New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-08-20
THE FR1TDS IN .dLABAE1

The Republicans Of Alabama have made an
appeal to all honest voters III this country
which should not be dlsregarded. There Is
no loose or random assertion III their plain
recital OF facts. Abundant proof is given fol
every charge and there has not been, fol
more than twenty years, an instance OF more
mdacous fraud than the evidence discloses
Little stress is placed upon the fact that the
ablest and most active Republicans of Ala
bama had been assassinated prior to the
election. as Mr.. Billings was, for no Other
offence than their participation in Republican
efforts. The Republican State Committee OF
| Alabama do not call especial attention. to
assassination of Republicans, because the quiet
and peace loving citizens of the North are
supposed to have a strong desire TO ignore
1.-THE bloody shirt" But the later and meaner
manifestation of Democratic propensities
ought to command the attention of all fair
minded men.
1t has been known that the election in Ala
bama was carried by fraud. The Republican
State Committee explain the methods adopted
by the Democrats, the extent Of the frauds
perpctrated in different counties, and the
nature of the proof in each case The change
of law, by which the marking of ballots was
prohibited IN order to make sure that contests
should be rendered hopeless was but the first
step ia the vilanous conspiracy. Afterward,
the selection of the officers of election was so
made that, at nearly all the precincts in the
State, the Democrats were free to swindle as
much as they pleased. Men who were recon-
mended by the Republicans as competent to
guard their interests were excluded. Persons
L. ,oI Ind If
for no other reason than because of their
palpable incompetence, physical or mental.
Sometimes blind men were chosen; sometimes
idiots; sometimes corrupt and purchasable
creatures. At nearly every precinct in the
State the Democrats had power to change the
returns as they saw fit, without the possibility
of dispute by either of the Judges.
The modes of fraud. as explained in the ad-
dress of the Republican Committee, show
great fertility of invention, and illustrate in a
most striking manner the Democratic claim
that fee ballot aud free count are desired
by that party. Let any respectable Northern
man, for example, read the evidence submit
ted in regard to the election and count at
McGehee's Switch, in Montgomery County let
him consider the pretence that $40 Demo-
cratic voters were so inundated by 116 Re-
publlcans that the instant presence of troops
from a distant city was required; let him
note the impudent removal of ballOt-boxes
and ballots by the Democratic officials at
other points let him consider how the votes
sent from some precincts were wholly rejected,
and why; let HIM notice, also, the shameless
performance at POrter's Beat, where the In
spectOrs refused, without excuse, to make any
count and he will surely understand how il
comes TO pass that the South is solid.
AT some points the boxes were so stuffed
that there were more ballots than voters. Al
other points there were more votes cast than
the whole population would warrant. At other
points, though heavy Republican maorities
Were actually cast, large Democratic MAORI
ties were returned. 1t is stated in the address,
with simplicity and great force, that these
frauds by the Democratic party, infamous as
they are, meet the approval of citizens called
respectable, because public opinion juslifies
practical notification of negro suffrage. So
long as the Republicans are mainly cOlOred,
the people who call themselves decent and re-
spectacle at the South do not hesitate To c0un-
tenance the most shameless frauds III order
to deprive the cOlored majority Of its righiul
power. But this, according TO Democrats, is
80 n free ballot and n fair cDuuf y