Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-05-29
THE ELECTORAL INQUIRY.

Clarkson N. Potter should take the trouble
to vindicate the wisdom of the pending in
vestigation into the alleged election frauds
in Louisiana and Florida, his letter, publish
ed in the GLOBE of yesterday, may serve to
set at rest the anxiety of some honest people,
who, misled by the partisan howlings of a
subsidized press, feared that the re-opening
of the question might lead to revolution and
bloodshed. Mr.. Potter's letter is a clear,
dispassionate statement of the case-the pur-
poses of the committee and the expected eff
feet of the relations that are certain to be
made.
Mr.. Potter does not conceal the fact that
Mr. Hayes title to the Presidency is, for the
time being, at least, valid one. By COM
mon consent it was referred to tribunal
chosen by Congress, which decided against
the Democratic candidates. In this decision
the Democrats have acquiesced, but their &C
quiescence does not necessarily place bar
to a further inquiry into the manner in
which the tribunal was induced to come to
it's determination. Says Mr.. Potter:
''Should fraud connected with the electoral
count. appear so gross and palpable that you
and all honorable men would unite in denounc-
ing it, Congress might then take action, but if
SO, what Congress might do being the result of
the action of men of all parties-of the great
body of the people, not of a party-would be
effected quietly, certainly, and without violence
or disturbance. In saying this do not mean
that l expect the investigation to be fol-
lowed by either legal or Congressional action.
What, if anything, should be done because of
the inquiry, must depend upon the results Of
the inquiry. But I do mean that whatever
action, if any, should follow investigation, such
action neither disturb the order nor pros
perity of the country
This, then, may be regarded as the policy
Of the inquisitors: ''To ascertain the facts,
SO that if frauds be established repetition
of such frauds may be prevented, and if not
to clear up the general belief throughout
the country that there we've such Frauds Is
there an honest-minded.m man in the country
who can take exceptions to such proceed
ure?
The committee does not contemplate, nor
has it ever purposed, revolutionary deposit
ton of Mr.. Hayes. What it will do, will be
to lay such facts as may be developed before
the country as will show that the Office is
held through frauds of the most gigantic
proportions, aided and abetted, if not actual
ly participated in by the de facto President
himself and his confidential advisors. twill
show that the plot was we'll laid long before
the election, and carried out in total disre-
gard of the right of the people and with the
perfect knowledge that they we're defrauding
| the voters. It will show that shameless bar
gains we're made with corrupt men; that
criminals convicted of ballot-box stuffiine
and classifying returns have been
rewarded by the administration, and
that the Democrats have been defrauded
from start to finish. And having laid these
facts before the public, fortified by incon-
testible proofs, the mission of the committee
will cease.
At this stage it will become the peoples
time to act. If they, through their repre-
sentatives, choose to insist that justice be
done, it will be done legally, peacefully, and
in order, If, on the contrary, they choose
to submit two years longer to the rule OF
political pirates, scallawags and felons, then
the Democratic party will submit, entering
their solemn protest against the fraud. If
revolution comes, it will not come from the
Democracy, but from the ring of corrupt
otticeholders who are now fattening at the
cost OF the country upon Offices to which
they have no right, either in law or equity.
In this emergency the Democratic party is
the party of peace, but know their rights.
and knowing, dare maintain them. The
Republican party is the party of revolution
the Mexican party, determined to retain
their fraudulent claims at any hazard to the
peace and material prosperity of the nation.