The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1879-03-13
Shall We Have Honest Elections!

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raise storm if it crowds too closely.
Shall We Have Honest Elections!
The effort of the Democrats to repeal
the statutes covering the national cleo
tons is in the interest of free ballot
box stuffing and the withdrawal of all
protection of the franchise where there
is disposition to swindle. That is all
there is to the question. The law pro
vides that, upon the application of a
certain number of citizens, Supervi-
sor of Elections shall be appointed
from each party at the expense of the
General Government, whose duty shall
be to detect and prevent frauds, and to
see that the vote is counted and re-
turned correctly. What could be fair
er? The law was framed in theinterest
of honest elections. It goes into opera
ton wherever an application is made
by either party. It applies only to
Federal elections. It encroaches upon
no State right. 1t cannot interfere
with the process or progress OF any To-
cal election. It is unaggressive and
non-partisan. It is absolutely fair and
impartial in it's operation, and it's only
intention is to guarantee the honesty
and purity of elections. From the
very nature and character of the law, it
is apparent that no party can object to
it which is not in favor Of swindling,
bulldozing and ballot-box stufing.
By what abnormal peculiarly of po-
litical temperament is it that the Dem
ocratic leaders are always opposed to
every protection against fraud in cleo
tons? This has been their record ever
since 1914, when they cheated Henry
Clay out of the Presidency by the noto-
rious Plaquemine frauds, which gave
Louisiana to Polk, and by their colossal
frauds in New York and Pennsylvania
where the total vote showed the pro-
portion of one voter to every five in
habitants, which is physical and moral
impossibility in any community except
where every man is voter and entitled
to vote; and there are no such commu-
mites in the United States. They are
opposed to registration. They are op-
posed to naturalization. They are in
favor of the largest opportunities for
free fraud and for free voting, which
means unlimited voting without regard
to law. voting of everybody, "early and
often," and without punishment. They
have no computations in stealing any
Office, from that of President down to
constable, by all the corrupt processes
for defeating honest elections. It is
conceded that eight or ten Democratic
members of Congress from the South
have been elected by the most unblush-
ing frauds, and not Democratic voice
has been heard in condemnation of the
outrage. Investigations of some of these
cases have already been followed by
punishment the Democratic leaders pro-
pose to repeal the laws that have been
violated, not only that the guilty parties
may escape, but that. more scoundrelism
of the same sort may be perpetrated in
the future. To add to the infamy of
this revolutionary proceeding, they have
fastened the demandfor repeal upon all
Appropriation bill, where it has no right
or authority to be, and insolently notify
the administration that the appropria-
tions for current expenses shall not be
voted unless the amendment for free
fraud is allowed.
1t is no use to mince words about this
outrage; the emergency is too grave
The party that advocates the repeal OF
the National Election laws advocates
treason against the Government and
the republic. If elections are to be
conducted without safeguards thrown
around them, if they are to be open tc
free fraud, then it would be better to
have none, at ALL Betterthe coup d'etat
revolution and despotism, at once, thar
to expose the Governmentyto the mercy
of the mob. No government can be
maintained, that is based upon voting
if the voting be corrupt, and the man
party, clique, or faction in favor of de
stroying the electoral safeguards is {
traitor to free government. But" say.
Mr.. Thurman, with the Presidential BET
buzzing in his bonnet, and with the
| knowledge that he cannot be elected
without free fraud, there will never bt
another election unless the present Law
is repealed" The answer to this, ane
Thurman will hear it all over the NORTH
if he listens, Isl Better no election
than anfelection tainted with fraud anl
corruption; better the end of suffrag,
: than suffrage which is dishonest
better the bullet than the ballot, if th,
ballot simply represents the will of,
corrupt and untramme led mob, left fire,
! to have it's own way without check O
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