The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1878-02-02
THE RETURNING BOARD IN TROUBLE.

nc iaho7 VI tic LouislAHA returning
board are in deep trouble They made
an application to have their case trans.
ferrcd TO the United States courts to
avail themselves OF the coiored sym
pathy, because their jury in the district
court did not possess the requisite de
gree OF color and consequent ignorance
to insure the acquittal which they need,
and which has become necessary to
cheat the penitentiaFy of the state out
| OF four robust convicts. The applica-
tion IL tantsmount 10 confession of
guilt, if other testimony were wanting.
! ana the II fusal of the court TO grant
the transfer, and the sacrifice of the
bonds, indicate clearly that the illus-
trious president-makers have but little
confidence Of being able to wriggle out
OF the dilemma. So far rs they are
personally and collectively concerned.
the occurrence possesses not the slight
est interest TO either the people of
Louisiana or the country at large
Neither the state named or the nation
would care TO tread on the miserable
worms OF corruption. But behind this
quartette of intamy stands an array of
dignity. of wealth, power, and in
huence, which surrounds the Iowlv
returning board with an import.
aBce which sends a thrill of interest
throughout the nerves of the entire
nation. Behind this case, or rather the
decision of the court, stands Mir. HAYES.
his cabinet. and appointments. Indeed
the skeleton OF fraud flashes its un-
slightly bones before the eyes of the
entire executive branch of the govern,
ment, and the peace and quiet of the !
nation.
That conviction either would or
ought to displace the government We
are not prepared TO say but that the
nation should blush at the result no 1
one will deny The republican party /
covered itself with shame in forcing the 1
; 10 : result in the commission oyer
the protests of the honest and fair
OF the country, and the democrat,
for tarnely submitting to it, have won
but little glory We echo but a
sentiment when we say
and freely admit its entire truth that
the result has been thousand percent
better than anyone had right 10 ex.
peet. 1t has, indeed, given us liberal.
and so far as we are able to Judge as vet
a perfectly honest government. Better
,y far than any we have had since the
death Of Mr. Lincoln, or since the war
closed This circumstance will aopeal
has already done so. strongly for for
oearance. SO long as Mr. Hayes and
the officers Of bis government admins
ter il As they have done SO far, the tol.
Grant spirit Of the people will be inclined
to submit, and perhaps, all things con,
sid-red, it would be we'll for them to do
so, in this instance. No true friend of
the south, or Of the general government
would now see the prevailing quiet die,
turoed. Our section is slowly, bat
surely, notwithstanding the financial
distress prevailing, regaining her pros,
perity. We dread aud deprecate any
excitement which would interrupt il
even for a day
fetlwhst fearful precedent this re.
turning board fraud and electoral com
mission outrage has fixed for future as
pirants of another stamp!than Hayes
Even if no move is made toward dis
placing him, the continual dread Of an
attempt will weaken both his own pur>
poses and the strength of his govern.
ment; besides, it will set Up a chronic
apprehension among the people. which
will promise anything else than good.
It's hard thing to determine il We
must quietly see such an outrage perpe-
trated without effort to correct it, or
II is better to bear it in order
that the country may recover more
speedily from the bIighting effects of
the war. This is all there is in the
question, and God knows it is enough.
The poor wretches on trial eat but a
mean figure in the case, compared with .
these who have protited by their sll- .
lainy