The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-03-06
The Great Fraud.

Every intelligent man in the country be- |
lieves that 1ilden was elected and is euti- |
tied to the presidency, and that Hayes was
not elected and is fraudulently in posses
sion Of the presidency. Therefore the re-
port Of the Potter committee develops
nothing new, and produces no change in
public opinion. 1t, however, groups the
facts 10 convenient form and brings out in
stronger relief the dark outlines of the
great fraud. In summing up the report,
the St. Louis Republican says
Briefly stated, the facts about Florida
are these: That the Tilden electors re-
ceived a majority of the votes cast in the
state, and we're therefore entitled to be de-
clared elected but the canYassing board
rejected, without warrant, portion of the
votes 30 as to show majority for Hayes
that the board delayed their announcement
OF the count till the morning Of the day on
which the electors we're to meet for the
purpose Of evading judicial process; that,
nevertheless, the supreme court of the
state, composed Of Republican judges, did
afterwards decide that the 1'ilden electors
we're elected and the Hayes electors not;
that the court further decided, in the con-
test between Drew (DemocraD and
Stearnes (Republcan) that the canvassiug
board had defrauded Drew and unlawfully
counted Stearnes in; that the Legislature
ordered a recount of the votes for electors,
the result OF which was to show that the
Tilden electors we're fairly chosen, nnd in
accordance With this, a certificate of
election was issued to them; and
that the electoral commission at Washing
ton refused to receive and consider this
truthful certificate, avouched by the su-
preme court, the governor aud the legsla-
ture Of Florida, and adhered to it's accept
Rnce Of the false and fraudulent certificates
issued to the Hayes electors.
The facts as to Louisiana are: That
Gov. Kellogg persuaded Supervisor An
derson not to hold an election In East
f 5iciana parish, where the Democrats had
Coucillated the negroes, but subsequently,
the Democrats induced him TO return and
I'D the election; that the republican lead
ers then instructed their voters not to vote,
30 that there might be presented pretext
for charges Of intimidation; that the super
visOrs, nevertheless, reported that there
was no intimidation and the election was
peaceful; that, after this, they we're forced
or persuaded TO make u supplemental re-
port alleging intimidation; that after the
returns OF the election from this and other
parishes had been sent 10, they were re-
opened ut New Orleans and false affida-
Wits, alleging violence and intimidation
smuggled IN them, in violation ofthe Louis
lana law; that on those false nffidavits, the
returning board, IN accordance with a pre-
arranged plot, fraudulenty counted in the
Hayes electors, although the Tilden cleo
tors had a majority of 10000; that the
returning board would never have com
mitted this wroug on the people but for
their encouragement from visiting states.
men and the troops;;" that although an
opportunity was given TO John Sherman
to prove his charges OF intimidation, he
failed to avail himself of it; that the Sher-
man letter, whether written by Sherman
or some one else, had its effect 10 securing
the vote of the state for the Hayes cleo
tors; that even at the last it was found
necessary 10 forge two of the electors
names on the certlGcate-a fraud which
the electoral commission connived at
and that the tOresworn officials of Florida
and Louisiana who served the party with
such Infamous fidelity in all this miserable
business have been signally rewarded by
the administration.
These are the facts of history which the
report represents to the public and they
cannot be kept out of sight nor deprived Of
their legitimate effect The Republican,
may attempt TO drown the cry of fraud by
derlsive echoes of it as much as they will
but the crime stands proved nevertheless