The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1880-05-28

nv A&%tWa A*8a8 Wt@4sEe
In the discussion Of the issues before
the American people. the frauds OF the
Southern Republican Returning Boards
must not be forgotten. These frauds. in
volving the Justification Of the results Of
the Presidential election III 1876. will
remain an indehble stigma upon the
men who conducted the campaign ON
the Republican side and every one Of
the 'svisiiing statesmen" who sup
pressed the truth. suggested lies and
influenced scoundrels like Madison
Wells and Casanave TO certify 10 known
falsehoods. This same impudent game
was played successfully in south Caro-
lima. Florida and Louisiana; but all was
not lost until Congress fell into the
snare Of the Electoral Commission"
Undoubtedly that measure was pro-
NOTED by some excellent men; and. rs
certainly. il was very difficult TO fore
see that Commission so constituted
could fail to make righteous Judicial
determination Of what seemed plain
judicial question When. by bare
majority-the Commission being di-
vided by strict party lines-it was de-
cided that It's members could not in
quire into the nature Of returns alleged
and proved to be fraudulent, but was
concluded by the paltriest technicali-
ties to accept as undcniably true, what
the whole world perceived to be glar-
ingly false, q feeling Of profound indig-
nation was spread through the minds of
all thinking men. But II was at least
an open question whether the passage
of the bill for the Electoral Commission
and the action of that body. howev-
err monstrous. had not deprived the
Democratic party Of all, except revolu-
tionary. means of further contest Such
was the opinion Of a majority; and Mr..
HAYES. incontestably not the recipient
of majority of the Electoral votes.
was declared by both houses Of Con-
gress to have been duly elected, and
was quietly inaugurated.
II became known during the first
three months Of the year 1877 that in
the interval between November and
December 6. 1876, numerous dispatches
in cipher had been sent by both Demo
Gratis and Republicans 10 the members
of the Returning Boards OF South Caro-
lima. Florida and Louisiana All. or
nearly all. of those that had been
sent by Republicans. with the answers
10 them, were seized upon by the Re-
publican members Of committee II
the Senate and destroyed. Some Of
those alleged to have been sent BY Dem
ocrats were also destroyed. but selec-
ton from these. made by these same
Republicans, was preserved II was
claimed by the Republicans. at a later
day. that the object OF the seniers of
these dispatches was the same In both
eases, viz: that Of the Republicans
being to induce the different Returning
Boards to make their returns in favor
of the Republicans, and that Of ths
Democrats 10 induce them 10 make
them in favor Of the Democrats
aud that corrupt solicitations wers
used 10 induce the one or the other o
these returns.
. Admitting, for the sake OF the argu
ment. that this suspicion was correct
, and that each party did really attempt
to bribe the Returning Boards to de
I eide for itself. il would follow from tn
, notorious fact that all Of the Retnrnin,
!, Boards decided for the Republican par
, ~. that this party outbid the Democ
racy in this disgraceful contest. Bu
: when we advert to the further fact tina
4 no bid whatever for any such false re
J turn has ever been brought home I
J. any person authorized 70 speak for tn
! Democratic party. or for whose act
! that party is at all answcrable. aud tina
! every member Of these Returnin
: Boards has been rewarded. either by
plain sum Of money or by Office Of NOR
or less emolument BY Mr.. Hayes AZ
ministration; moreover. that every on
Of the :. visiting statesmen who visite
4 Louisiana and Florida for the almo'
: avowcd purpose Of suppressing all y
4 l.quiry into the frauds Of the Returnin
! Boards has received Office at the hand
!. OF Mr.. Hayes the audacity Of attcmp
I ing TO impute 70 their political adve
I saries the sin Of which theu stand col
a victed. stands unrivaled in the anna
y Of cffrontcry. Louis Republican,.
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