The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1879-12-19
THE REPUBLICAN OUTLOOK.
A Bold Plan to Steal the Electoral v otc
of New York.

[Albany Correspondents Now York SUM-
There is bold plot brewing among
the Republican politicians of the State
of New York, looking to nothing less
than the capture of So electoral votes
without the uncertainty of an election.
For the first time in a Presidential
year since 1860 the Republicans will,
in 1880, control the Legislature in both
Horatio Seymour was Governor, and
he would have vetoed any bill de-
priving the people of their voting priv
ileges. In 1868 the Assembly was
Democratic. In 1872 John T. Hoff-
man was Governor, and in 1876 Sam |
uel J. Tiiden held that Office. In 1860 |
the Democrats were hopelessly divided,
while in 1856 the candidacy of Millard |
Fillmore as the representative of a
third party insured the State to the Re- |
publicans by an overwhelming ma
by no means certain that the Republi- |
cans will achieve success. The Demo |
cratic divisions may be healed before |
next November. John Kelly, setting |
at defiance the example of the Office !
holders in Thomas Jeferson's day, |
may -politically-or resign. Gov.
Cornell's administration may ALLEVIATE |
the support of some who voted for
him this year and arouse to hostility
the apathetic crowd that stayed at
home. A hundred contingencies are
possible which would lose New York
to the Republican party, while the
prize of her full electoral vote is with
in the reach of the ssbosses'' if they
dare to grasp it. They talk it over in
whispers among themselves, but only
those who are more audacious than
discreet have thus far presumed to de-
fend the scheme openly. One Of its
boldest advocates said recently: "It
would be the greatest blessing that
could befall the people if the Legisla-
ture should cast the electoral vote of
the State. It is perfectly lawful pro-
ceeding. Up to the year 1928 the elec-
tors were not appointed by the people.
In South Carolina the Legislature ap-
the rebellion. The precedents are in
favor of it, and, as the State has de-
cided to intrust the Republican party
with power, that power ought to be ex-
ercised to save the voters the expense,
| the trouble, the turmoil and annoyance
of the Presidential election.'
| A Democrat, who is usually mild,
when he heard these remarks, ex-
claimed: <sIt is the most atrociously
wicked proposition ever made in a free
State. Under eight years of Grantism
and three years of Fraud, the people
have been made familiar with almost
every kind of crime known to politics.
They have borne their wrongs with a
patience which excites more contempt
than respect. But there are limits to
human endurance, and if the Conkling
party attempt to steal the electoral
vote of New York, their Indignation
will be such as has never before been
witnessed"
tsBut what are you going to do about
it ?" asked the Republican.
:, ssDo!' returned the irate Democrat
eve will go on and hold the election
as usual. A law made to rob the peo
pie of rights bought with blood is nt
cOgniZe it. We should choose electors
! through the popular vote, and they
would be recognized by Congress-
ssBut the Constitution of the United
States clothes the Legislature with
power to direct how the electors shall
be appointed, and if that body decided
to cast the vote itself, Congress would
have to accept it unless it wanted to
revo1utionize our form of government u
"No, the revolutionary schemes
would all be on the other side. The
:
the maintenance of the peoples rights.
When those rights are invaded ruth
lessly, the time will have come for the
enforcement of the higher law. The
j.. Republicans may as well understand
= first as last that the citizens of New
, York will never submit to an act which
deprives them Of their right to vote.'
A calm observer of events, who usu
ally knows what is going on here il
Albany, said: tsThe scheme of casting
the electoral vote through the Legisla
5 ture has been suggested in variou!
8 quarters, but it is not seriously enter
tained-at present. The idea had it
origin in a piece of political GOSSIP
!. from Louisiana. It was announced
D that the Democrats proposed the SAM
thing in that State. Then some Re
publican here was moved to remari
that there was nothing to prevent tn
, Republicans of New York from retail
- ating. A careful examination of tn
statutes bearing on the subject showe'
that he was right. The power unques
tIonabIy exists for the incoming Leg
islature to cast the electoral vote, pre-
yided a law to that effect is passed an