National Republican., 1882-11-17
A Southern Outrage.

The New York Tribune of yesterday had
the following dispatch from Washington:
WASHINGTON, Nov. 15-second Auditor Rey-
nolds has returned from Alabama, where he went
10 make Republican speeches and to vote. Every
thing was so fair and orderly, to all appearance
up to the day Of election, that he was hardly able
to credit the assertion of Republicans that the
Democrats would practice frauds 10 secure the
victory. He determined, therefore, to watch the
process of voting in Selma, where he was. and
satisfy himself If possible what grounds there
ought TO be for suspicion of irregulnrty
Everything apparently was fair and regular
In the reception Of the votes. Two lines were
formed, one being composed of white and the
other OF colored voters. None were challenged
and no efforts to delay voting were noticed
The crowd was kept thirty feet from the polling
place, as required by law The Republicans were
nevertheless SO thoroughly convinced that false
counting had been determined upon by the Demo-
Gratis that they decided to keep tally list Of Re-
publcans who voted and for this purpose they
placed table with ink and paper upon it In the
yard. By noon the line of white voters had
dwindled away to nothing, while that Of colored
voters was full. and continued 80 during greater
portion Of the day. Early in the afternoon party
of FIVE or six young white men approached the
table where The Republican tally list kepta aud
one Of them, accosting the tally man, asked "What
are you doing this for2"
We are keeping tally of the Republican vot-
ers," was the reply.
"Win you take my manner" was the next ques.
ton.
Certainly, If you will vote Republican ticket"
LET me see how 1t is DONE" said the Democrat,
leaning the table rs If to scrutinize the work
Immediately he seized the papers, which then
contained the names Of more than six hundred
voters, and, returning among his fellows tore
them TO pieces and threw them on the ground Mr..
Reynolds who had witnessed this affair, asked
the tally man why he didn't protest or do some-
thing TO defend his tally list. "Of what use ?? was
the reply. Didn't you see those fellows put their
hands in their hip pockets7 saw it mennt fight,
and should have only lost my life for nothing"
After the polls closed and while the votes were
being counted Mr.. Reynolds asked Democrats who
were standing about awaiting the result how many
Democratic votes they supposed had been cast.
The highest estimate was 800. Mr. Reynolds, who
had been present during the whole day. thought
this estimate about fifty in excess of the true
number. When the result was declared 1t was
found that 200 votes had been cast the Demo.
cratic candidate receiving 500 majority. according
to the returns made by the Democratic officials
who conducted the alleged count
This single case is but an epitome of
the Southern system of elections. We
have information of terrorism which pre-
vented respectable citizens on the Repub-
lican side from serving as United States
supervisors Of election. Men who had
agreed to serve declined on the eve of
the election on the expressed ground
that they could not act without danger
of personal diffic ulty. We shall be glad
if the press of the country will give
attention to these gross crimes against
civilization and against Republican
form of government. This need not be
done at the expense of free discussion
of party abuses and remedies therefor,
but in addition thereto. The Tribune
editorially comments as follows ON the
dispatch above quoted:
Our Washington dispatches contain a report on
the conduct of an election at Selma, Ala, by
trustworthy and intelligent witness, which dem
onstrates that the Democrats of that interesting
place are adopts in the. fine art of making few
hundred votes increase and multiply to any re-
quired number. They polled 300 votes. They re.
turned 1000 cast, and so figured up Demo-
cratic majority of 800. The Mississippi plan has
been set aside as too violent. But in many parts
OF the South the outrages upon the ballot-box
once accomplished by force are now accom-
plished by fraud. The blood thirsty Ku-Klux
have retired from business, and have been sue.
ceeded by another gang of scoundrels who figure
as inspectors Of elections.