The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-12-11
When and Now.

hnen ana now.
On the 9th ult., the Detroit Free Press,
abiding to the infamous democratic fraud
in the eighteenth ward in Chicago, by which
bold attempt was made to steal, not only a
seat in the senate of that state, but also a
seat in the U. S. senate, made use of the fol-
lowing language:
The organs were so sure that fraud was
being perpetrated in the eighteenth ward of
Chicago that they could not wait for re-
count of the ballots before deciding the case
in favor of their own candidate. On the
strength of the average republican vote in
the disputed precinct they demonstrated his
election to their entire satisfaction. Will
they have the decency to apologize for their
charges and insinuations, now that the re-
count shows clearly the defeat of their can
didate, despite the average republican vote?
So long as the steal appeared to be sue
cess the Free Press was ready to endorse it,
and willing that the party it represents
should reap the benefit of false returns and
ballot-box stuffing. The "organs," however,
did not have the "decency to. apologize" but
kept right on pushing things" by endeavor-
ing to unearth the palpable fraud, and as a
result of republican investigation not only
Las the fact of democratic Justification of
the returns been established, but also the
additional fact that the original republican
l.n11 NA~ L. ILL
democrats--and their place supplied by
bogus ballots, printed three weeks after cleo
ton, fac similes of the originals so stolen
with the exception of having the name of
Brand, the democratic candidate for senator,
printed in place Of Leman the republican
candidate.
When this villainous attempt to thwart
the will of the people had been made SO
plain that it was placed beyond all reason
able doubt, and not until then, the Free
Press changed its tune, and in its issue of Dec.
Sd it printed the following:
IL as at present there seems little reason
to doubt, fraud was attempted in Chicago
by stulling the ballot-box after the election,
it is incumbent upon the democrats even
more than the republicans to demand the
punishment Of the perpetrators. It is one
of the crimes against the public and the re-
public which no party can overlook and nei-
ther party forgive. The Chicago NeiCS hears
rumor that the offense is 10 be overlooked
by the republicans on condition that the
democrats will vote for Logan. We doubt
if there is any foundation for q story so dis
creditable to both parties. Only one honor
able course is left the democrats, at least
to repudiate the fraud and turn over those
guilty of it TO justice.
The above is good deal like the CONVEX
sion OF criminal who is condemned to the
gallows; he is very willing to repent when
there is no other alternative. The demo-
cratic party will hardly go direct to glory by
reason of repenting of its ballot-box stufing
after il is tried and convicted.
The history of the party in the south,
ever since the days of reconstruction, shows
one continuous, unbroken chain of fraud
and violence. False returns, lying counts,
tissue ballots, stuffed ballot-bo intimi-
dated voters, and political murders rise up
against them on every hand. They will not
down. The party may cry, "Out damned
spots" but all in vain.
While it is true that the record of the
Goutharn depoooracy 10 .brg ;rfo,,o,- Aha,
attempted theft of a state legislature, and of
a seat in the u. $. Senate is the first time
such tactics have been introduced in the
North. The Detroit democratic returning
board contemplated similar fraud and car
ried out their programme in part, but better
counsels prevailed and the attempt was aban-
doned.
This Chicago fraud has been partially
righted by the issuance of the certificate of
election to Mr.. Leman whom the people
elected, instead of to Mr.. Brand in whose in
forest the fraud was attempted. 1t is alto
gether probable that further justice will be
done by the indictment and punishment of
those concerned in the attempted theft.
Certainly il is to be hoped such may be the
case. The prosperity of our country and
the perpetuity ofeour free institutions de-
ponds on the preservation of the purity of
the ballot box. Without this our elections
would be a farce and our government a
fraud. If the time shall ever come when
this shall cease to be government of the
people, by the people and for the people,
there will be nothing LETT worth preserva.
10 and the end will not be far away.