The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1879-12-11
Mr.. CARPENTERS APpREEEN.
STAMc
From the New York Sun.

stole the Presidency in 1875, the
Democrats may be tempted to imi-
tate that example, because, with a
majority in both Houses Of Con-
gress, they will have the control of
the mode of counting the electoral.
votes. His alarm is excited by the
knowledge that the fraud by which
the defeated candidate was put into
the White House was a deliberate
outrage carried out by an organized
conspiracy after the election was
over.
Mr.. Carpenter appeared in a pro-
fessional capacity before the elector-
al Commission in the Louisiana
case. How he came to be employed,
and for what object, is best told in
his own words, in his opening re-
marks:
"I desire to say in the first place
that / do not appear for Samuel j.
Tilden. He is a gentleman whose
acquaintance I have not the honor
of; with whom I have no sympathy;
against whom I voted on the 7th
day of November last; and if this
tribunal could order a new trial I
should vote against him again.
81 appear here for 10000 legal
voters of Louisiana, who, without
accusation or proof, Indictment or
trial, notice OF hearing, have been
DISTINGUISHED by four Williams, incor-
porated with perpetual session,
whose official title is ''tbe Returning
Board of Louisiana"
"The honorable gentlemen from
the house who have appeared here
against US do not pretend that by
the votes given on the 7th of Novem-
Der MI. Hayes's electors were cleo
ted in Louisiana. No serious pre-
tence of that kind is made. Now,
if you are to decide in this case that,
no matter how great and appalling
were the frauds committed in the
canvassing of their votes, although
it be true we shall offer to prove by
record evidence that they threw out
of their count over 10000 votes for
the Tilden electors, that is a matter
you will not consider, might not eve
ry honorable member of this Com
mission as well sit down and write
his license to p~osterity to perpetrate
al the frauds that ingenuity and
self-interest can suggest?
"Since the last election the Dem
ocrats have got possession of Flori-
da. Say to them by this decision
to-day that where clear proof is of
fered that a ca~nvassing board have
acted fra%udulently in making up
their certificates, this high tribunal
will take no notice of it, and if those
Democratic canvassers in Florida do
not send up another ticket here by
10000 majority, it will be because
they have not improved upon the
lesson given them.
eff it be true that a Governor can
certify a man as duly appointed cleo,
tor of a State who has not received
a single vote at the polls, and that
to open the action of a canvassing
board who have been bribed or co,
creed to throw away all. the ballots
cast and certify a falsehood, known
to the public mind, known to both
Houses of Congress from investiga-
tions they have carried on through
their Committees and the examina-
ton of witnesses under oath, is not
to be permitted, who is so hopeful
as to believe that there will ever be
another President elected by any
thing but fraud?
"If these things can be done in
the green tree, what may we not ex-
pect to see in the dry! If in the
centennial year only of the life OF
our nation such frauds can pass un-
whipped, but win the prizes, what
may we not expect when the degen-
eracy of this nation shall come, as il
has come, to all nations and must be
expected some time to come'to usP'
This strong appeal for justice and
this stern admonition of consequen
ces to follow the consumation of the
great fraud were lost upon the eight
by seven-G Commission The power,
full corporations that had dictated to
Grant the appointment of Strong
and Bradley on the Supreme bench.
in order to reverse the legal tender
decision for their own profit, and
thus to stultify cad disgrace the
Court, asserted their ownership Of
these judges, and command theil
votes on the commission. The rail.
road kings and the ring chieftains
knew well what was in store fol
them if an honest count was permit.
ted, and the candidate elected by
the people and by the colleges OBJ.
tanned his rights.
Reform and retrenchment had as
much significance for the Republi'
can leaders, who dreaded the loss Of
power, not only on account of the
Immense patronage and the spoils
that would pass out of their hands
but for the exposures that would in.
evitably bring ruin uron them and
the party. Hence they made com.
mon cause, and through this infu.
ence the highest judicial tribunal
became an instrument of the basest
political conspiracy.
No wonder that Mr.. Carpenter and
others like him are in dread lest the
poisoned challice should be common.
ded to their own lips. The Repub
licans set this infamous example 81 g
stealing the Presidency. Thew rob.