Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-10-19

hurried TO Louisiana and Florida
no one with more alacrity than GenerI
I Gar6eld-to direct and supervise th
action of the boards. President Gran
protected them with the army, and i
, due time the votes were cast for Hayes
Everybody knew this was not sccordin
to the fact. 1t was in bold and contemI
tuous disregard OF all facts. 1t was j
reality high handed theft OF the vote
OF these States; but party necessity re
quired 1t and so party sentiment justihe
it. No Republican objected or disar
proved.
Press and pulpit applauded, and, tn
latter especially, proclaimed the he
turning Boards as special instrumental
ties of Providence to undo the wicked
ness OF the people in voting for Tilden
and save them from their own folly.
1t is true, the Democrats shouted
Fraud and Conspiracy" and one house
OF Congress objected to counting theil
votes. But again we held the cards, and
hesitated not to play them. Wequieted
their clamor by referring the disputed
States to an Electoral Commission
taking care to secure the odd member
for our party. To be sure our eight
members went through the form OF
swearing to decide according to the
Constitution and the laws OF the land,
before they ascended tho jadgment seat.
The people, even Republicans, must
sometimes be blinded. But We know
/ there is
A Higher Law than Constitution and
Statutes.
| Party success is never TO be imperllled
BY any scruples about these. When
they are in our favor they are to be
treated with respect. When they are
| against US. so much the worse for them.
How would Louisiana have been saved
for US in 1875, if General Grant had al
lowed either constitution or laws to pre-
vent mis- filing soldiers into the State
House, expelling the Legislature and
reversing the election in that State.
And so the electoral commission, or
ratherits eight Republican members, and
General Garfield among them, declined
to hear proof of fraud in the votes of
Louisiana and Florida, and sealed with
their judicial approval the action Of the
Returning Board. And whyp Because
party success demanded it. The same
judges, the following day, voted to hear
proof of fraud in the case OF Oregon.
And why? Party success demanded it.
The whole administration OF the govern
meat, its patronage and its offices
were at stake. Were Republicans to be
hampered by laws, or oaths or scrup,es
OF conscience under such circunl.
stances2 Certainly not. And did not
the Republican party, everywhere, ap-
plaud the action Of our representatives
on that commission? Did not ten thou
sand pulpits again thank God that He
had raised up q second device to save Us
from
The Rule Of Democrats and Rebels,
and to undo and disappoint the perverse-
ness OF the people in voting for Tilden?
Come down now to the cleo
ton OF 1880. Every one knows
the popular current set toward Han
cock and away from Garfield. Nothing
grew clearer than that il the people were
let alone, the Democrats would sweep
the country, and we should lose the
and power. Our leaders, as before,
were equal to the crisis. Indiana had to
be carried. There was but one way to
do it. A fund Of 100000 was promptly
s. ". Dorsey, whom the Demo.
Gratis call a carpet bagger
and the Half Breeds Star Route swim
dler, but whom am glad to recognize
and honor as a true Stalwart RepubI-
can, was entrusted with this fund. He
hastened to Indiana, organized his
bribed Dattalions and bought the vote OF
the State as he would have bought
mule or bond in the market. Did any
Republican object2 Did pulpit or press
utter a word of rebuke or faintly hint
that it was wrong? Certainly not.
The end excused and ennobled
the means, and what in
other matters might have seemed vul-
gar bribery, was but saying the party,
and Dorsey was rightly honored for his
excellent work. When he returned to
New York he was rendered banquet.
Gen. Grant presided, Henry Ward
Beecher was Chaplain, and Vice Presi-
dent Arthur publicly thanked the savior
Of Indiana for his achievement, and jes'
tingly indicated the means by which
DeflOCTaLlG SIAl6 UdO DCCh
Coaxsd Into the Republican Column.
Need cite other instances to show
that party success with true Republl-
can is always regari as the great end
OF all contests, aud that to attain this
end no means-no crimes, il you 30
phrase il, are to be rejected, but are to
Oe esgerly resorted to, il necessary.
Did not see General Garfield and
other Republican leaders, unhesitating-
ly seize party victory in 1876, when to
do so they bad to defraud Tilden OF his
election, and pervert the votes OF two
States? Did 1 not see Gen. Arthur
and other Republican leaders in
1880 honor with eulogy and
banquet a man whose only title to their
gratitude they themselves declared to
be his purchase OF the vote OF lndiana1
Are these to be passed by as innocent
and to be Condemned as guilty, who
have only acted upon their teachings Z
Am not entitled to honor il by remov-
| ing a single life can ensure continued
success for my party, and with such
Success the possession OF the admins
tration, with its offices and patronage
q any human his,' even though II De
that Of President, more sacred than
tie free, unbiased vote OF sovereign
S,ase2 Is tue killing OF any individual
a greater crime than the Justification ot
tie vote of a State? And did not the
Electoral Commission calmly and hero
ically
strike Down the Votes Of Louisiana and
Florida
for party success?
Did not Dorsey and his hackers, with
the approval of Republicans, and espec
tally OF Generals Grant and Arthur
strike down the vote OF Indiana by
bribery
And shall not be honored for serv
ing NV party, even by homicide, il sue
cess demanded it, when such SURPRISING
houors and rewards were showerec
upon those that served it by frand anC
bribery? /, too, have had nv dream!
of the Presidency, but il thi
ambition is too lofty, am
not, at least, worthy OF such banque
as was given to Dorsey, with Gen. Gran
TO preside, and Beecher as chaplain, anC