Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1885-04-13
Ch,eaxo's Fixhs Against Fraud.

Wen the election for President took
plac- last tall, number OF chicago
Dem rats distingui shed themselves by |
stufiug the ballot boxes To such an ex'
tent tnata Demo ,rAttc State senator
was declared Ia be eiected, who It was
well known was defeated and was
proves to have been defeated when an
honest count OF tue ballots WAS made
The perpetrators of the fraud we're dis
CLOSED, arrested, convicted and SEN
fenced to the peni sentisry, only escap.
ing for a hone being ssut there by
n motion TOR new tr,sl. There was
not the lesAss doust of the comm ssion
of the frsut. So banglrngly was the
Job committed that the mau tine Demo
Gratis claimed to have oeen elect7d by 1t
refused 10 profit by the fraud. Had
the fraud not been discovered the
Democrats would have had majority
of one in the Illinois Legislature, and
in all probability Col. M'rrson would
have been sent to the United StA'es
Senate from that State, and the Demo
cratic party would willingly have
profited by this outrage on the rights
OF the people.
Bot now another election outrage hs'
been perpetrated in sChicago. An elec
ton for Mayor was held last week
when Carter Harrison was q candidate
for reelection and was opposed D,
Judge Smith. Mr.. Harrison was thu
Democratic candidate, and had thu
solid support rs he has always had be
fore of the disorderly element of thu
city.
Two years ago he was elected b!
over 10000, majority and last week h
was counted in by few hundred ma
iority. II is the general impression
however, that Judge Smith is electes
by at least 200 majority, and com
mittee of citizens has been appointed t
take the matter in charge and conduc
q contest of the election. In one ward
the six Republican Judges report tina
Republican candidates received ma
jorities varying from 800 to 600, but
majority OF 400 was reported for tn
Democratic candidates, persons vote'
in the names Of dead men, invalids, an
non-residents, and in one precinct c
the Fourth ward the figures of the RI
turns were reversed, Harrison give
1872 votes and Smith 65 votes.
That there is an excitement in Ch
cago over such outrageous frauds is n
to be wondered at. That vigilan,
committees have been organized ner
cause no surprise, and that gambler
thieves, and fraudulent election office
are ordered to 60 is natural resul
Though it is exasperating to be d
frauded in sueh manner, it is still
be hoped that the law may be perm
ted TO take its course.
The people, however, are to be col
mended for their determination TO e
force the law, let its rigors fall whe
they will. In fact the law must
enforced or there will be an end
civil government. When gamblers a
thieves combine to elect bad men
Office. respectable and law abiding C
70 checkmate them. The better cl
of citizens have combined in Cincinn
and have overthrown the disorde
cohorts of that city. Keepers OF ga
bling dens have been notified that Il
must close their places Of business 6
the people mean that the order shall
respected. The people of Chic
meant the same thing in the late e
ton, and they do not mean to be Oh.
ed out of the true result of the elect
Upon the whole it is encouraging t
such a man as Carter Harrison
crowded to the wall by the honest p
lie spirit of the citizens of Chicago
in the hand to hand fight that is I
going on between the better class
citizens and the worst class, there i:
room TO doubt that honesty
triumph