, oppress, an,
murder, and thus to keep thom by thou
sands from discharging their duties a
citizens at the ballot-box or elsewher,
But for these conspiracies the State
of North aud South Carolina, Mis-
sissippi Alabama, Georgia, Florida
and Louisiana would each and a.
have given Republican majorities @
such an emphatic character that N
question could or would have been raise
over them. This is the baseuess Of whicl
we complain, and 1t is with reference b
these conspiracies that Investigations shOul
be set on foot in the spirit u fairness an
justice, and be pushed to the fullest consun
nation IN the way Of eliciting the trutl
This is an important part of the questio
raised in regard to the title Of Mr. HAYE
now, and truth and right cannot be realize
except by such a process as we have ind
Gated. We want an investigation so broa
and sweeping as to cover this case in all 1t
length and breadth. If wrong has bee
done in Louisiana and Florida let it b
brought to light and exposed, we care nc
how fully and truthfully, but there shoul
be no halfway work about it. So also {
the other Southern States where q fair an
untrammeled election would show a far d
ferent state of things than now exist. W
seek the truth, letting the consequences ia
where they may. A fraud upon the elect
i've franchise, whether it consists in maxim
false returns or in preventing the peopl
from free exercise Of the right Of votin
according to their convictions Of duty,
nothing else than fraud which should b
eIecratsd by every good citizen, no matte
what his political faith may be- We 90