Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-11-26
A PURE BALLOT.


A PURE BALLOT.
The election held in Philadelphia on
the fourth OF November last, was a
parody on the purity of the ballot.
Already evidence enough has accumu-
lated to convince, even the most ma.
levolent partisan, that tho whole thing
was simply rearing farce, reeking
comedy. There is not, we believe,
an honest Republican within the
corporate limits Of Pennsylvahia's
great metropolis, who does not think
that returns offered as the result of
the late election, are knowingly in.
correct and deliberate perversion OF
the expressed will of the people. The
election officers, who assumed their
responsible positions under the solem-
nifty of an oath, stepped their souls in
perjury to lay this offering of fraud
and violence upon the altar of dc.
PRAYED Republican domination. We
do not believe there is an honorable
man upon either side, who will not now
acknowledge that the Republican vote
as announced on the evening OF the
fourth of November was false and
fraudulent. There is not O man in
Philadelphia who took sufficient intor.
est in the election to note what was
going on, who does not know that the
number Of votes as returned never
went through the windows. The elec.
tion machinery is in the hands of as
desperate and bold q set of men as
ever cursed a free country. The fact
that stands out in bold relief IS simply
this The vote for Butler in Philadel-
phia is over four thousand more than
that cast for General Hoyt. Every
one knows that the election last year
for Governor was of the most exciting
character, and that an active, vigorous
and demonstrative campaign was car
ried on by both parties. The public
interest was aroused and full vote
was of course the consequence. The
election this year was distinguished by
nothing more than the apathy of party
leaders and the indifference of the
people. And yet in the face of this,
the political FOUNDERS who answer for
Republican election officers in the first
city of our Commonwealth return in
this off year a larger vote than was
cast for IIoyt. 1t is time that this
monstrous, organized system of fraud
should be stricken down, and the De.
mocracy OF the country earnestly call
upon the true hearted, loyal and un.
selfish men of the party in Philadel-
phia, to bend their energies to the
task of bringing these scoundrels to de-
served punishment. Full rein and
scope seem to have been given to the
repeater's brigade and the large ma.
jority given Butler is due to their sys.
TEN of false personation. Let Vaux
and MCGOWAN, and Cassidy and Ran
dali forget for while their personal
grievances, and unite in vindcating
the Democratic party Of both City and
State by the prompt and faithful pros
ecution Of all concerned in this gigantic
fraud. Can it be that such proceed
ings az these are to go unwhippcd of
justice? Is there no legal authority,
whose duty it is to ferret out this stu.
pendous outrage upon the ballot 2 or
is this mockery of free suffrage to 90 |
on2 1t was premedtatcd and care.
fully prepared Tor. The sponsors of
these men sit in the high places OF
power, and the time has now come
when Leeds, Stokley, Lane and Rowen
should know that they are not omnipo-
tent; that there is power behind the
throne, mighlier than the throne itself.
Outraged decency will relentlessly
drag them to the bar Of public opinion,
and the verdict will be that they should
be remanded forever TO the obscurity
that always, sooner or later, envelopes
the iaithless servants of the people. In
the meantime, while awaiting the
stern retribution that certainly and
surely will overtakc the masters, we
call for the condign punishment Of the
servants. Lane plants and Stokley
waters, but just as sure SIS comes seed
time and harvest, will these men share
with their dupes, if not the imprison.
ment which awaits the repeater, the
just and merited condemnation of oil
honest men. This they deserve and
should receive.-Centre Democrat.