The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-11-04
THE OUTLOOK.

Election occurs ueyt Tuesday, and doubt.
less most electors have by this time maize
I'D their minds how they will vote. The
canvass for the last week or two has been
warm and animated, and those more active
ly engaged IN it have pretty clear idea OF
the "lay of the land" not only from free
Intercourse with the voters, bH, from pretty
thorough work IN most Of the towns IN the
way of listing the voters, for which the
registry system gives all needed facilities
From this groundwork we are able ID
give our democratic friends Throughout: the
county the fullest and most confident asSur-
ance that nothing but the grossest negl-
gence on their part in the matter Of attend
ing the polls and voting can prevent us
from achieving next Tuesday q complete
and substantial victory. There is not be
lieved to be the slightest danger, if the
democrats Will turn out, of the less of n
single candidate upon our county ticket,
while the majorities are estimated from
500 up to 1000.
But let no democrat remain at home
with the idea that his vote may not be
needed. 1t is to Be remembered that we
have a trickey and wiley toe 10 deal with.
The republicans have way, dating rs thr
back as the days of Secretary stanton, Of
compelling republican victories in demo
cratic districts" S,anton's fayorite way
was to do it at the point Of the bayoul.
In 1876 the republican victory, against a
democratic majority Of Quartr OF mn.
lion, was compelled" by baretaced and in
famous fraud; but as public opinion has
also unqualifedly condemned that system,
the latest refinement Of republican election
eerlng rascslity is the INSCRIPTIONS and
abundant use of money, the most common
method Of raising which is By resort 10
what has become known as the jay Huh
bell system"-that Is, levylng it of the
office holders ana employees OF he govern.
ment. Let no deEocrat be verdgnt enou
to imagine that that nefarious 5. stem in -
most desplcable form Will not be -esortei 70
in this county. There are in tls coun j
some 80 postmasterS, besides some internal
revenue officers, whose salaries aggrega Q
at least $4,000 These officers were called
"up to the captains Office to settle" not oT-
err two weeks ago, and per cent on theT
salaries would yield the comfortable sum
of $1,000, to say nothing of the additional
levy of $4,000 on the candidates and the
contributions of wealthy republicans.
We urge upon our democratic friends,
therefore, TO be lynH.eyed IN watching la-
publican bribery and corruption. There Is
no more doubt than that election day VIII
come but that it Will be attempted where
ever ii is believed to be available and our
friends must head it off or they Will DC
sold out. The law imposes heavy penal
ties on the elector who sells bis vote as
well as on the scoundrel that buys it, and
every democrat should constitute himselt 4
detective to watch the guilty and bring
them to quick and condlgn punishment
without scruple or hesitation. Republican
ballot box corruption Is so thoroughly Oh
ganized and sys,ema'ized that the demo
cratic party, no matter "hat may be -
honest numerical strength, VIII never r.
gain undisputed power in this country III.
I'll the vile republican bribery system Is
rooted out and broken up.