Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-04-30
PUBLIC
III
Tuesday Evening. April 30, 1873.
q FLORIDA EXPOSURES.


The Radicals affect to treat very lightly
or with supreme Indifference the reve-
lations OF McLin, Dennis and others who
participated in the Florida frauds where
by that State was counted 10 for Hayes,
when it really went for Tilden. These
men we're but the tools of a corrupt ad.
ministratiou who carried out its orders.
1t matters little who iustigated the inves.
LEGATIONS, who brought out the facts;
whether it wss the plan of Tilden or Of
Conkling, of Blaine or of Ben Butler.
The people may not feel any special in
terest in the fortunes of these men, but
they are ready to hear all the evil
dence that may be brought out. Tie
Republicans try to divert attention
from the real issue by arguing the
mpracticability Of reopsning a ques.
ton settled 6y congress and virtu'
ally settled by the Supreme Court. They
will hardly provoke a controversy on this
question, for Hayes was seated by due
process of law, and if it could be left to
the popular vote, probably three fourths
OF the people would vote against disturb
ing bis title. 1t would upset the country
again without doing any good. The
popular verdict is that fraud and perjury
secured The seat for Hayes, but now that
he is seated, and can do no particular
harm, it would be better not to assail bis
title. His party will be held to a moral
accountability by q people jealous Of
their rights, and indignant that their
liberties should be imperilled for the
benefit of u set hireliDgs and
o~fice-holders. The situation must be
peculiarly embarrassing TO Mr.. Hayes if
be has any delicate sensibilities left. III
he did not actually know it sooner, he
certainly knows now hat he was not
elected President, and that he holds a
place which rightiully belongs to another.
This is q feet which will go down in his
tory as certainly as the name Of Ruther-
ford B. Hayes, and what must be most
Notifying to him is that his own party,
after counting him in fraudulently, re-
fuses to stand by him merely because be
has shown some regard for the conslitu-
ton and a desire TO enforce the laws.
A man like McLin would have suited The
Republicans much better than Hayes.
They stumbled upon the wrong mau to
carry out their nefarious policy, and
have regretted it ever since. 1t is well
to keep the facts before the people, that
the greatest crime Of the age may be
bitterly rebuked at the ballot box, and
the reign of corruption brought to an
end. When any party hampers with the
electoral vote and brings to bear ell the
machinery Of government, including
troops, money, and promises Of Federal
offices, it is time for the people to be
aroused, and it is no wonder that they are
anxious to know all the facts 10 this dark
page Of our history. The Republicans,
while affecting ~uuconeern about McLin's
confession, are evidently very uneasy as
to the effect in coming elections, and well
they may be. They call it Tll1ens plaH.
The people care very little whose plan
it is SO they ge, the bottom facts. That
the Democratic party will make the most
of these revelations when the right time
comes the country may rest assured.