Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-05
APPEAL FOR A FAIR VOTE.
South Carolina Republicans Denied Repre-
sentati0n at Voting Precincts.

South Carolina Republicans Denied Repre-
sentation at Voting Precincts.
|
| COLUMBIA, S. c., Oct. 4.-The Republic
can state executive committee held a
! meeting in this citpa few days ago and de
| cided that it was inexpedient to put a
| state ticket in the field this year, but re-
solved to concentrate all the energies OF
| the party on the congressional elections in
the First and Seventh black districts, and
on the electoral ticket.
To this end, therefore, resolutions were
adopted and formally presented to Gov
ernor Richardson requesting him to APP
point at least one Republican commissioner
of elections in each county, and through
them one Republican manager at
each of the voting precincts for
electors and congressman throughout
the state. The resolutions contained the
following allegations: The whole election
machinery, commissioners of election,
managers clerks, ETC., with the exception
of Georgetown county, beiug entirely in
the hands of the dominant party of south
Carolina, has been productive of the sup
preston of a free vote and honest count.
By virtue of vastly preponderating num-
Der, we think it would be but an act of
simple justice, and in the interest of a fair
and honest election, that representation be
granted to the Republican party in the
Seventh congressional district of South
Carolina, known as the Black district,
which was set apart by Democratic legis-
lators for the Republicans, but which has
been invaded by the Democrats and an
almost solemnly implied pledge broken
the partisan actions of boards
of election officers POmDOSe0
tirely of Democrats. Therefore, we
respectfully and earnestly appeal
to your excellency in the interest of fair
play and an honest election, and in the
name of one hundred and fifty thousand
Republican voters. representing over seven
hundred thousand people, to accord us
representation in the management of the
approaching election"
Governor Richardson's reply, declining
to accede to the committees request, was
made public today. In view of the we'll
known operations of the eight box law,
etc, it reads more like huge joke than
sober state document.
In announcing his conclusions, the gov
ernor says: at will be sufficient simply
to say that in my judgment departure
from the wildly established methods and
principles upon which these appointments
are made would endanger the continuance
of the perfectly free, fair and peaceful cleo
tions. the professed object of your desire,
that are the proud boast and the highest
achievement of Democratic rule in this
state. To the eternal honor of our state and
the Democratic party il can now be said
that our elections are the freest and fairest
in the world, and that not single citizen
of hers, no matter what his rank, color or
condition, can, under her just and equal
laws, impartially administered as they
are, be by any perverSion or intimidation
debarred at the polls from the free and
full exercise of his suffrage. There is not
only perfect freedom in voting, but the
amplest protection afforded the voter. I
shall, therefore, with deep sense of the
responsibility resting on me, preserve to
the best of my ability the purity of the
appoint to the important position of
commissioners of election in the several
counties men of such known intelligence,
high character and unquestionable patriot
ism as will give all the people of South
Carolina the confident assurance of having
In the coming election the fullest, freest
and fairest expression of their will To
these boards will be entrusted the desig-
nation of precinct managers, duty | am
sure that they will not only discharge
faithfully, but the responsibility of which
they will justly appreciate. | have thus
frankly and succinctly stated the main
that will guide my action
In the appointment OF these election
boards. But | cannot refrain from bring
ing to your attention in this connection the
fact that your committee can scarcely be
said to represent an organized party as the
condition of the remnant of the
in this state for many years
past would surely justify the non-recogni-
ton of alleged rights and consequence so
demanded and strongly asserted
by you. l will freely add that the whole
nf ,+l
IN her borders, can safely rest in the abso-
lutte assurance of having at the coming
election the fullest opportunity of express
ing their will through the constitutional
and American method of a perfectly free
ballot and a fair count"