The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-08-24

READ OF WrlUe, OF VINO, IL WAS Suppocou, WouAu
be plant in the hands of their associates The
Democrats became aware before election day
that mistake had been made as TO one OF
these appointees, who was smart ana reso-
lutte colored man. On the morning OF electlon
the latter presented himself at the voting place
10 assume his duties half an hour before the
time fixed by law for opening the polls lie
was refused entrance to the room on the pre-
text that he arrived too late, and that the cleo,
ton officers had already met, organized and
filled his place. The Republicans OF the city
had no candidates for justices of the peace
and constable. Many OF them picked out
some name no one else would be likely to think
OF, and voted it for one or the other OF those
offices. tits noticeable that not one OF the
persons so voted for is returned as receiving
single vote.
SAMPLE MANUFACTURED RETURNS.
The features presented by the election in
other counties of the State are pretty much the
same as those occurring in Montgomery, with
here and there some popularity of fraud which
renders it worthy of mention separately,
Before the election the leading Republicans
of Wilcox county, fearing that they could not
get fair count in the eastern end OF the coun-
ty, concluded to advise the Republicans IN sew
eral precincts not to vote, and then the Demo-
cratic steal would be made more palpable. Re-
publicans posted themselves neal the polls and
took down the name of every colOred man who
voted. AT Snow Hill seven colored men voted.
The Democrats gave themselves in their Official
return at this precinct 500 votes. But accord
ing to the census returns of last June there
are only 1872 whites living in the precinct over
twenty one years of age Add to the white
the seven colored votes and we have total of
139 votes polled at this precinct, AGO less than
the official return. At Attention precinct two
colored men voted. The Democrats gave
themselves 347 votes. The last census shows
but 90 whites in the precincts over twenty-one
years of age. Total, GA votes-283 less than
the official return. 1t was the same at Pine
Apple.
In Bonham's precinct the returns gave the
Republicans % votes and the Democrats 476,
making total vote of 498, or 142 more males
twenty-on years of age than reside in the pre-
cinct according to the census. By such frauds
as these this strong Republican county, for the
first time since the war, is made to return
Democratic majority of over 1000.
SAMPLE FRAUDS IN LowNDEs COUNTY.
Lowndes county, which has legitimate Re-
publican majority of 5000, and which has al
ways cast its vote for the Republicans. was this
time stolen from them by Democratic major
ity of 1000. At all the polls lists of Republi-
can voters were kept by intelligent men, each
voter giving his name as he passed up to vote,
and an examination of those lists shows that
the Republicans never voted more solidly. We
give herewith some official figures, as instances
of the shameless frauds committed in that
county:
Coffey, Democrat, 1906; McDuffie, Repub-
lican, $500; Owen, Independent, SOB.
Benten beat returned 125 votes for Coffey, 70
for McDuffie. McDufie has obtained the
names of 166 men who voted for him there.
Net fraud in Benton beat, Sc votes.
Church Hill beat returned Coffey 100 votes,
McDuffie, ID. McDuffie has the names of 1T
men who voted for him. Net fraud in this
beat, 164 votes.
Collerine beat returned Coffey 251 votes.
McDuffie "a. McDuffe got here $50 votes, and
the Republicans of the beat stand ready to
swear to it. Net fraud in this beat, 206 votes.
GridironvilleC McDuffe's voters registered
their names publicly, giving 442 votes. The
returns gave him 102 votes; the remainder to
Coffey. Net fraud, $40 votes in this precinct.
At this beat there were white men who voted
for McDuffie and not for the balance of the
ticket, and yet the Republican ticket got the
same vote for all the candidates on it accord
ing to the returns.
Hopewell beat-McDufie has the names of
1876 persons who voted for him, and yet the re-
turns give only 80 votes for McDufie, but 9S
for Coffey. Net fraud in this beat, 56 votes.
Broos's beat-The returns give Coffey 236
votes, while there were not % Democratic
votes in the whole beat,and Coffey did not get,
colored votes and all, over so votes. Net fraud
in this beat, 1856 votes.
Prairie Hill beat-There are but four white
men living here, and one of them voted for
McDuffie; the returns give Coffey 49, and
McDutie only n votes. McDuffie has the
names of 1856 men who voted there for him.
Ncb lIduu Ill U6dt, oO VOUeS
Letohatchir beat-One hundred and eighty
seven men svoted for McDuffie; the returns
give COffey 212 votes, McDuffie 80; Net fraud
in this beat, 107 votes.
Steep Creek beat-McDuffie's voters regis
tered 100 names, all of whom cast their bal
lots for him; but the returns show 146 votes for
Coffey, and only So for McDuffie. Net fraud
in this beat, 81 votes.
Pintlale beat-McDuffie had 316 votes,
while they gave Coffey 30 Net fraud in this
beat 90 votes.
Lowndesboro beat-McDufie got 44O votes;
the returns give him pa votes, and Coffey 272
Net fraud in this beat, 1876 votes. At previous
elections the Democrats did not get over Is
votes at this box, and a. less number of COL
ored votes were polled for them there at this
time than ever before
st. Clair-McDutfie received FIG votes, but
the returns gave him only 46 votes, and Cot
fey 1855. Net fraud in this beat, 131 votes
Whitehall precinct-McDufie has the names
of 276 persons who voted for him; still the re-
turns give him only Il votes, but 900 for COT
fey. Net fraud in this beat, 255 votes.
In that county, which is entirely devoted to
planting, the blacks outnumber the whites
enormously.
In Green county the Republican candidate
for probate Judge was elected by over 1000 ma
jority, but besides the same frauds committed
as enumerated above, the Office of the sheriff
was broken into and a box with 400 Republican
majority stolen, and then the Democratic can
didate was declared elected by 27 majority.
1t would be possible to give a detailed ac-
count OF frauds which occurred throughout
the State at this election which would occupy
the entire space of daily newspaper, but it
would be a mere repetition of what has already
been given. 1t is sufficient to say that in all
cas- where it was possible Republican major
tiles have been deliberately counted for the
Democracy,or they have been nullified and de-
stroyed by the action of the very men who
were appointed to receive, record and preserve
them.
Today Alabama is Republican by 10000 ma
Jority If the votes which are put into the ballot
boxes were honestly counted. The foregoing
facts, which are vouched for as true by men
who were on the ground in each case-in some
cases vouched for by afidavits-when consid-
cred in connection with the provisions of the
election law, and with the action. of the Off
GERS under that law, establish beyond all doubt
the purpose of the entire Democratic party of
Alabama, at least, to ignore, disregard and
nu!lify the late constitutional amendments by
DISTINGUISHING the entire colored population of
the State. The action of an entire commun-
ity IN engaging in, accepting or justifying
fraudsof the character which have been de-
tailed, cannot be ascribed to depravity because
a whole community cannot be morally de-
PRAYED. The truth is'that the people are as
much opposed to negro suffrage now as they
ever were, and while professedly accepting the
constitutional amendments, do not regard it as
an offence morally to take advantage of the
timidity and ignorance of the negro to nullify
his vote. 1t is only upon this theory that par
ticipation of otherwise honorable men in these
frauds, or acceptance of the results of the
frauds by men of that character, can be ac-
counted for. While this view may lessen the
turpitude of the acts committed before their
own consciences, it does not lessen the fear
and distrust which the people of the nation
should feel at the domination of the country
by people who can bring themselves to SO feel
and act.
An earnest and manful struggle for ia r,
full and free election has just ended; the votes
of nearly 100000 true and loyal men have been
overthrown by the bold and shameless frauds
THAT can and will be guarded against in No
vember) of a few hundred election managers.
whose consciences and fears are hushed and
whose hopes are excited by
"The wild, sweet music of the rebel yell"
but
1.-THE mill can never grind
With the water that has passed."
By order Of the Republican State Committee
of Alabama
GEORGE TURNER, Chairman.
Montgomery, Ala, Aug. 10, 1880.
Chalmers