Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1880-09-01
Mafertown Repabliean.
WATERFOWL, WIS.
The Alabama Fair Count"

Committee of Alabama is 'dOcumen
which ought to engage the attention and
arouse the apprehension of candid men o.
exposure of the gigantic and villainous
frauds practiced at the late election in
that State, and 1t is such direct recital
of facts as admits of plain and positive
denial, if any denial were possible. Ev
cry charge is accompanied with abund
ant proof, and the whole is an exposure
of series of the most audacious frauds
ever practiced in an enlightened govern.
ment. Passing lightly over the asssssins-
tions of prominent Republicans perpe.
trated but few years since, the address
exposes the Democratic "reforms in the
election laws, by which such violent
measures might be dispensed with, and a
more easy and expeditions, but not less
effective mode of accomplishing their
fraudulent purposes might be put into
execution. The election law enacted by
the Democratic Legislature of Alabama
not only utterly failed to provide safe.
guards where safeguards were required,
but it created opportunities and offered
suggestions which the most dull-wit.ed
could not fail to comprehend, and
most vicious take advantage Of
It destroyed all the checks upon
dishonest inspectors, gave them the am
plest opportunities to cover up their per-
nicious frauds, and made it possible tor
certificates of election to be issued upon
fraudulent returns, with no remedy ex
cept an appeal to the partisan State courts.
Easy and ingenious methods were enacted
to evade prosecution under the Federal
election laws, and the whole was supple
mented by innumerable minor changes,
necessary to the smooth and easy work
ing of their scheme of fraud, in despoil.
ing the negro voters of their right of
franchise. The modes of fraud specified
in the address show fertility of inven-
ticn that would do credit to the boldest
intriguer. By peculiar provisions of the
law, making it next to impossible for Re.
publican county officers to procure bonds
men. they were unable to take legal pos
session of the offices to, which they had
been elected, and the consequence was
that in all the strongest Republican coun-
ties the officers charged with the duty of
appointing election boards were Demo.
Gratis. Their own plant tools were of
course appointed to these important sta
tons, and the wholesale frauds which
have signalized the late election are the
result In Montgomery, Autauga,
Lowndes, Wilcox and Madison
counties these frauds were con.
spicuous, and amounted to an abso-
Lutte reversal of the popular choice. AT
one precinct the Republicans polled 672
votes by actual count, which would give
them large majority, but the counting
process of the board reduced these votes
to 132, and raised the Democratic vote of
30 to $40. At another, where there were
544 Republican votes to 65 Democratic,
the Republican majority was reduced to
As; at still another, Republican major.
ity of $50 was absolutely suppressed. By
such frauds as these, Montgomery county,
which has been strongly Republican ever
since the war, was made to show a Demo
cratic majority of over 2,000. In
Lowndes county some sample frauds are
given, and they aggregate fraudulent
change of 1884 votes. In Green county,
where there was an actual Republican
majority, of over 2.C1o, the Democratic
candidate for Judge of probate was de-
clared elected by 81 majority. The COM
mlttee say it would be impossible to give
detailed account of all the frauds perpe-
trated throughout the State, but they be-
lieve that to day, Alabama is Republican
by 10000 majority, if the votes which
were put into the ballot box had been fair
ly counted. There was at the late
election manly struggle on the part
OF the Republicans tor a fair, full
and free election, but the votes of
nearly 100000 true aud loyal men have
been overthrown by the bold and shame
less frauds Of few hundred conscience
less political managers. The facts which
the committee have made public are
vouched for by true men who were upon
the ground and know whereof they affirm
The only possible pretense of justification
for these infamous doings, which estab-
lish beyond all doubt the purpose of the
Democratic party, Of Alabama, at
least, to ignore, disregard and nullify the
late constitutional amendments by dis
tranchising the entire colored population
of the State, is thus stated by the commit
tse: "The action of an entire community
in engaging in, accepting or justifylng
frauds of the character which have been
detailed, cannot be ascribed to depravity,
because a whole community cannot be
morally depraved. The truth is that the