The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1883-06-06
POLITICAL FRAUDS.

New Orleans has recently had M
merous trials in both the State and
Federal Courts for ballot-box stuff
fng and frauds in elections.
Back in the days of Radical domi-
nation. in this State it was hardly
possible to take high moral grounds
upon the question of fraud in elee-
tions. The people were openly de-
frauded by such cunning devices as
Returning Boards, Supervisors of
Registration and the other methods
employed by the Radicals to stiae
the public voice, and there was some
show of reason in fighting the Devil
with fire. but even then the prac.
tice Of stua1ng ballot boxes and fal-
styling the actual result at the polls
was of doubtful propriety and GER
taihly was obnoxious to good morals
and violative Of fair play, as it assu-
redly was destructive Of political Ii.
berty.
However that may have been, the
excuse upon which the prectice was
founded no longer exists and if the
Republican institutions of this coun.
try are to continue as safeguards to
ourselves and blessings to our pos
terity we must have elections which
shall be free from the faint Of fraud
and the stufiing of ballot boxes. The
State, and all of its departments, is
in the hands of the people and there
is no opposition to the continued
control of the Democratic party, and
to apply to elections now held the
methods of the past is criminal and
suicidal. There is 20 material diff
ference in fact between the robber
who steals my purse and the one who
robs me of the influence to which my
ballot is fairly entitled, either by ia
king it out and substituting another
or by overwhelming it with the
fraudulent addition OF ballots not
cast. If there be difference it is in
favor of the holder thief who takes
the money which affects me only and
against the one who purloins my
freedom Of choice and thereby affects
the whole body polite.
We are told that in the days of the
decadence and DOWNFALL Of the
Republic of Rome the condition of
affairs had become so corrupt aud
disgraceful that tables and booths
were kept by political brokers where
votes were openly bought and sold
at so much for each. They had not
then discovered the much more
cheap, expeditions and satisfactory
plan of stufing the ballot boxes, or
changing the record of the riva voce
votes as they we're then cast. We
have improved upon the antiquated
methods of the past and there is
nothing 80 easy as to take out one
hundred votes which have been cast,
from Brown and to put in one hun
dred for Jones which have not been
cast, provided always that tho peo-
pie will stand idly by and see the
fraud perpetrated and quietly submit
when the fraud is finally consumma.
ted by Jones holding the Office to
which Brown was fairly elected and
receiving the emoluments to which
Brown was honestly entitled.
Unless We mistake the temper of
the people they do not propose to
submit any longer to such frauds. A
free ballot and fair count is their
watchword and they are determined
to have fair election next time cost
what it may. 1.-THE Courts are pow.
eriess and will not convict the ras-
Gals who commit frauds, it may be
necessary for the people to take the
punishment in their own hands.
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