The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1880-09-09
WHOLE NUMBER 697.

navy, was ready to back him; while he that the
plan of Electoral Commission might, possibly,
the military behind 1t, and he knew how that power
would be employed. But he also strenuously
opposed the particular features of the electoral plan
His principal ground of opposition that it would
enable the commission to go behind the returns and
sift the real facts in dispute This altogether
natural for it is now known through official docu-
ments that, visiting statesman he had taken
leading part in manipulating the returns in Louisi
ana, and smoothing the way for favorable decision
of Representatives of the 25th OF January, 1877 he
declared that the Electoral bill "grasps all the
power and holds States and electors toys in its
right hand. 1t assumes the right Of Congress to go
down into the colleges and inquire into all the acts
and facts connected with their work 1t assumes the
right Of Congress to go down into the States to
view the act of every officer, 10 open every ballot
box and to pass judgment upon every ballot cast by
100000 Americans" This Gen. Garfeld's
conferred upon the commission; but after
the passage of the bill he became a member of this
tribunal He had assisted in doctoring the returns
and preparing the which to settle the rights
of "7,0O0O 600 of Americans :" but he saw no i'm
propriety in becoming himself a member of this
great national Returning Board and as such he took
the following oath: " I, James A. Garfield, do SOL
emnIy swear that will imparially examine and con-
s1der all questions submitted to the commission Of
which am member, and true Judgment give
thereon, agreeable to the constitution and the laws
30 help me God" Eut how did he discharge his du.
ty under this oath? In every instance he voted to
conceal and suppress the very facts which, on his
ering He knew all the facts to which have referred
relative to the frauds and violations of law in Louisi
ana. He knew that its Returning Board had openly
and defianty trampled under foot the law creating
it, and from which it derived its authority to
count the vote of the State; and that its action in
counting it for Hayes and Wheeler therefore
terly null and void. He knew that the commission,
without violating the rights of the State without 60
ing "down into the colleges" and inquiring "into
all Of the acts and facts connected with their work.
but simply by ascertaining whether the election
laws of Louisiana had been complied with, would be
warranted in rejecting the action of the board and
he had Joined his party associates in the foregone
conclusion that the Democratic party must be de-
fested at all hazards, and it was too late to call halt
in the devilish march of events through which A.,
900 of people to be deprived of the right to
choose their chief sfuncdonaries. The stupendous
national juggle must be performed, and he was
ready to act his part The voice of the republic had
to be stranged, and he nerved himself for
The work, and it can not be denied that
triumph over his conscience and his country. He
was however, only the faithful servant of his mas
ter. He part of the long-used machinery
which had allowed nothing 10 stand in its way. The
theft of the Presidency simply the leaf and
flower of that party idolatry which has been pro-
nounced more soul-destroying evil in our republic
than the worship of idols in heathen land. 1t was
the inevitable fruiage of long years of organized po
htical corruption and prosperous mZiadministra-
than the effort of his party to crown Gen. Garfield
with the great Office which he aided in snatchine
from its rghtful claimant four years age, while
nothing could more absolutely demonstrate its unfit
to govern the country and the duty of the peo
pie to sentence it to death. -ti