The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-05-17
DANGER IMpENDINa.
How Troops have boon Used at Elections.

now Troops nave been Used at Elections,
NJ i, Sun. From tho beginning to the
close Of Gen. Grants administration, the
army and navy were constantly used TO prop
up carpet bag governments in the South, and
to carry elections under the partisan act Of
1865. The intention of the Republican lead
ers was TO have extended this military super.
vision at the polls over all parts of the country
where they were IN minority to crush out
every form Of opposition and continue their
rule indefinitely.
That was the object of quartefing a small
force in the heart Of this city, and Of station
ing two ships Of war 10 command the centre
Of commercial activity, in 1870. The exper'
iment would probably have succeeded, too,
but for the resolute stand of our local author
tiles. The same year United States marines
were marched to the polls in Philadelphia,
and Gov. Geary, though n staunch Republi
can, made that audacious intrusion the subject
of strong condemnation in his regular mes
sage to the Legislature.
Aiter these tentative attempts to accustom
the people OF the North to the presence Of
troops on election day had faled, they were
mostly directed to the Southern States, where
such outrages had been long praetised, and
| could be repeated with greater impunity
The most scandalous abuses were perpetrated
without even u show of external deeency.
Take the following example as an illustration
of the whole system. George Il. Spencer
was carpet-bag Senator from Alabama, and
he disposed Of troops TO suit party necessities,
as appears by this letter, addressed to the
Secretary of the Republican State Committee:
DECATUR, ALA, Oct, %. 1877.
| Ny DEAR BARBFR:--I have Just returned from
| Louisville, where have been To see Gen. Terry
| about troops for Alabama. / have had company
Of cavalry sent to Livingston, detachment to Pick
ems county, N company of infantry to Eutnw, and q
| company TO Dem0polis. and a company 10 Seai'
station, Russell county. Also squadron OF cavalry
! wish Randolph, Deputy United States Marshal
would use the company Ut Opelika In making mr.
rests IN Ta,laP2osa, kandolph aud &lebume as
| ing 10 attend the meeting OF the state Committee
would go sooner, but cannot, as 4 Is important
| 70 Talladega and block that game. ! must not
| however, be known In the matter
The troops mentioned above will all be In thei
| respective places In two days from now. some hav
already arrived. In haste, truly yours,
GEORGE Y. SPENCER
Kellogg, Chamberlain, Stearns, and other
of the tribe TO which Spencer belonged fol
lowed in his footsteps that year, and in 1877
the Legislature Of Louisiana was captured b.
such bareiaced frauds that Mr.. Haar, Mr.
Wheeler, and Mr.. Frye Of House comfnitte
were compelled to admitthem. What the arm
did in Louisiana, in South Carolina, and il
Florida in 1876 is familiar history. The elec
toral votes Of those three States could no
have been stolen as they were except by tn,
aid of troops sent there expressly TO protec
and to assist the scoundrels who did the work
And as lift close the business fttingy an
to complete the operations of John Sherma
and his coniederates in crime, two thousan
picked troops were collected at Washingto
to oversee the electoral count, with aTtiller
trained on the House Of Representatives, wit
officers sworn to secrecy, and with orders an
preparations as if state Of fragrant war aetu
ally existed at the capital. These last event
are only two years old; and yet, in tho face {
an experience dating back to 1870, and cor
tinuing through the two terms Of Grantisn
Mr. Conkling, Mr.. Edmunds, Mr.. Chandler
: and the rest of them, who are all now engaa
ed in and effort to give Grant third teru
have the elfrontery to tell the people thi
nothing is to be feared from the presence
the troops at the polls
In the view OF all rejecting men, this
the most serious question ever presented
time of peace. 1t means force to carry III
next Presidency and to destroy free goyeri
ment. Not even force coming from h
|, body Of the community, but hirelings or me
cenaries, most of them not citizens at all, VIII
who are not required by the terms Of the
enlistment TO take an oath to obey the Coz
stitntion, but only swear they will obey II
commands Of their superior officers.
Let II not be said that the Fraudulent Pre-
ident will never consent to the employmei
Of troops at elections, or that existing law,
he pretends, forbids their presence at III
polls. He is a poor, weak creature, witho
principle, or conviction, or moral courag
and is in the hands Of desperate and desig
ing leaders that have staked their all on II
next Presidential election. Instead of hal
ing, Hayes will go to the furthest extreme
order to prove his fidelity; and there is |
plan, however reckless, that he will not no
adopt and pursue to remove the distrust
the chiefs, who use but despise him. III
last hope is in the determination of Congre
to protect the ballot against the bayonet, al
I to defend the liberties Of the people