The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-08-07
THE FRAUD OF 1872
Experience Of Genuine American.
Hosy Political Truth Reached One Hon.
est Heart.


written to Mr. Dana and printed by him
as a leader in the San. 1t wildly recalls
the past and makes plain the future, We
ask democrats to read it: s
As yonng man, and one beginning to
take interest and part IN the politics of
our day, | have an open confession TO
make. Not a confession of sin, nor of
stubbornness. nor of deception by myself
hut of how ! have for several years al
lowed myself to be deceived by others
My father was a soldier and repabl-
can. Republican newspapers only en-,
tered our home, and republican voters
only naturally reared therein. | have
grown up to manhood with faith strong,
and have hitherto thought inassailable,
in the uprightness and superiority of the
republican party; and while. generally
speaking, that conviction still remains
though in shaken condition, a reVela-
lion has recently come to me upon one
important and exciting phase of our
recent politics. revelation that has
successfully amazed Mortified and an
gered me.
Ii is of the manner in which Mr. Hayes
was found and decided to he Elected
president of the United States
Until within few weeks my convic-
tons in regard to the electoral commits
sion and proceedings were similar to
those of most republicans. thought the
commission was created by the wise
craftsmanship of both parties; that it
executed its mission honestly and thor
oughly; that its conclusions were based
upon justice and law; and that the final
result was creditable to our public men
and our country, and the only just and
proper one possible.
Indeed, / had 50 fully relied upon the
statements of the republican press, and
had such entire confidence in the integrity
of the republican members of the electoral
commission that it was impossible for me
to entertain, even tor moment, a doubt
that their unanimous action was dictated
by firm conviction and honesty of purpose.
Garfield, Hoar, Edmunds, Morton. Ere
linghuysen and the supreme court Judges.
Miller, Strong and Bradley, and especially
Garfield seemed to me the incarnation of
high-ninded craftsmanship, LOYALTY to
duty, and firmness in defending the right,
no matter at what personal or party sacri
tice. l have always entertained and ex-
pressed the war--ss555tt admiration for heir
good work, as | had understood il, in de
feating wicked attempt 10 seize the gov
eminent.
On the other hand, the uEsnimity and
persistency of the democratic members of
that commission in voting upon every
point presented favorably to the scheme
to count Mr. Tilden in, have always re-
GREETED as sad exhibition of the sinking
of the man in the politician painful
observation OF the statesman and judge
by the partisan. Believing, as did, that
the eight were surely right, it seemed some
Of the able seven must have known they
were wrong and by voting again and
again for their party when they knew jus
tice demanded other action, they earned
dstrust and condemnation.
Therefore it was that Mr.. Tilden, in nay
eyes. was little better than plotter, a
-fsiso olafIuuut and a dangerous man
Every gibe at him in the republican press,
every pretended disclosure as to his con-
nection with the alleged bribery scenes in
the disputed states. was eagerly read and
enjoyed by me.
And therefore, also, during the whole
of the Hayes administration, my imps-
thence was great at the manner in which
the opposition press persistently famed
the fires Of discomfort which burned with.
in the democraticspa-ty on account of the
result of the previous presidential election
To me their violent language their use of
unfriendly adjectives and explosives in
speaking of Mr. Hayes, and of others who
aided in placing him in the executive
chair or profted thereby, seemed little less
than criminal
Thus have grownu a Jealous repub
lican of the Western Reserve, loving nv
party, making fearful pilgrimages to the
sepulGhre Of Garfield, and confident and
happy in the worship of my idols.
But now my eyes see with a different
light. What was black before is now
white, and. alas the spotless white of old
is now stained and discolored.
1t is with shame that confess, that un-
til within a fortnight |, a young man with
fair education, average intelligence, and
enjoying exceptional opportunities for
getting information have been ignorant
that Samuel j. 1flden was really elected
president OF the U. States in Nov 1876,
and that Rutherford B. Hayes was de
clared elected to that high place only
through a most shameful conspiracy to
suppress the truth and seize the govern
ment.
A few weeks ago my curiosity by
chance became aroused as to the precise
methods employed by the electoral com
mission in reaching its momentous con
clusion, and procured and read the full
official record OF that body; not a partisan
record, but as / have said, an impartial,
thorough and official history of its delib-
erations and actions.
At or near the beginning of my reading,
and little dreaming of what was to follow
l was displeased with the decision of the
commission to refuse to hear evidence or
to go further back than the formal Ger
tificates of the governors of the several
states. 1t was my immediate impression
that such complete abandonment of all
pretense to investigation was a confession
of prejudice on the part of the commits
sion, and Of wicked intention to procure
certain result regardless of impending
facts and reasons; and when, little later
the several opposing counsel made 1t plain
that the safety of the Hayes case rested
upon such abandonment of inquiry, and.
on the other hand, saw that Tilden
hopes were based upon the most thorough
and impartial investigation, that impress
sion deepened and took firm hold upon
my almost unwilling reasoning faculties.
Still later, when it appeared that this
decision was such as would make the error
OF state governor a national calamity,
or magnify his corruption in the small
matter of signing false certificates of cleo
ton for few obscure men into crime
against the nation and civilization itself,
l could not regard such debision as well
based, either in equity or constitutional
law
When it was pointed out that this de-
cision virtually placed the election of