The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-08-14

confer with ITS members alone and separate
from the democrats? Instead of comforting
with Mr.. Mcdonald and his associates to OBJ
tain a fair count, IL seems they were adIr tilted
false atfiidavits were prepared To sustain the
returning board. Thomas III. Nolan testified
before the Potter committee that he ass sted
In ths preparatbionb Of the ada t In the
introduced to Messrs- Hale. Stoughton and
Garfield members OF the republican visiting
committed. They were in the rooms where the
affidavits were being made. They seemed to be
interested in the work going on. They kept
copies Of the affidavits Saw Mr.. Garfield
nearly every morning. Saw Mr.. Sherman in
Mr.. Cockrell's Office. Mr.. Stougton was up in
the surveyors Office, where he was supervising
the taking of affidavits for the Red river par
ishes. Three or four witnesses were sworn to-
gether. never took any pains to read over
the affidavits to the witnesses. They were
generally told the affidavitS would never be
published. 1t was the understanding in re
publican circles that the state had gone demo-
cratic and they must by affidavits and protests
out polls enough 10 reverse the result"
He stated also that he found very few of the
witnesses mad personal knowledge of the oc-
currences; and when they said they chad
heard" the affidavits were written they
evidence.
Ex-COngressman Morey was one of the re-
publican counsel before the returning board,
and was called as a witness for the defense.
eola rev Meros ne states wnat was done as
returns the Nichols and Tilden electors had a
majority; that the returning board threw out
enough votes TO elect Packard, and after this
threw out ,5l2 votes TO elect the Hayes cleo
tors This condition of things was discussed
by prominent politicians. the visiting states
men and the republican counsel" Why were
they in New Orleans? Not TO see that the re-
tnrning board did no wrong TO the people.
That they declined in refusing corporation
with the democrats. Curiosity did not take
them there. They had purpose, and they
did not fail In IL. Some of the local agents say
ence the proceedings, and that they made
assurances, verbal and In writing, of rewards
for zeal and activity. Some of them are proven
TO have supervised the preparation of affida-
Wits that are now shown to be false. 1t is i'm
possible TO believe that they were not parties
TO the imposition upon the sensibilities of the
country in the Eliza Pinkston affair. Their
part of the work was contaminated by the
hasty return. of Mr.. Sherman 10 Washington
laden with a great weight of bad testimony;
Grant, that the people might be imposed
upon, by giving ii the appearance of an Off
cial communication to congress, and by Mr..
Sherman's astounding statement in the SEN
ate and to the country that the members of
the returning board were estimable charac
tiers. In all this the country is admonished to
what lengths they will go to retain power.
Perhaps II is my duty to say something TO
you about the administration that, by these
means, was brought into power. The demo.
cratic party, now composed of more than half
the people of the United States, cares but little
for it. Its bad title has destroyed it. A bad IT,
through has poisoned the party to death. Who
cares for the administration? 1t is Just strong
enough TO distract and divide its own party. IL
can strike feeble blows upon Mr.. COnkling Is
head by turning his friends out of office. And
who cares for that? Shall the country, or even
the republican party, be concerned about it?
Mr.. Conkling knew the title was bad, and as q
Judge in the case he allowed the wicked judg-
ment upon the false testimony, when but one
word from him would have maintained the
right Let the parties to that miserable strug-
Gle fight il out.
Do you ask me what 1 think of Hayes south
eTn policy? He has none. He and his admin
iStration are incapable of any policy. What
they have done in the south L approve. For
years and years the democratic party hes de-
manded that the bayonet should be taken
from the breasts of the southern states and
that they be left where the constitution placed
them, in absolute control of their domestic af-
fairs.
1 think you asked me about the civil service
reform. 1t is a sham and lie. 1t costs the
country less money than the whisky frauds,
etc, under Grant did, but IL is more hypOcrit-
ical and meaner. 1t was given out that office
holders should attend to their duties and let
politics alone. The Massachusetts, election
came on. The attorney general, who was from
that state, wrote to the officeholders that they
should be Jealous and active to elect the ticket,
and Hayes said yes; that is what it meant.
III was then proclaimed that reform required
that the officeholders should not be taxed for
political purposes. Unsuspecting and simple
minded people said that is right, and though
his title may be bad, Hayes himself is good.
- In March last the assessment was made, and
The clerks and officeholders were notified to
pay. There were large delinquencies and a
second circular was issued, more positive and
demanding in its tone, even naming the bank
at which the payments should be made. Do
you think this incredible because presidents
word had been given to the contrary? This is
how IL came: A party manager went
to the president and explained to
him the necessities of the party,
much in the spirit of Kilpatrick's letter to
him two years ago, assuring him that Indiana
could be carried only by the bloody shirt snd
the use Of money. The president told the
party manager that the rule was not under
stood: that il did not prevent voluntary pay
ments, and he assured him further that he
himself would pay his proportion. thus CIV
ing his example TO the army of Office holders.
The payment must be voluntary, not co
creed. So the rule was only to protect the
office holders, ana not the purity of the cleo
tions Ii is an offiense against political virtue
for the office holders of the country to COM
bine by use OF money to carry the elections,
and thus perpetuate their power; but it is not
disagret able to President Hayes. He now
heads the movement. Under pretense of vol
untary payment {, the clerks and other office
holders are required to pay a fixed assessment,
amounting In the aggregate to perhaps 81 ,OOO-
000 The names are taken at the bank. In
shivering fear they pay as taxed. The money
will come here; perhaps some 81 the presi-
dents salary will come 10 this city. We have
no army of place holders to tax. Our party is
comparatively poor 1t is largely made up of
business men and laboring men. But we will
carry the day. Love of right, Justice and fair
play will prove stronger than the money of
the president and his army of placemen.
Grid yourselves now, not only for this con-
test, but also for the great fight of 1880.
Do you claim integrity for this administra-
ton? Then tell me why all the parties to the
Louisiana and Florida business have been re-
warded with lucrative offices? Ii was not ac-
cidental that the three great missions to Rus
STA, Austria and France were given TO three of
the party emissaries TO Louisiana and Florida
1t is not accidental that Kellogg, when be-
fore the Potter committee, could make no
answer when Butler stated the fact to be that
"all the members of the visiting commission
but one had federal offices given or rendered
10 them, and that one was largely interested
in whisky case which was settled; and all
the returning board, and all the supervisors,
except one, Weber, who was killed, and Cap
tain jerks and Mrs. jerks, and her sister or
brother have all been rewarded under the
civil service order of the administration for
action in the elections or other claims"
IL was not accidental that all the parties in
Florida who aided in making a false return of
the election have been rewarded with public
offices. 1t was not accidental that Presi-
dent Hayes required Anderson's appointment,
and added, This is n special case;" and that
he also required the appointment of Dennis To
an agency OF the treasury, and said: 81 special
~ desire that his claims may have your
favorable attention." when in fact none of the
parties had any claims whatever based upon
personal merit or honorable public
service. Their hold was upon the fears
OF the administration, lest they