Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-05-02
Baby Ren,tebee sOurnaI.
Augusta. Tuesday Morning, Nay q.
The Fight for an Honest Ballot
and an Honest Count.

The admission of John r. Lynch to
seat in the House in place of James X.
Chalmers. as a representative Of the Sixth
district of Mississippi. is a victory for an
honest ballot and an honest count in the
South, that will be hailed with rejoicing
bv all republicans and others who have
witnessed with profound Indignation
and almost CONSERVATION the fraudu-
lent acts by which the bourbons Of the
South have maintained their political
power in that section. Mr.. Lynch is
colored man, but gentleman Of character
and culture, one of the most eloquent men
in the House. Mr.. Chalmers is a fair
representative Of the bourbon, ballot-box
stuffing party, who believe they are justi-
fed in using any means, however fraudu-
lent. to prevent the republicans gaining
the ascendency in any of the Southern
States.
OF the 81 .143 votes polled in the dis
trict at the election Chalmers actually re-
ceived but about 5000. In the counties Of
Adams, Claiborne. Jefferson, Washington
and Wilkinson. something over 1000 votes
were counted and returned for him that
were polled against him. Giving him the
benefit Of these frauds he was still defeat
ed by majority Of 633. But the bourbon
election commissioners or county returning
boards were equal to any emergency, so
they counted Chalmers in as elected
and sent him to Washington to claim
seat to which Lynch was actually elected
over him by more than 1000 majority.
Such facts as these would be appalling to
friends of republican government were
it not for the faith and hope in them that the
people Of this country have the courage,
honesty and ability to stand up against and
overthrow the gigantic frauds which make
an honest ballot and fair count impossi-
bic in the South.
The methods by which Chalmers was
counted in were not violent but mild and
effective. In one county all the republi-
can votes were thrown out for the alleged
reason that they had on their face the usual
and ordinary printers dashes, which the
bourbons claimed to be distinguishing
mark. They did their work with as much
facility as Ex-Governor Garcelon's Coun-
Gil did theirs at the State House in Maine.
In his speech made last week before the
House. Mr.. Lynch asserted that these cleo
ton frauds are not occasioned by race
feeling 1.-The southern bourbons." he
said. "are simply determined not to toll
'erate honest differences of opinion upon
political questions. They make no dis
''tinction between those who have the
courage, the manhood. and the indie
'pendence to array themselves in opposi-
'tion to bourbon methods and measures.
ut matters not what name the opposition
may assume nor of what elements it may
"be composed. They may call themselves
republicans or greenbackers rs in some
localities. or independents rs in others,
''or readiusters rs in Virginia. The fact
THAT they oppose the ascendency Of bour-
"bon democracy makes them. from a
"bourbon standpoint. enemies to the
"South, 10 its interests and to its people,"
This fact. that politics in the South are not
based upon the color line, that the strug-
gle is not of races entirely. is one that
northern people should bear in mind. II
is true the colored race supplies the larger
part of the votes cast in support of repub-
lican principles. but the white green
hacker who dares oppose the hour
bons of Mississippi, Alabama. or any
other southern State, is rs much an oh
ject of antipathy TO men of the Chalmers
stripe as the blacklist republican. Mr..
Weaver. the greenback candidate for
President. experienced the truth of this in
his trip to the South in 1880. where he
had quite large following before cleo
ton but none at the polls where the bour-
bons had control Of the ballot-boxes.
Fraud does its work just the same upon
white as black.
Who shall conquer finally in this great
NNhtSst i'I utUtSt uallOt anu an honest
count Shall it be the republican party.
or the bourbon party2 Republican sue
cess continued few years longer will
overthrow the election frauds which now
threaten to destroy our government
Bourbon success will make an honest bal
lot impossible in any part of the country.
Had the democrats been in majority
in the House the representative of the bal
lot box suffers. Chalmers. would have
been admitted to a seat in that body. and
Lynch though having 1l.oo0 more votes
than Chalmers would have been voted out
and sent back to Mississippi. Every man
who voted to admit Lynch is republican :;
every man who voted against admitting
him is democrat. The position of par
ties upon this question is here distinctly
shown. No man can mistake where each
stands upon it. An honest ballot and an
honest count depend upon republican
majority in Congress.
In connection with this matter. the re-