The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-16
NOT POLITICS, BUT JUSTICE.

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The second trial'o the tally-sheet forgery
case will commence in the United States Dis
trict Court to-day. While earnestly disclaim-
ing any purpose or desire to PREJUDICE the CASE
or influence the course of justice, in any way,
We may, at the threshold Of the trial, call at
lention TO the interests involved and to the
Importance of a thorough investigation of the
case. 1t has already become celebrated
throughout the State, and every stage of the
proceedings is now watched with interest by
men of all shades of political opinion who
favor honest politics and fair elections. The
crime with which the defendants stand in
dicted is one that strikes at the foundation of
pur political system. Honest elections are the
cornerstone of our system, and without them
republican government is farce. The will of
the people, fairly expressed and honestly de-
clared, is the supreme law. To overthrow or
reverse their will by fraud is deadly crime
against free government. This is the crime
with which the defendants in the present
Ease are charged. That the crime was COM
mitted is not disputed. The evidence is
ocular, and has been seen by thousands.
After the polls were closed and the election
returns made out, the tally-sheets and footings
in certain precincts were erased and other
figures inserted, changing the result of the
election. The fact that the fraud was subse-
nuently discovered and the wrong righted
does not affect the case. The fact remains
that the crime was committed. The question
Ia. who did it, Every citizen of Indiana, re-
CARELESS of politics, is interested in
the conviction and punishment of the
perpetrators. We say regardless of
politics, for there is no politics in
crime. When it comes to the enforcement of
law and the punishment of crime, we are all
Democrats and all Republicans At the bar
of justice all party cries must cease and all
-farty lines be wiped out The law knows no
such thing as party politics. The defendants
at the bar are not brought there as members
of any political party, but as persons charged
with committinga crime. They are not there
to be prosecuted or convicted on political, but
on legal grounds. They are not charged
with political trickery, but with violation
of law. According to any standard of right
thinking there is no more room for politics in
the trial of this case than there is
in q case of counterfeiting or mail
robbery. 1t is to be hoped, therefore,
that the present trial may be free from the
features of partisan politics that figured so
conspicuously in the former one. We have
had political verdict; now let us have legal
one 1t is due to Mr.. Clevelands administra-
ton to say that the Encouragement has
given the weight of his approval to vigorous
prosecution of the case, by appointing able
counsel to assist the district attorney The
great majority of the people, Democrats and
Republicans alike are honest, and desire hon
est politics and fair elections. They are in
favor OF the enforcement of laws for the
purity Of elections. and of Furnishing such
crimes as these defendants are charged with.
ALI that we DESIRE and no honest man can de-
sire more or less, is fair trial and an honest
verdict. With that, whatever the result may
be- the public will be content; and to this
the men on trial are as equally entitled as is
the community.