The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1882-11-25
ELEgTION FRAUDS.

DutlcttHt eS latHCS vi tile pcirebidbloH
of wholesale fraud in the recent election
III New Orleans has been accumulated to
warrant the conclusion that the success
of the Democratic ring ticket there was
achieved by the most unblnshing falsifi-
cation and perversion of the popular will
ever perpetrated in Louisiana. The cam
dilates Of the Independent party have
served notices Of contest on their oppo-
nents, aud rigid investigation of the
frauds is being presented. The Grand
Jurles of both :he State and Federal
conrts will take cognizance of the ont
rageeus violations Of law committed by
the hoodiuni election officers aud ward
strikers Of the dominant ring, aud there
il "a cheering prospect that some OF the
criminals will expiate thoir crimes in the
peuitentiaries at Baton Rouge and Al
bany. The feeling among the respecta-
BILE elements of the people is almost as
bitter against their Inscriptions politi-
cal taskmasters rs that which enlnlina-
ted in the armed conflict Of September,
1874, aud the determination is openly ex-
pressed to dethrone the ring and punish
its ballot box suffers and reporters, by
legal methods If may be, bnt ifszssthose
fail, by means more summary. In fact,
bhe motto Of the Independents and their
supporters seems to bo :" Fair play or
fight" and already they are said to be
making preparations to demand the one
or give the other in future contests.
Beside the demonstration against the
perpetrators of election frauds in New
Orleans, we also hear Of movement to
bring to an account before the Federal
courts the Commissioners of Election in
the parish Of Assumption who refused to
count and make return of the votes cast
at four of the heaviest Republican polls
in that parish. Under sections $50 aud
5515 Of the United States Revised Stat
utes any person who violates II State,
parochial or municipal law bearing upon
an election where u representative in
Congress is voted for is liable to pros
ecution and severe punishment.
II is desirable that these cases should
be rigidiy pushed to q definite -conclp-
sion in order that there may be 10 repe-
tition of such practices in future eIecto-
raj contests The freedom of elections
|sand the purity of. The ballot boz are
more important to the welfare of the
State than the success of any party, man
or clique, and we do not believe that
any considerable number of the respect
able Democrats Of Louisiana desire to
see 4 victory for their party obtained by
falsifying returns, stuf1ing ballot boxes
Or suppressing votes. Just as they OPP
posed the action ofRepublican Returning
Boards in subverting apparent mjorities,
so will they set their faces against the
baldfaced frauds committed by Demo-
Gratis at the recent election. A few par
tisans, blind in their prejudice and nn-
compromising in their dislike of any
thing Democratic, may unblushingly
take the ground that one wrong justities
the other and that the end to be attained
warrants the employment of sny means
essontia! thereto, but the fair minded
and conservative masses will reject the
Jssni.ical doctrine and refuse to con-
done Democratic crime On tho plea Of
Repu blican m:sbel,av;or.