The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-29
TIFF RALLOT-BOX CRIME.

except as evidence in contest, or in other
proceedings by quo warranto to Dust Mr..
Pritchard or Mr.. Denny Both these gentle
men have the certificates of election, and will
take their offices. A contest, if one could
now be made, would come before the Circuit
Court, in which event the report of the re-
count would be simply evidence, and not
conclusive, for it's conclusions could be over
thrown by competent testimony. We think
the status of the case is perfectly
understood by the public. The 3'fuss" is not
being made over the recount. If the re-
count had proceeded honestly and peaceably,
and Mr.. Ripley had been found to have re-
ceived one majority, ard that had appeared to
the satisfaction of the Republican commits
sioner, we make no doubt Mr.. Pritchard
would have refused his certificate, and not
put Mr.. Ripley to the trouble and expense of
contest. Certainly the public would not
course. The Journal would have used it's ut
most influence to the end that Mr.. Ripley
should have his certificate and seat without
further question.
AS the Journal said, yesterday the control
of the Board of Aldermen, and the possession
Of the elective Offices of the city are matters
of very small import. The 'fuss" that is be-
ing made is not over that; it is over the most
Infamous, scoundrelly, high handed outrage
that has ever been known in the politics of
this city, OF county, or State. The 'fuss"
is over the sanctity of the ballot; the right Of
suffrage, the sacredness of the ballot-box-
upon which the whole fabric of representa-
tive government rests When, because
of a disagreement between the Repub-
lican and Democratic commissioners, which
should have been settled by the court that
appointed them, and which the court said, in
writing, he would hear and determine man
took Ratchet and broke open the ballotbox,
the Journal believes he committed most fla
grant outrage upon the suffrage, and committed
an act for which the law provides a severe
penalty The Journal believes Mr. Hollis as
sault upon the ballot-box to be precisely such
one as section 2195 of the Re-
vised Statutes is intended to pre-
vent or punish, and it is our opinion
that he should be proceeded against under this
statute, so that it can be judicially determined
whether the methods of burglary can be safely
introduced into the election system Of Indian
apolis.
! There would not have been so much fuss
over the scoundrelly dishonest counting Of
such tickets as were shown in yesterday
Journal Infamies of that nature could vel
be left to the correction Of the court before
whom the evidence would come il
the orderly course of legal procedure
The outrageous and dishonest partisanshi!
would have been righteously denounced; blu
indignation felt or expressed-the 'fuss
raised-over this conduct on the part of tn
Democratic commissioners that there is ant
has been over the breaking open of the ballot
box by Sterling r. Holt with Ratchet. Tha
| is what the 'fuss" is about and there canno
be too much '.fuss' about it. If the hatche
can be brought into play to secure an alder
derman or mayor, it can be used t
secure a Governor, or congressman
or United States senator or a President
1t is an assault upon the integrit,
of the ballot, over which there cannot be to-
much 'fuss' made, until the men who com
mitted it, and the men who instigated it, ar
made to understand that such infamies will
not be permitted by people who know tn
value of their rights, and are prepared to main
tain and defend them The News, Of las
night, properly says of Mr.. Hollis action:
ut is the most high handed outrage tina
was ever committed in this community. TIL
perpetrators of it should be prosecuted an,
punished to the full extent of the law, am
their aiders and abettors and, if need be, tn
citizens of this town, irrespective of party
should unite to appoint a law-and
order committee and subscribe none
to punish these infamous outlaws to the full
est extent 1t is no question of politics. 1t
question of crime. 1t must be met and pun
isked right now. If our laws are inadequat
to it the community ought to know it at once
Free government is a fraud; elections are
farce; votes are the certificates of fools,
two or three desperadoes may burglarize th
boxes and buttress their infamy with illegs
ballots"
THE Philadelphia Record, reputable Dem
: ocratic journal, very pertinently asks what apo
: ogy the papers which printed the bogus Conl