New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-11-17
REFORN BY STUMBLING.

The history of the operations III behalf OF
HClcveland and Reform is largely history OF
swindling, ballot-box stuling and perjury.
Does any sincere supporter of reform by way OF
Cleveands election imagine that this state
ment is unfair? Then let him survey the field,
and see how matters actually stand in the
different States.
In Chicago, Mackin will 90 to the pcnitenti-
ary. The final decision of the Supreme Court
disposcs of this swindlcr and perjurer, and he
will serve the cosntIy in State Prison fer
term of years, on account of his Jealous service
to the Democratic party. This man was at the
head of the Democratic Committee in Chicago,
and its active man, who managed the local
work of the party. The party tIied to defeat
the election of General Logan to the Senate,
but found it was unable to do so honestly It's
anxiety to uphold Cleveland and Reform by
sending one more Senator to support his APP
pointmentS was so great that 1t rcSorted to
frauds and crimes. These frauds failed. Only
their detection and the aroused indignation OF
all citizens prevented their success. Mr..
Mackin's part in this matter was so cobNplcu-
Gus, and his active participation In criminal acts
50 easily proven. that he was readily indicted
and convicted. Yet the gain sought for the
cause OF Reform " through his endeavOrs was
50 great that some persons thought Mackln
should be rewarded and not punished. Con-
scGuenUy desperate efforts We're made to save
him from the penalty of his crime. Men who
knew that ne had violated law nevertheless for
the sake of party employed all the powers OF
the law to shicld him, and rcsortcd to other
crimes to hide his crime. For full year they
have been so far succcssiul that until now 1t
has been in doubt whether this shameless
criminal could be punished for crimes which
during that ear no one has had the audac.iy to
DENY.
Next comes Ohio. At this hour the question
is whether crimes 50 shameless that There Is
scarcely an attempt 10 deny them shall prevail
in defeat of the will OF the people. The SUI
prem Court stoops to hear an application, on
behalf of swindlcrs and pcrjurerS, that their
crimes shall not be deprived OF effect because
of their detection. The court hears, because it
is Democratic court, aud the object OF these
! crimes was to secure q Democratic Senator to
support the great cause of Cleveland and Re
| form" Are these men to be punished Mo-
/ body imagnes that they will be. And yet, il the
/ people of Ohio wish TO enjoy the pleasure OF
/ self government in any true sense, they Will
not fail to send to the penitentary small
| army of other robbers, at least as guilty a.
! Mackin and some of them much more cOnsplcu-
! GUS and influential The first duty Of the new
/ Administration in that State, which represents
/ the honest ind gnation of the people, Is to hunt
down this set of criminals. If they are con
victcd, a number of Democratic leaders in Ohio
will wear striped clothing and labor for liy-
ing more honestly than they have done for
years.
Finally we have the South, and particularly
Virginia There the Democrats nave gained Il
Senator "Cleveland and Reform have been
sustained, and by frauds the full disclosure OF
which will doubtless be made early this winter
after Congress assemblies. Inspection of the
vote as returned leaves no room for doubt in
regard to the nature of the sO-caed election.
The people had nothing to do with its results
Fraud in some form, it is evident, determined
that result, without regard to the votes of the
people Probably the stuiing Of ballot-boxes
and the making of forged or fraudulent returns
were generally rcsOrtcd to- because by such
means the necessity Of shooting down men OF
the opposite party, and thus arousing public in
dignaton could be avoided. 1t is thought that
the people of the North do not care how much
robbery and perjury are employed, but have Il
weak dislike to the massacre of persons for
their political opinions.
Is not this a faithful picture Of Democratic
performances III three of the States In each
of these States the party had no chance OF sue
cess, except by infamous crimes, which
threaten the very basis of elf-g0yernmcnt.
Yet there are men who support such party
because, they say, they expect great reforms y
from its success.