West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1881-10-21

once. 4 % people OF bob States voted
fo- him. Bu, our leaders were not dis
turbod 10y THE.
We LAD TIE RETURNING BOARDS
What Care We 70. The vote Of the pee
pleg Jack CGsUdler-peace TO his glori-
Gus a'hes-DiOclaimed Hayes elected,
when Hayes h.mselt was weakly bewail-
ing hls defeat. OR statesmen hurried 10
LOuisisna and Flvrida-no one with more
alac'ity than General Gndsld-to direct
and supervise the action of the boards.
President Grant protected them with the
army, and IN due time the votes were
cast for Hayes. Everybody knew this
was not according TO fact. Ii was in bold
and contemptuous disregard Of all facts.
1t was in reality high handed theft of
the votes of these States; but party neces-
sity required il and 50 party sentiment
justified it, No Republican objected or
disapproved.
Press and pulpit applauded, and, the
latter especially, proclaimed the Return
ing Boards as special insirumentalitiCs of
Providence 20 undO the wickedness Of the
people in yotiog for Tilden, aud save
them from their own folly.
1t is .rue, the Democrats shouted
Fraud and Conspiracy" aud one house
of Congress objected TO counting their
votes. But again we held the cards. and
hesitated not TO play them. VIZ quoted
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 thsy ascend
ed the judgment seat. The people, even
Republicans, must sometimes be blinded.
Bat we know there is
HIGHER LAW THAN CONSTITUTION AND
STATUTES.
Party success is never 70 be imperilled by
any scruples about these. When they are
against us, 30 much the worse for them.
How would Louisiana have been saved
for us in 1876 if General Grant had al
lowed either constitution or laws TO pre-
vent his filing soldiers into the State
House, expelling the Legislature aud re-
versing the election in that State And
50 the Electoral Commission, or rather it's
eight Republican members. and General
Garfield among them, declined to hear
| proef of fraud in the votes of Louisiana
and Florida, and sealed with their Judi
cial approval the action of the Returning
Board. And why? Because party sue
cess demanded it. Thegsame judges, the
following day, voted to hear proof of
fraud IN the case of Oregon. And why9
Party success demanded il. The whole
administration of the Government, its pa
tronage and its offices were at stake. Were
! Republicans to be hampered by lave, or
oaths or scruples Of conscience under such
circumstances? Certainly not. And did
not the Republican party, everywhere,
applaud the action of our representatives
on that commission? Did not ten thous-
and pulpits again thank God that He had
raised up u second device 20 save us from
THE RULE OF DEMOCRATS AND REBELS,
and to undo and Gisappoynt tho perverse-
ness OF the people in voting for Tilden?
| Come down now 10 the election OF
1850. Every one knows the popular cur
rent set toward Hancock and away from
! Garfield. Nothing grew clearer than tina.
if the people were lot alone, tho Demo
| Gratis would sweep the country, and we
should lose the administration with all
lis patronage and power. Our leaders,
as before, were equal to the crisis. in
diana hau 10 be carried. There was but
one way TO DO 1T. ~ fund Of 800 600 was
promptly raised in New York city. Mr..
>. w. Dorsey, whom the Democrats call
a carpet Dagger and the Half Breeds
star Route swindler, but whom I am
glad to recognize and honor as n truo
Stal"art Republican, was entrusted with
this fund. He FASTENED 20 Indiana. or,
gained his bribed battalions and bought
the vote OF the state as he would have
bought mule or bond in the market.
Did any Republican object? Did pulpit
or press utter word of rebuke or faint>
~ hint that it was wrong Certainly
not The end excused and ennobIed the
means, and what in other matters might
have seemed vulgar bribery, was but
saving the party, and Dorsey was right
~ honored for hisexcellont work. When
no returned 70 New York mo was ten
dered banquet. Gen. Grant presided.
Henry Ward Beecher was Chaplain, and
Vice President Arthur publicly thanked
tho savior of Indiana for his achieves
ment, aud jostingly indicated tho means
10y which Democratic state had been
coAxED INTO THE REPUBLICAN coLUMH:'
Need I cito other Instances to show
that party success with trne Republi-
can is always regarded as the great end
ofall contests. aud that to attain this end
no moans-ao crimes, if you so phrase
It, are TO be rejected, but are to be eagor~
~ resorted to, if necessary.
Did / not sec General Garfield and
other Republican leaders, unbesitatine-
" seize % party victory i'm 1876. when to
do so they had TO dofrald Tildon of his
election, and pervort the votes Of two
States? Did I not see Gen. Arthur and
other Republican leaders i'm 1850 honor
with eulogy and banquet q man whose
ouly title to their gratitude they them
solves declared TO be his purchase OF
Iudiana2
Are these to bo passed by as innocent