Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1880-09-11
HIS CRIME.

INV JSoS pussy"
the past sixteen years that Mr.. James
A. Garfield has not advocated, SO it is no
matter OF wonder that his record Is as
bad as could we'll be imagined in the
Credit Mobilier affair, in the back pay
steal. in the San born contracts. in the
DeGolyer business. and in various mat
ters OF stock jonbing Legislation in which
he was concerned. These were all dis
graceful acts. violative of the trust re-
posed in HIM by his constituents. and dis
honoring to the high position which he
occupied. But he was guilty Of q crime
greater than any OF these q crime which
should consign him to political infamy.
ii there we're such deliberate fairness IN
the American mind as the great boon Of
popular liberty should instil into q tree
people. ss4l slH
At the presidential election IN 1876,
Mr.. Tilden received, in Louisiana, 49,
723 votes. and Mr.. Hayes received 77.s
liza votes. There vas no charge that
the 80. 723voters we're not entitled to veto,
but when It became apparent hat the
vote OF Louisiana would be necessary to
keep the republican party in power. the
cry was raised that numbers of republic
cans had boon iuGrml0ateu u prevented
from voting. Witnesses were manufac-
tured by the hundred. Zach Chandler,
ever alert and ever bold. seeing the OPP
portunity to carry out the vile purposes
Of his party, telegraphed that Hayes
was elected by one vote and. from that
moment, it was und erstood by the cor
rupt leaders that that result was to be
reached at all hazards. Excitement ran
high. In response to the invitation Of
Gen. Grant MI. Garfield, among others,
went to Louisiana, ostensibly to see a
''fair count" really to see that the count
resulted IN favor of Mr.. Hayes. The lat
ter had given up the election-had con-
ceded the election of Mr.. Tilden-and
expressed regret, not for his defeat, but
for the horrible tate OF the poor negro.
whom he had no sooner been counted in.
than he turned over to the tender mer-
cies of the democrats. Troops were con-
centrated at New Orleans. and when
Messrs. Sherman and Garfield had ar
rived, and Eliza Pinkston had been
evoked from the cess.pool OF perjury
and harlotrY, when the returning board,
all republican in violation Of law. was
ready. all was prepared for the most
.stupendous fraud that was ever perpe-
trated upon a people alleged to be free.
1t was soon apparent that the return
ing board would hesitate at no crime
necessary to count out MIR. Tilden and
count in Mr.. Hayes. Every proposition
was made by the democrats to Mr.. Gar
field and his associates for measures to
a proper count of the vote, and
all were rejected. lie and MI. Sher-
man we're there for another object. They
saw that their purpose would be accom-.
plisaed by Mr.. Wells and his associ-
ates, and they refused to interfere. This
board had been found guilty. in 1874, by
Mr.. VIM. A. Wheeler. OF taking the ma
jorlty from n side and giving it to the
other. by unjust, arbitrary and illegal
acts" and had been denounced by him
IN his report to congress as ga disgrace
to civilization" But here. abetted by
James A. Garfield and John Sherman,
this ''%dlsgraceiul" board, without pro-
test from but with the encouragement
of these gentlemen, foully stole from the
American people the verdict they had
recorded at the ballot box. Alleging
that the democrats had driven eelorsd
voters from the polls. they, by perjury.
and forgery. and fraud. reduced the
democratic vote, at first acknowledged
by their W supervisors to have been
placed in the ballot-box. from 83,723 to
70,508. and decreased the republican
vote, at first certified by their own su-
pervisors to be correct, from 77,l74 to
1886, thus giving the state to the re-
publicans by a reduction of their own
vote below What the terrorizing demo-
Gratis had permitted to be cast, and still
further reducing the democratic vote ;
taking mems votes out of the ballot-box-
es because. as was alleged, other men
had prevented still other men from ex-
erc,sing their rights of franchise. Was
there ever a more %stupendous farceP
Not satisfied With making himself the
ally of Wells. Anderson, Cs~ssanave,
Kenner, Agnes jerks and Eliza Pink.
ston. Mr. Garfield supplemented hia
record on this question, IS made at New
Orleans, by one still more unfair ind dis.
graceful. If such a thing were possible.
When the electoral commission bill was
proposed, as a last method of finding a
peaceful solution of the vsxed question
OF the presidency. Mr.. Garfield strenu.
ously. opposed it on the ground that il
allowed examination as to the correct
ness OF the returns as made to the cleo
toral college. Satisfied that the return,
had been prepared, however fraudulent
ly, In the interests of his party, he wa
opposed to any bill permitting such
course. The bill became q law; MI
Garfield was appointed one OF the com
mission, and, Immediately, his opinion O
the powers conferred by the law wa
changed, and he argued the o
every proposition he had previousl,
made concerning it in his speeches i
the house. Not only did he SO argue
but he so voted. In doing this he no
only dishonored himself, but he drsgge'
down with him into the mire of partisan
Jugglery the members of the suprem
bench who were his associates and &C
completes.
The rape of the presidency was one
the most severe and lasting blow
against popular liberty that history r.
cords. but it is doubtful if its baleful II
fiuence will be so fraught with evil
will be the contempt which was brougt
upon the supreme court. Amid all tt
conyulsions of civil war ; amid the pa
sions and p%rejudices e%ngendered b
years of sectional disagreement, Grim
nation and recrimination, this augu.
! tribunal had retained the confidence ar