The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1884-11-29
THE CHICAGO TRICK.

The Democratic opponents of John
Logan are making an obstinate attempt
to defeat his return to the United States
Senate. One of the Chicago senatorial
districts has been selected as the field
of operations, and last week the an
nounCement was made that an error
had been discovered in the tally sheets
of one of the precincts of a ward in
Chicago, which had returned a Repub
lican majority in favor of Mr.. Leman.
The previously announced result in the
state having left the Legislature with
tie vote between the two parties, this
discovery would, if sustained, give the
Democrats majority Of one in the
legislature, and enable them to defeat
Logan. Now, however, it turns out
that this pretended orror is simply an
attempt to ''doctor' the returns, the
poll book showing plainly the erasures
and alterations, by which, by which Mr..
I.eman' S vote was transferred to his
Democratic opponent, Mr.. Brand. To
carry out this fraudulent scheme the
Democratic canvassing board has re-
fused to investigate and correct this
fraud on the ground that it has no
power to 90 behind the returns, thus
becoming party to the criminal at
tempt to transplant Southern methods
to Northern soil. But the Republicans
are determined to prevent the consum-
nation of the outrage. One PROPOSE
ton is for Gov. Hamilton to refuse to
sign Brands certificate of election, and
another, advanced by the Chicago TI-
buur is that it will be the duty of the
governor to "comc to Chicago, examine
the forged return for himself, and issue
a certificate of election to Mr. Leman."
Meantime Mr.. Brands neighbors have
been holding meetings and advising
him to refuse to countenanCe the fraud
by attempting to take his seat, and the
United States grand jury has under
taken to investigate the fraud.
The Chicago Meas, which is an in
dependent paper and which has no bias
in favor of the Republican party, says
of this matter:
"The fraud is SO patent that Mr..
Brand, if he be an honorable mar, will
refuse to take the seat in the state SEN
ate to which it elects him. The vote
in the precinct for all other officers
shows directly the reverse Of the figures
for Republican and Democratic candi-
dates to those on the tally sheets for
Leman and Brand. The poll books
show erasures, and every circumstance
indicates the preparation of daring
fraud. If the Democrats are equally
daring and INSCRIPTIONS in proftins
by its result, it will give them major
ity of one in the state senate, and MIR.
Brands vote would give them the con-
troll in the organization of the senate,
and the appointment of the very com
mittee to which his own fraudulent case
would be submitted. With a majority
of one in the senate the Democrats
would have majority OF two in Joint
convention. This means the selection
of Democrat to succeed Gen. Logan
in the United States senate. OF this,
however, the Democrats may take no.
tee. Their party has come into power
in Washington. 1t controls the House
of Representatives. The election OF
Democratic senator from Illinois would
not give it a majority in the Senate.
He would so there the receiver of a
stolen honor. BY his presence there
Illinois would be dishonored. The
stigma of fraud would forever attach to
him, and would be powerfully used
against his party in future campaigns.
there would be no escape from it. No
political party can afford to profit by
such a plain. unblushing. nalpable fraud.