The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-03-25
THE REIGN OF FRAUD.


RlectlOu Grimes and LaWlsssness In philadelphia
A view of the election frauds in Phila,
delphia is pictured by the Ledger OF that
oitv. The Philadelphia Times also takes
nm the subiect and ADVISES the Republ-
can nress. which never fails to exagger-
ate snv lawlessness in the South, to take
a survey of what has been going on at
their own doors. 1t says:
When the colored men were tirst en-
franchised and attempted to vote In
Philadelphia they were hunted ike
dogs snd shot down like beasts because
thew were black men. The graves Of
Cato, Chase and others stand as monu-
ments of Philadelphia lawlessness, and
the consuming shame comes back to us
in the fact that not one of all the mur'
derets and lswless ruffans has been
brought to punishment. With Repuoll'
can courts, Republican power in every
department of National and State author
ity. the murderers Of the black man
have defied the laws and are yet un'
whipped of Justice. One Of them was
subsequently convicted of election frauds
in Cincinnati, and President Hayes made
haste TO pardon him.
It is nearly a year since one OF the
prominent officials of this city, and one
of our most respected citizens, was killed
on the most prominent street In Phlla-
delphia, by Government official The
offending officer was permitted to resign,
he is still at large on bail, and his trial
belongs to the future. Had such a case
occurred in Mississippi, it would have
made most effective campaign doCu'
ment, and the failure to execute the
offender whether the act was deliberate
murder or excusable homicide would
have been heralded as the studied fall.
ure of Justice in Southern courts.
But few months ago the primary
elections of one of the great political
parties were held in this city, under the
eve of Republican police and the guard
ship of Republican courts. The result
or anticipated result in one ward was
unsatisfactory to leader in an adjoin'
ing ward, and mob swooped down on
the convention, scattered the delegates
forced the presiding officer to escape by
the window, killed one man and wound
ed others. 1t was within sight of the
Mayors office, off courts and OF Inde-
pendenCe Hall, The dead was buried
the wounded healed, and the only par.
ties accused by the law were acquitted
by our juries. Can it be assumed that
such atrocious lawlessness can be perpe.
trated without guilty parties who should
be made felons instead of political lead
ers?
Only few weeks ago, at an import
ant election in this city, member OF
the highest legislative tribunal OF Phila
delphia, subordinate officer in charge
of the records of the court and delegate
to the Chicago Convention, headed a
gang of FOUNDERS and ballot smashers in
the Fifth ward, took possession of the
ballot-box and the return after the count
had been completed, intimidated the
election officers by threats Of violence,
falsifed the return and cheated an hon
estly elected Councilman out of the po'
sition to which the people had chosen
him. His confession in open court, when
called upon to make the best excuse he
could invent, practically admitted the
crime; but he is still a Philadelphia leg.
islator, court officer, and partisan juries
are expected to shield him from punish
ment. How would such record in
Mississippi or Louisiana be embellished
by the organs which take little or no
note OF the lawlessness which is at our
own doors2