Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-08-30
Another Batch of Letters.

Tuesdays New York Sun published an
other batch Of letters showing how the
Republicans carried the national election
Of 1880. These letters were written by the
most prominent men in the Republican
party. They disclose the fact that the
leaders admitted that they were beaten
unless money was freely used in the
doubtful States. They also show that
a very large amount Of money was used.
There are significant illusions IN the let
tiers to the railroads that lead into Indl-
ana. Ohio and several other States. What
these illusions had reference to is not diff
fcult 10 understand. There seems 10 be
little doubt that repeating was practiced
10 an extent before unknown. 1t may be
asked. what is the good Of publishing all
this matter now: The wrong that
was done cannot be righted, and
the one who was chiefly benefited is
dead. The good Is this. The Republican
party holds itself up as the party Of pro-
gress. Of morality and intelligence. Ithas
always made that claim. 1t has been a
part Of its stock in trade. 1t has endeav-
Ored to impress the country with the be-
lief that the institutions Of the Republic
would be safe in the hands Of no other
party. IL has reiterated this so often tnat
thousands of sincere. supplemented peO-
pie have come 10 believe it. The publica-
ton Of the facts Of the Republican
campaign Of $50 Will undeceiye them.
The party they have stood by and sup
ported through thick and thin, with
blind faith in its virtue. purity and high
purposes. Is shown TO have been engaged
in criminal attack on the ballot-boX, the
most sacred institution of the Republic.
The men who organized and led the attack
were not the ordinary political strikers
and barrO0m politicians. They were men
whose names were known throughout
the length and breadth Of the land. They
were the leaders Of the great moral party.
some Of them had held up their hands in
holy horror in the United states senate
and House Of Representatives when it
was alleged that the carpet-bag govern
ments Of the south had been wiped out Of
existence bv tissue ballots and the in
timidatiou of the negro voters. 1t IS
right and proper that the mask should be
torn from the face OF this hypOcritical
party. and that lis moral deformity and
r5ttenuess should be exposed. 1t is but
Just that those who are supporting that
party should know what they are sup
porting. There can he no longer pre-
tence that the money that was collected
by hundreds OF thousands Of dollars was
expended i'm legitimate electiOneeTing ex-
penses. 1t was spent. as Dorsey says, in the
shape of two dollar bills 10 corrupt voters,
and, as the published letters indicate, to
import repeaters into the doubtful States.
We have no defense TO offer for Dorsey
for any of his misdeeds. but in the light
Of recent revelations the question which
presses itself home on the public mind is
this. SuppOsing that Dorsey is guilty Of
the charge that was made against him in
connection with the star route frauds. is
it greater crime To rob the government
than to bride voters: Is not the law as
severe in one case as in the other: And
vet the men who ordered Dorsey to be
. prosecuted as Il thief were his eOnfederates
in the bribery business, and at the great
DelmonicO dinner lavished praises on
him for his part in that business until the
hardened sinner blushed.