Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-09-17
"SOlidifying" Alabama.

IT
The report of the Republican State
Committee of Alabama upon the frauds
of the late election recites nothing un-
familiar, but it describes in detail the
method by which "the South'-that is,
the Democratic vote-is made "solid."
The report should be generally circu-
lated and read, because it treats of one
of the ways in which popular Govern
ment is overthrown by the Democratic
party, and of tho means by which Han
cocks Electoral vote is to be obtained.
The Democrats in Alabama, when they
came into power in 1874, changed the
excellent Electoral laws, so as to make
fraud easier. The changes are fully
described in the report, and their pur-
pose is obvious. One of the changes
enables inspectors to "cook" the re-
turns without difficulty, and another
forbids distinguishing ballots by any
kind of mark or number. 1t is curious
to remark that the opposition to regis
tries and every other method of pre-
venting fraud and securing an honest
election proceeds from the Democratic
party. Naturalization frauds in New
York, repeating in Connecticut, the
Ku-Klux and bulldozing, the shotgun
and the tissue ballot, in the Southern
States, are familiar Democratic devices
for "a free vote and fair count
The Alabama report mentions one in
cident to which 1.-THE Thoughtful patriot"
who is much satirized, but who is
still the true American-should direct
his attention, and mediate a Presi-
Dental election carried by such means.
AT one polling place in Montgomery
County the Republicans received their
tickets from one man, giving him their
names, and going directly from him,
holding the ballot in full view, and
dropping it in the box. By actual
count they polled 672 votes, and at the
close of the poll one of the Republican
inspectors demanded that the vote. as
the law directs, should be counted i'm
mediately. The Democratic inspectors,
one of whom was under indictment for
''stutfing" ballot-boXes, objected under
various preteXts. Presently a military
company appeared, under orders from
the Governor of the State, and "bayo.
nets surrounded the poll, summoned
| by Democrats to protect the accom-
plishment of their intended fraud
against what they supposed would be
| the Indignation of the swindled voters,
under the plea that the inspectors were
| threatened. The count was ther
begun After 116 Republican and IS
Democratic ballots had been counted
the candle was blown out, and the
ballot-box vanished. When the can
die was lighted, the box was
found to be full of tickets. and the
colored Republican Inspector pro
tested. His associates resented tn,
imputation upon their integrity in 81
demonstrative way that he retreated
Re-assured by his friends outside, thc
Inspector attempted to return, but wa
told that, having voluntarily abandoned
his post he could not resume it; anC
the other Inspectors completed thu
count, making return of 1872 Republi
can and $40 Democratic votes. 1t thu
appears that while of the 175 vote
taken from the box when the Republi
can Inspector was present l16 were Re
publican, of the 500 taken out when h
had left his post only 16 were Republi
can. But if there were but 1872 coloret
Republicans, how could they have ter
rorized $40 colored and white Demo
Gratis so as to require an armed militar
company to protect themP
This is the Democratic respect 70
what the party platform calls 18th
right preservative of all rights" 1t
open, undeniable, and undenied fraud
1t is the method by which the Demo
cratic party intends to carry 18th
South" and while it is doing so, it dc
] & fha arit, Sha "a b
ing the bloody shirt. 1t is the mos
} deadly crime against popular govern
ment and National peace; but. if an
Republican chooses to call after
tion TO it instead of discussin
the currency or reform, he is accuse
, of fighting the war over again. 1t
gravely asserted that if we lived in th
Southern States we should all do tn
same, and that under no circumstance
should we submit to "negro rule.
That is merely to say that intelligeI
l citizens would not tolerate the govern
ment of the ignorant. 1t is untru,
The greatest city on the continent to
crates it, Hundreds of communiti,
: everywhere in the country tolerate
Popular government always takes tn;
risk. But the man or the party or tE
community that attempts to prevent
: by fraud or force overthrows popul;
government and invites anarchy. I'll
white voters in Alabama and Mississi
;: pi and South Carolina, when they stu
Z Z ballot-boxes to prevent ''negro rule,
\ cheat New York, New England, ii
! Northwest, and the whole Union of i
4 4 honest and legal will. Reform of tn
= infamous outrage upon the central pri
ciple of our Institutions is the mo
urgent of all reforms. The systemat
: destruction of the honest vote of lar!
u districts is a peril which necessari
J takes precedence of all other issues
= popular Government. - Harper
= Weekly.
It Das- If frankness is to be admire
II then admiration is due the Alaban
d Democrat who through the columns
! tIo Cy,.,,a,.,.sIIo D.,g9. aAUigac (nanaF