The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-10-02

Judge Black, the eminent Pennsylvania
iurist, has beea repeatedly quoted by the
Republican newspapers as the special friend /
and apologist Of Gei. Garfield. Butifall Gar
fields advocates were like Judge Black the
Republican candidate might we'll cry, Save
me from my frends!i For, not only has
Judge Black explained his defense Of Gar
field, to the serious disadvantage OF the Credit
Mohilier statesman, but in letter regretting
his inability to take pgrt in the great Demo
cratic demonstration in New York he exposes
Garield's completely in the electoral fraud in
the eruelest and most effective manner. The
paragraph referred to is as follows; "Mr.
Tilden was elected in 1876. false return
was the only resource against him. | do not
believe that Gen Garfield, if let alone would
commit an election fraud any more than he
would steal horse or a sheep. But when the
managers Of his party demanded his aid IN
great swindle he could not refuse. Under
that coercion he went down to Louisiana and
there found il absolutely certain that the Til
den electors had been duly appointed at a
legal and full poll, so peaceably conducted
that there was not even a squabhle about 1t IN
the whole State. And the appointment so
made was attesied by and recorded upon the
certificates aud the oaths of election officers
and wishes. There was no earthly excuse for
denying this; no contradiction Of it could be
honest 10 count the State for Hayes was n
thing that could be done only by impudent
aud unmtigaled fraud For time | hoped
that Gen. Garfield share in that great crime
had consisted in passive acquiescence, aud
am surprised by the proofs recently brought
forward Of his active assistance in its perpe'
tration, His judgment as a member OF the
Elec oral Commission was q thing to be eX.
peeted; for he must long before that have
convinced himself that a fraud was as good a
way as any other of eleeting a President. In
II political game he did not think that anybody
had moral sense enough TO abstain IRON
throwing die which he himself had loaded
TO win the stake. Ii should be borne in
MUD that this is the judgment Of q personal
triand, and one too, who has been brought
forward by Republicans as a witness ia Gar
fields favor. OF course Judge Black has
taken the most enient view of Gar6eld's con
dnct at New Orleans that any honest man
could take, aud yet it would be ditheali to
imagine more scaihng rebuke than Is con-
yeyed in the vigorous sentences we have quot
cd above. The truth is, Garfield was one OF
the chief instruments Of the great fraud OF
1876, aud in no way can that monstrous crime
be more thoroughly avenged than in his crush
ing defeat a, the polls. The fraud OF 1876 is
one of those crimes against popular liberty
which must be punished il nation means to
retain its li.respect To permit its authors
to 60 unwhipped of Justice would be to invite
a repetition Of the wrong; and no people, how
ever strong in their sense of liberty and indie
pendence, could afford to submit to another
such invasion Of their rights. The remedy is
in their own hands; and, since one of the
principals invites their verdict by presenting
himself as claimant for the highest office in
their gin, they cannot hope to have a better
opportunity Of putting the seal Of condemns
ton upon tho crime aud upon its authors than
will be afforded them ia November next. -
baltimore Gazette.