The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-15
DEMOCRACY AND TIE FRAUDS.

DEMOCRACY AND THE FRAUDS
The Cincinnati Sun, Democratic paper
moved by the rascality it has been compelled
to admit has been practiced by Democrats in
that city, speaks to the point on the election
swindle in this city as follows:
eff there has been fraud committed at the
late election in Indiana the persons who COM
mitted it should be hunted down and pun
ished. 1t matters not to what political party
the perpetrators of such outrages may belong
nor in whose interest the work may have been
done. Be they Republican or Democratic
frauds the punishment should be swift and
complete No party can afford to tolerate
frauds on the ballot-box such as are alleged in
that State and we are mistaken in the Demo.
Gratis of Indiana if they do not lend every
couragement to rigid investigation of the
crimes that have been charged against some of
the workers in the city Of indianapolis. Per
sons who commit election frauds do not do it
in the interest of any party. Only a deep
personal interest is a sufficient incentive to
any man to engage in the danger
Gus enterprise of ballot stuffing
II it is found that such work
has been done inside the Democratic organiza
ton at Indianapolis it will likewise be found
that it was done by little clique of corrup-
tionsts who would have done as much for
Republicans if it would have served their in
dividual purposes as we'll. 1t is manifestly
unjust to charge the Democratic party with
the crimes committed by few scoundrels who.
happen to call themselves Democrats. The
leaders of the Democracy in Indiana are men
of honor and integrity, while the rank and file
of the party, with their patriotism and love of
decency and fair play in politics, would
quickly repudiate anything that looked like
the corruption. of the ballot. IF there have
been election rascalities in Indianapolis in the
interest of the Democratic ticket, they have
been committed by men who have no right to
call themselves Democrats, and the sooner the
party is purged of them the better it will be
for the Democracy of the State. Push the
investigation"
In the main the Sun is right, but it is
slightly in error in its protestations that men
dishonest enough to commit such crimes do
not stand high in the Democratic party of
this State. The chairman Of the Democratic
county central committee is none other than
one Simeon Coy man who has no respect
for the law when it crosses his convenience
and pleasure This same Coy has been guilty
of keeping open his saloon. in defiance of the
law, on Sunday and at hours beyond that
fixed by statute for closing at night. When
it was discovered that an attempt had been
made to vitiate the election here, honest men
at once had an opinion of the part this fellow
could take in such schemes were he so dis
posed A man of low instincts, he has i'm
pressed honest men Of all parties as person
not exactly to be desired as comrade. Yet
there is strong talk of making this very man
chairman of the Democratic State committee,
because he has succeeded in some manner in
carrying this county for the Democratic ticket.
1t is hardly possible that this will be done,
since it is incredible that the honest men of
that party would submit to accepting such
leadership. But up to the time of the dis
covery of the palpable frauds here,
he was unquestionably the autocratic local
boss, and no Democrat, from the highest to
the lowest, presumed to put in question his
authority So far from going back on this
infamous thing, there is an organization of
Democrats meeting in secret, to sec what can
be done toward securing by means which will
not bear publicity, the fruits of just such
work as has been unearthed, and Sim
Coy is at the head of it. 1t will not do.
therefore, tosay that such things are the work
of individuals bent on personal advancement
The gang in this city has the moral support of
a very considerable portion of the Democratic
party, and the Democratic party organ here
has done all in its power to discount the dam
aging evidence that has already been secured,
and to make it appear that there is little or
nothing to investigate or that the Republic
ans are as deep in the mud as Democrats are
in the mire. There has been strong senti-
ment against Investigation, and disposition
shown to resent the placing Of the evidences
in the custody of coart that guarantees that
they viii be unmolested till called for in the