The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1878-05-03
A vigorous Protest Against Fraud.

Were we called upon to select from the many
crimes Of Radicalism that one 'whioh has done
most harm to our State, we would not hesitate
to point the election frauds. So common has
the practice Of cheating Mt elections become, un-
der Radical teaching, that we look for 1t as we
,lo for ice in December, or grass in June. Be
side the injury done to tho morals of tho country
by familiarity with the fact of the existence in
our,lpidst or this vice, there is no other fraud
which presents half tho temptation to our peo-
pie to act on the sit for tat principle as this
docs. There aro no circumstances, like those
attending popular elections, so apt to dcude
men into the idea that it is right TO eight the
devil with fire ;" and just hero lies the cause of
the peculiarly pcrnicious character Of these
frauds. The provocation to meet fraud with
fraud under the excitement Of political con E
test is almost irresistible TO our "weaker breth-
rem" How often have we heard men Of res
reliability in our community, within the last
two years, declare that it is not wrong 10 cheat
the Radicals, at elections, because Radicals
cheat us, and one is sct-of against the other.
Great God, what is TO be the character Of our
young men, if this is the moral school in which
they are to be brought up? No harm to cheat.
because we have been cheated? Not wrong to
,lcfraud Smith because he has dcfrauded me
Because my ncighbor is thief, a liar, per-
jurcd villain, am / justified in becoming one
also Is this to be our moral standard This
the criterion of moral rectitudc? man is not
to bc condemned because he only cheated those
who have cheated hinhp
We are just entering upon political contest,
which promises, so far at least rs our county is
concerned, to be hot and close. The Democrats,
naturally enough believe their cause good one,
and declare with much truth that there is nc
ccSSity for them to win. No one, venture
the assertion, is moro awake to the Importance
of this contest than we are, nor do we give
place to any one in the strength of our deter
minaiom to triumph over this party Of thieves
in the coming election. We believe in exhaust
ing all honorable means of defeating these bad
men and driving them into perpetual obscurity.
But we 10 not hesitate to say that We would
rather see SuLItcr County under Radical rule
for ten years more, robbed and plunIercd even
more mercilcss!y than ever in the past than see
hor triumph by any disreputablc methods. If
il is necessary to cheat, dctraud and lie, in or
der TO carry the election, ten thousand times
better is it that VIC be defeated. If we are to
sacrifice, in the effort to be victorious all that
makes victory desirable or valuable, where is
the good to come from victory? a Cadmcan
victory would it he indeed . in which the victors
will suffer more than their defeated enemies
~ that makes u triumph over the Republicans
desirable is to displace vice, and to estab
lish virtue in its room. That which recon-
mcnds the Democratic party to-day so strongly
is it's record for honesty and purity. Without
these il would be weak indeed aud arc we to
be 80 silly as TO cut of its Ssmsonan locks? I?
Let us cast about for the very best and all
possible agencies of IN honorable character to
carry the next election; but let not fraud
in any shape or form be considered for mo-
mcnt Sander Wuc!hmaH.