National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-02-11
THE FLORIDA FRAUDS.


East FLORIDA banner (Dem.)
Dr. r. II. McIlvaine, editor of the Cedar
Keys Journal, expresses our views in the mat
ter of Governor Hull's indictment for compile
ity in procuring fraudulent return of the
vote of Brevard County. There is chain of
evidence which connects him directly with
that fraud Acting upon the suggestion con-
tanned in his letter to Mr.. Poyntz, the fraud
was perpetratcd. Three men, occupying hum
bier positions than Mr. Hull, were induced to
commit this crime. They have since been con-
victed and sentenced TO serve a term of years
in the Albany Pentontiary at hard labor. In
this matter Governor Hull acted outside of his
party 1t was his individual act, and the
party of which he Is u member cannot be held
responsible therefor. AS regards frauds, the
policy of the Democratic party is clearly pro-
nounced One of the clearly expressed lenets
Of that party now is not only to unearth and
punish fraud, but to condemn tho condonation
OF fraud; and upon this principle the Demo.
cratic party must be kept pure. If in
dividua members of that party, act
ing upon their own suggestions, shall
commit frauds upon the ballot, or alter the re-
turns after they have been deposited in tho
custody of the proper officials, they must suf-
fer the consequences Of their crime. Mr.. Hull
has gotten himself into an ugly mess, and he
must eXtricate himself as best he can. If he
wrote the letter to Mr.. POyntz with the intent
10 suggest the preparation of II fraud, he
ought not to 20 to Congress, and If he had no
better sense nor discretion than to write such
q letter without intending to convey such a
suggestion, he is not fitted to be Il representa-
tive in Congress and now that it is clearly
established that Mr.. Bisbee received a majority
of the votes, and was legally elected, we think
Mr.. Hull should gracefully yield him the cortif.
cate of election and retire from politics-a bust.
ness for which he seems entirely unsuited. He
owes this much to the people Of this district
aud the party of which he is n member, and
this the party ought to demand. AS DIR. Nc
Ilvaine says it is "best to have the proud con.
sciousness ofhaving done right than to attempt
to attain temporary advantage by sacrifice of
principle" The following is the Doctors re-
marks on the subject in full;
You will see by the dispatches that Lieutenant.
Governor HUI has been indicted In the United
States Court In jacksonville for conspiracy Osecure
Il fraudulent return of the election in Breyard
by Hull TO one Nat Poynl2 three days after the cleo.
ton, saying that, according 10 the latest returns,
| IN (which did not include Brevard and Dade Coun.
tiGs), he lacked 2J2 votes of an election, and for
Poyntz TO proceed TO Breyard, regardless expense
| aud see what could be done If there had been no
false return from Breyard County this letter would
have been comparatively harmless; but coupled as
/ Il is with such admitted fraud, 10 has al exceed
| ingy ngly look, and will probably lead to very
serious consequences
seat In the Forty-slXth Congress and that justly,
The grand old Democratic party cannot afford to
COuntenanCe or uphold fraud in elections or slls.
tain the claims of any man who attempts to obtain
office by resort to fraudulent returns better let
Mr. Hull go by the board, and seat his opponent II
! elected and have the proud consciousness of hay
ing done right than 10 attempt 10 attain tempOr-
/ ary advantage by sacrifice OF principle,