Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-08-16
SOUTHERN CENSUS FRAUDS.


A fresh illustration of the methods en-
ployed at the South to secure an increased
representation is given by Republican
journalist who was driven out of South
Carolina because of his political opinions.
He analyses the census returns Of Kershaw
county, in that State. and shows that a
claim has been made of over eighty per
cent. increase in the population of that
county in the face of the notorious facts
that it has been declining since the be-
! ginning of the century, that it has no COM
merce or manufactures, and that it is
recognized as one of the most stagnant
districts in the South. He says: In
" 1889 it contained 10, 545 persons, and in
1870 it had but IL, 754 "a loss of l,79l.
g But from 1870 to 1880 it springs to d.
"l3l. If these figures do not excite Gen
eral Walkers suspicious, they will GER
tainly excite those of the country. We
would like to rest our case upon Kershaw
county. If General Walker will furnish
the men and means we will undertake
" to prove that the census in kershaw
county is bold fraud, within ten days.
Such state of facts as is here described
places it beyond doubt that the enumera-
tors have perpetrated shameful deception,
and it must be realized that the same kind
of work has been carried On in nearly
every part of the South. The evidence is
becoming overwhelming, in fact, that the
Southern politicians have availed them
selves of the census to lay the foundation
for bold claim for increased representa-
ton. They are aware, as is the whole
country that the population of the South
mas been decreasing during the past ten
years, and that if the census was taken
faithfully the reapportionment based upon
it must weaken their strength in Congress.
In order to guard against this the Demo
Gratis in Congress forced the Government
to accept large number of poll
sus Bureau was not allowed to
select its own men, but was compelled to
take such as were thrust upon it. The
plan was carefully laid, and we have no
doubt that the most determined effort will
be made to prevent the reformation of the
abuses which have been perpetrated. The
Democratic Congressman will support the
returns of the Southern enumerators, and
maintain that they are trustworthy and
will the new census fail to be of any use to
the country, but it will be productive of
the most serious and far-reaching political !
evils. As things are tending the South will
prostitute it to the fortifying of its deliber-
ate usurpations. Already the freedom of the
ballot has been destroyed throughout that
section. Already the North and West is
condemned to contend with an adversary
who VIGOROUSLY employs foul play. Already
Southern Democrats boast that one vote in
their section equals three at the North. |
And now they are preparing to debauch
the census, and to secure for their fresh |
claims color of legitimacy by impu-
IDENTIFY classifying the enumeration, and
compelling the Census Bureau to accept |
these lying returns. The South and the
Democracy are one in all that pertains to
responsibility, for the Democracy relies on
the South for whatever political gains it
may make, and the South depends on the
Democracy for the assistance it requires in
re establishing its supremacy, and carrying
out its sinister programme.