Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg Court House [S.C.]) 1877-1881, 1878-05-25
Elcctora Fraud.

Character is The most exalted at
tribute that be longs to human nature,
and the worth of man is estimated
not by the innate prin ciples Of his
nature, passive en- otions of the
heart and uncxpre: scd conceptions of
the mind, however praise these may
be; but by what is known anr, seen to
exist by those, with whom circum-
stances tArG" "s iii contact. Per
sonal character may be ruined by
combination of circumstances, even
though the victim be innocent. The
same is true of families, communities
and even Il political party is no cx-
ccption to the general rule. Where
ever dishonesty is apparent, charac-
ter suffers; Sc apparent fraud brands
community or criminates a par ty.
Hence it is a source of great gratifi-
cation to the country, and particu-
larly the South, that our representa-
tivcs in Congress have taken some
decisive action on the rcsol utions
ordering an investigation of the
frauds involved in the last Prcsidcn-
tial election. Their final passage was
resisted by the Republicans by every
species Of iiliibustering tactics known
to Parliamentary tactics.
Every fair muded Democrat both
at the North and South desires the
party to be placed correctly upon the
record in this matter, and not that
the principles, which have governed
their actions for years, should rest
under the stigma of fraud perpctr,-
ted by whomsoevcr it might be.
This action of the House places
the Democratic party squarely before
the world rs opposed to the electoral
frauds, and at tho same time brands
the Republican party as being op-
posed to bringing out the bottom
facts
1t will bo infinitely better and M or
satisfactory to honest men for tin G
frauds pcrpetratcd in Louisiana and
Florida to be fully exposed and the
onus to rest where itpropcrly belongs {.
Let the end of this investigation be
whatiit may; the responsibility Of this
shame upon Republicanism and blot
upon our nations history, will rest
upon the Republican party; because
their action upon Potter's resolutions
on their final passage, duplicates the
party both directly and indirectly IL
the dark doings Of 1876. A knowl-
edge of the crimes accord ing to law
usage makes them the participants
in the crime The clamor against
the Democrats about forcing the re-
solutions TO q passage without allow
ing amendments is only begging the
question, and such sophistry, so evil
dent, cannot fail to be seen by the
people when this matter is ca rried to
the ballot box. So far rs publ lie
opinion is concerned, it is against the
Republican party; because whenever
character, under well grounded sus-
picions, is brought before the public
for judgment, the verdict will be
guilty" Resting, then, under the
prescription Of such an anathema,
what decent man can endorse the
principles of the Republican party
or enroll his name rs member.
The rcpu: alton for prophecy is not
eopardcd when We make the predic-
ton, that if the control of this gov
crnmcnt, by amy turn in the wheel Of
fortune, is placed again in the hands
of the Republican party, it will be
the funeral knell of civil liberty and
scl!-govcrnment in America.
,Yy arr "btlyaJ 20 'Ge lton } X.
Chalmers, Of Mississippi for Congress