The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-08-23
N. T. ITIDUIIt.l
The Frauds in Alabama.

The Republicans of Alabama have made an
appeal to all honest voters in this country
which should not be disregarded. There is no
lorse or random assertion in their plain recital
of facts. Abundant proof is given for every
charge, and there has not been, for more than
twenty years, an instance of more audacious
fraud than the evidence discloses. Little stress
is placed upon the fact that the ablest and
most active Republicans of Alabama had been
assassinated prior to the election, as Mr. Bill
lings was, for no other offense than their par
ticipation in Republican efforts. The Repub-
fcan State Committee of Alabama do not call
especial attention to assassination of Republi-
cans, because the quiet and peace-loving citi-
zens of the North are supposed to ignore 'the
bloody shirt" But the latter and meaner
manifestation of Democratic propensities
ought to command the attention of ali fair
minded men.
1t has been known that the election in Ala
bama was carried by fraud. The Republican
State Committee explain the methods adopted
by the Democrats the extent of the frauds
perpetrated in different counties, and the ma
ture of the proof in each case. The change of
law, by which the marking of ballots was pro-
hibited in order to make sure that contests
should be rendered hopeless, was but the first
step in the villainous conspiracy. Afterward,
the selection of the officers of election was so
made that at nearly all the precincts in the
State, the Democrats were free to swindle as
much as they pleased. Men who were recon-
mended by the Republicans as competent to
guard their interests were excluded. Persons
were selected as Judges of Election, appar-
emily for no other reason than because of their
palpable Incompetence physical or mental.
Sometimes blind men were chosen; sometimes
idiots; sometimes corrupt and purchasable
creatures. At nearly every precinct in the
State the Democrats had power to change the
returns as they saw fit, without the possibility
of dispute by either of the judges.
The modes of fraud, as explained in the adj
dress of the Republican Committee, show
great fertility of invention and illustrate in a
most striking manner the Democratic claim
that free ballot and free count are desired
by that party. Let any respectable Northern
man, for example, read the evidence submitted
in regard to the election and count at Nc
Gehee's Switch, in Montgomery County; let
him consider the pretence that $40 Democratic
voters were so intimidated by 116 Republicans
that the instant presence of troops from dis
tant city was required; let him note the impu-
dent removal of ballot boxes and ballots by the
Democratic officials at other points; let him
consider how the votes sent from some pre-
Clntts were wholly relecteu, anu why; let MIN
notice, also, the shameless performance at Por-
ters Beat, where the inspectors refused, with
out excuse, to make any count; and he,will
surely understand how it comes to pass that
the South is solid.
AT some points the boxes were so stuffed that
there were more ballots than voters. At other
points there were more votes cast than the
whole population would warrant. At other
points, though heavy Republican maiorities
were actually cast, large Democratic MAORI
ties were returned. 1t is stated in the address,
with simplicity and great force, that these
frauds by the Democratic party, infamous as
they are, meet the approval of citizens called
of Dpnloa
long as the Republicans are mainly colored,
the people who call themselves decent and re-
spectacle at the South do not hesitate to coun-
tenance the most shameless frauds, in order
to deprive the coloted majority of its rightful
power. But this, according to Democrats, is
"a free ballot and fair count