Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1881-10-29

be carried. There was but one way to
doit. Afund of 500, 900 was promptly
raised in New York city, Mr.. S. w. Dol
sey, whom the Democrats call carpet
Dagger and the Half Breeds Star Route
swindler, but whom | am glad torecog-
niZe and honor as true Stalwart Repub-
lican, was entrusted with this fund. He
FASTENED to Indiana, organized his bribed
battalions and bought the vote OF the
State as he would have bougnta mule or
o. bond in the market. Did any Republic
can object? Did pulpit or press utter a
word of rebuke or family hint that il was
wrong? Certainly not. The end excused
and ennobled the means, and what in
other matters might have seemed vulgar
bribery, was but saving the party, and
| Dorsey was rightly honored for his exec
lent work. When he returned TO New
| York he was rendered a banquet. Gen.
Grant presided, Henry Ward Beecher was
| Chaplain, and Nice-President Arthur pub
! licly thanked the savior of Indiana for
| his achievement, and iestingly indicated
! the means by which Democratic State
| had been
| coAXED INTO THE REPUBLICAN COLUMN.
1 Need cite other instances to show that
| party success with tlile Republican is al
=
! tests, and that TO attain this end no means,
no crimes, if you so phrase it, are 10 be
rejected, but are 20 be eagerly resorted 20,
| If necessary.
Did 1 not see General Garfield and
other Republican leaders, unhesitatingly
| seize party victory in 1876, when to do
! so they had to dcfraud Tilden Of his cleo
ton, and peryelt the votes of two States?
Did not see Gen. Arthur and other Re-
publican leaders in 1880 honor with eulC-
/ w and banquet man whose only title TO
their gratitude they themselves declared
TO be his purchase Of the vote of Indiana?
Are these 10 be passed by az innocent
and to be condemned as guilty, who
have only acted upon their teachings?
Am not entitled to honor if by remoy-
! ing single life | can insure continued
success for my party, and with such sue
cess the possession of the administration,
with its offices and PATRONAGE! Is any hui
man life, even though it lie that of Il Pres
ident, more sacred than the free, unbiased
vote of sovereign State? Is the killing
of any individual "A greater crime shan
the Justification of the vote of State !?
And did not the Electoral Commission
calmly and herOically
STRIKE DOWN TIE VOTES OF LOUISIANA AND
!
for party success?
Didnot Dorsey and his backerS,s with
the approval Of Republicans, and especial
w OF Generals Grant and Arthur, strike
down the vote of Indiana by bribery?
And shat! not be honored for serving
! nv party, even by homicide, if success de-
manded it, when such surprising honors
! and rewards were showered upon those
:, -. -. .,,,1 hill /
too. have had my dreams OF the Presidcn-
CIV. but if this ambition is too lofty, Am
not, at least. worthy of such Il banquet As
was given to Dorsey. with Gen. Grant TO
preside, and Beccher rs chaplain, and
President Arthur-madc President by my
act-to toast the "honOrcd gnest' and
Significantly to Jest at the bullet that made
( him President, inst rs, M the Dorsey ban
ouet, he tested 1T the bribery that made
lin President.
No, gentlemen of the Jury, am no
vulgar assassin. actuated by personal or
T private malice. have best applied, in an
/ extreme case, and within my own party,
/ the constant teachings Of our most trusted
leaders. In sober truth am the child OF
. the electoral commission; nurtured blythe
7 Dorsey banquet; and stimulated and lifted
. 70: nv heroic acts by the revcrent and
daily study of our great party organs,
which have ever taught that party success
rose superior 10 every other consideration
and was
TO BE SECURED AT WHATEVER HAZARD,
and that an end so patriotic and necessary
! not only Slnctitied every crime, but
brought infinite applause and thickening
! houOrs upon the so called criminal.
I am the faithful and dutiful pupil of
4. - tatr. rlat
moral elevation above our political foes,
I and that any means we might choose for
I their overthrow were, by our very choice,
made worthy and honest that has never
failed to applaud ANY victory, however
achieved, or 10 thank Aeavca for any tri-
/ umpl, 10 matter how stained with cor
/ ruptiou, violence and fraud.
am the apt pupil of that press and
! pulpit which rejoiced ut the overthrow by
/ armed force, of civil government and free
/ elections in Louisiana and Florida, which
/ accepted and approved the work OF the
7 electoral commission; which had no word
! of condemnation for the Dorsey banquet;
+ which is to-day as consistent as ever i'll
! word and act; which has secured control
/ of the United States Senate by brihe 10
! Malone, and of the Nice-PreSideney bya
! bargain with Davis, and which is now
! seeking. TO combine rcpudiatorS ana COM
munistS to overthrow Democratic rule in
| Virginia, and 10 bring that old common
: wealth into Republican bonds.
/ No, gentleman. do not make me vic
tim of popular prejudice or fury, while
my teachers and cXemplars are DaSkinS III
! POPLAR FAVOR AND APPROVAL.
/ Do not select me out of all the others |
| lave mentioned for punishment and dis
! grace. The act which did was done Tor
| like reasons. Viewed in its bearing on
the individual. and society it was no more
harmful. Bribery and murder. Fraud
and murder Where will you place the
deeper guilt? The vote of the Electoral
| Commission was the force that sped my
| bullet to Kill Garfield. That vote seated
Hayes. The seating of Hayes prevented
| a Democratic victory in 1880 and thus
made Garfield President, and GartielI's
Presidency was his death. is not the cir
Gle complete in itself? Where then is
there room for imputing crime to me?
Gentlemen, | trust my fate to your fair
ness, and so trusting, expect acquiJtal
aud commentator.
am, as | said, Il politician and a theo-
Logan.
If have carried party principles to an
extreme that seems startling, | have yet
introduced no new principle. | have but
applied old and familiar precedent to 4
new emergency and within the party.
The step from fraud or bribery TO murder
is short and easy. Can those who have
perpetrated or approved the former be
heard to condemn and eXecrate the latter.
| am but Il natural and rapid develop
meLt, logical evolution. l have only