Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1888-12-13
VIRGINIA. THURSDAY, DECEMBER la, 1883.


total vote increases from something over GOO
to more than 900, or about so per cent.
This increase in district and county has been
accompanied by an open and shameless ex-
penditure of money amounting to many
thousands of dollars.
In Fayette county, among the mines, l,SOO
votes were cast for the Republican ticket by
transient, migratory negro population,
many of them without residence or local
identity, whose ballots were accepted with
out question or obstruction by the Republi-
can authorities in charge ofthe election.
In Mercer county the Republican vote has
been increased from 500 in 'S4to ! 400 in
'SS. This increased vote was cast in great
part by non resident negroes, many of who
cannot to-day be found. In a local election
contest now in progress in that county 300
illegal votes have already been discovered
as cast for the Republican ticket and will
undoubtedly be rejected on the final count
In single precinct 10 have been challenged
as cast by men who cannot be identified, To-
Gated or found. The investigations now in
progress before the grand jury of the Circuit
Court of Mercer have resulted in many in
dictments for illegal voting, and point clear
" to the existence of a conspiracy to defeat
the popular will by the organization and use
at the polls of hundreds Of nonresident
negroes.
In Mcdowell county the mines have been
opened but few months, scarcely a man
could have acquired residence in connec-
ton Herewith In Elk Horn district, where
these mines are located but so legal voters
can be found to-day, yet the Republican
ticket received in that district $50 votes, a
poll more than twice as large as the entire
majority claimed in the State for the Repub-
lican candidate for Governor. - In that dis
trict l66 votes so far have been ascertained
by name through Investigations in a local
contest to have been cast by persons having
no legal residence in West Virginia.
These in .tauces, which might easily be
multiplied, disclose the nature Of the meth
DDS to which resort has been had to defeat an
honest election in our State. The question
which they present is simply the question of
submission or resistance to bribery, corrup-
tion and political infamy.
As faithfully representing the party in
behalf of whose candidates upon the Presi-
Dental, State Legislative and Congression
al tickets an honest majority Of the legal
vote has been polled, this committee has de-
termined to exhaust every legal resource to
secure to the Democracy the fruits of their
victory and to protect the people in the ex-
preston of their will through the ballot.
The committee has this day by resolution
requested Hon. A. b. Fleming, Governor
elect of the State of West Virginia, the only
candidate upon the Democratic State ticket
whose election is apparently affected by Re-
publican frauds, to take immediate action
for an election contest should the recounts
now in progress substantiate the Republican
claim that his opponent has meagre ma
jority on the face of the returns. Prompt
and effective efforts will be made by the COM
nlittee to secure to the people the results Of
Democratic success wherever and on what
ever office the Democratic party is honestly
entitled to triumph.
This is no personal matter with Judge
Fleming. The loss or possession Of the Of
flee of Governor is a matter Of no serious
moment to 4 man Of his character and stand
ing. But in view of his representative posi-
ton the party which made him its candidate
is wronged should he be robbed of his rights,
and the people whose Governor he has been
fairly chosen are dishonored if an intruder
is permitted to usurp his dignities and as
sumo his duties.
Since 1876 it has been the settled purpose
of the Democracy Of the Union to tolerate
no more fraudulent rulers and to submit to
no more political usurpation. This purpose
is nowhere more firmly fixed than in the
breasts of our mountain Democracy. The
party which corrupted and debauched the
States of Louisiana, South Carolina and
Florida, and thereby stole the Presidency,
cannot repeat in West Virginia the colossal
political robberies.
To maintain the right Of the people to
chose their own rulers, to vindicate the pu-
rity of our elections and to defeat bold con-
spiracy against the good name Of the State
we propose to purge the ballot-box Of every
dishonest vote, and if possible to punish
every dishonest voter. To this end the co
operation Of every law abiding citizen is in
vited. By advice, by counsel, by punishing
instances Of wrong doing in connection with
the election, and by substantiating them with
proofs all may aid and all may participate
in a grave public day Let the work be
properly done, let it be thoroughly done, and
in the future the corruption Of public con-
science, and the enemies Of an honest ballot
must find in other States if they find at all, a
suitable field for their operations.
fSigned. rs. RILEY, Chairman.
b II. OxLEY, Secretary.
Charleston, w. Ta., NorenJer 80, 1888.
The First Symptoms Of Death.
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