Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1884-11-14
Then and VOW.

THIS is an eminently proper time
to remind our Republican friends Of
an episode in American history
which some Of them seem to have
quite forgotten and all of them seem
disposed to ignore. The reminder
may serve to explain. to Rshublican
critics, the keen vigelence and stsrn
determination with Whish Democrats
are watching proceedings in New
York.
In 1876 Samuel J. T:ldsn and
Thomas A. Hendricks we're elected
President and vice-P -Prssidsnt Of che
United States. For the frst twenty
four hours after the announcement Of
the verdict, the election was frankly
conceded by all then. however, she
Republican leaders issued orders to
their subordinate to ..claim every
thing" and the claim was finally
located in certain Southern States
where the political machinery was
most completely in Republican hands.
The result was that impudeAt and
shameless conspiracy by which the
American people were cheated cut OF
their deliberate choice ct the polls,
and an indellible stain fixed upon the
American name and nation. This
conspiracy was openly confessed by
the man whom It thrust into she
Presidency. The Louisiana Return
ing Board and the Electoral Commits
sion which supplemented and con-
summated that atinHprtal infamy gave
the electoral vote ofthe State 10 the
Republican, national candidates, but
one Of t1e first acte Of Ar. Hayes
was to recognize tho election Of
Nicholas, the Democratic nominee
for Governor, though Packard, the
Republican nominee, had received
several hundred more votes than the
Republican national tickesl In other
words, the Republican party ac-
knowledgeed the Presidential fraud
as soon as it had been successfully
perpetrated, and for four years the
country WAS compelled to endure q
Presidential usurper, who did not
hesitate to enjoy she fruits OF the
colossal crime, though he Was willing
TO expose it.
Democrats submitted patiently,
perhaps too patiently, TO the grievous
wrong thus innicted; but their, sab
mission was accompanied by . firm
resolution that any attempt to repeat
this wrong would be resfsted to the
bitter end. Republicans, while pro-
fting by the usurpa.ion, despised
the insurper; and Mr.. Hayes, though
he had been . respectable President,
Was, at the expiration Of his term,
dismissed into the obscurity of pri-
vate life with undirguised contempt
by those who had made him eonten-
ptible. Republicans doubtless hoped,
may possibly have believed. that by
thus dropping their tool their centsn-
nial wrong would be forgotten. 1t
never will be forgotten while grass
grows and water runs On American
soil. It is burned deep into she pop
ular consciousness, there TO remain
forever as blistering memory and .
warning example.
In 1884, Grover Cleveland and
Thomas A. Hendricks are elected
President and Vice President Of the
United States. In New York, the
decisive State, the vote is close; but
there is no reasonable doubt that the
Democratic nominees have q sufi-
cient plurality, and we're it not for
the defeated candidate and his lieu
tenants the result would be univer-
sally accepted and the public mind
allowed to resume its normal condl-
ton. Mr.. Blaine and the National
Republican Committee have appar-
emily lost sight Of the important fact
that this is not 1876, hut 1884; that
the State upon which she contest
hinges is not Louisana, but New
York shat the vote will not be man
ipulated by three white rogues and
two black ones, vhe can be bought
or bulldozed % in Louisiana, but by
the reputable and responsible of1-
ciaIs of the foremost Commonwealth
in the Union that there will be no
Republican s'visitina statemen," like
the Iamented Garfield, to help = ras-
ealIy returning board, and then cit
as members Of the Electoral Com
mission which indorses and confirms
the rascality that, in short. the game
played eight years ago cannes be
played now, say Or do what they
may thst If anything Is absolste
sure in this world IL Is that at no
price and under ne circumstances
will the American people bs swim
died In 1884 ss We fully believe,
Cleveland and Hendricks have OBJ
tanned plurality in New York. they
will, IL living, as certainly be inag-
urated on the zth Of March, 1885, as
the sun shines.-P.-D.