The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-07
FRAUDS ON The BALLor-Box.
Some Questions. Propounded Which It Would
Not Be Difficult 60 Answer.

Some Questions Propounded Which It Would
Not BE DifIiculs 20 Answer.
Detroit Tribune
Can any body explain why Democrats always
fight so desperately any attempt to punish
frauds on the ballot box-that is, frauds which
their fellow Democrats have committed or are
suspected of having committedl They always
do Remembe If you can an instance where they
haven't Now why should they2 Do they insist
that this foulest of crimes is not wrong when
it is perpetrated in their INTEREST," What other
earthly reason can be given2 The usual excuse
that they seek to give the accused persons fair
trial does not begin to explain their conduct.
That does not Justify the industrious interposi..
ton of every obstacle, the spiriting away OF
witnesses, the subornatlon of perjury, the de-
structon of written records, aud other testi-
mony, all to the end that fair trial shall be
possible. And yet the do ing of all this is very
common IN the history of such cases
Look at events just now TRANSFERRING at Indi-
annapolis and Columbus. During the past week
two taliysheet forgers have been convicted at the
former city overwhelming evidence. They
hsd already had one trial and the jury disa-
greed. dividing on strict party lines 1t viii be
remembered that the Judge was quite severe in
his strictnres on the action of the jury, leaving
little doubt as to what his opinion was as TO the
merits of the case. gain they have been tried
lin the United States Cours-wlth jury made
up of men from both parties An additional
lawyer was sent on from Washington to aid the
prosecution and help ont a calculat-
ed to make q Democratic United States district
attorney belonging in Indiana. rend his garments
in effort to secure conviction. A verdict of
guilty followed.
Ali this time the Democrats politicians had
been busy beavers. endsavoring to enlist
local sympathy for the accused and to stir up
fictitious sentiment that should have It's infiu-
ence tho jury. The accused had thu best
counsel that could be secured. Undeniably they
had had the fullest and fairest trial that was
possible. Evcry fact that could possibly tell in
their favor was brought out The truth was
they were wickediy guilty and the evidence
showed it beyond every reasonable doubt.
Did the Dsmocratie politicians. cease their
hA,,9 haa - Air rfa md haq
adjudged guilty. did they now turn around aud
say, I'VE believed you innocent; we did every
thing We could to soc that You had just and
equitable trial; you were convicted; you ought
to be punished and every other man, no
matter what his political creed, who attempts
fraud on the vote of tho people as it has been
cast by them; We have and can have no sympa-
thy with such crimea" Did they say thisl The
furthest possible from it. Rooms for the
vla.ed men were engaged at the hotel Demo Demo
These criminals. convicted OF tho fouleSt OF
crimes-for such is fraud upon the count of
honest mems votes-were feted and lionized
though they had conferred the greatest boon
upon the community. A desperate attempt was
made to create the impression that they were
martyrs. Every effort was brought to bear upon
an incorruptible and fearless Judge to induce
him to content himself with Furnishing these
men with . simple fine. not adding Imprisonment
in the pententiary. All these labors were fruit
less, and the men go to prison, they richly
deserve to do.
Again we ask, Why all this we'll nigh super
human on0eaVOr 10 pfoGecG men gnllby OF IFsau0S
upon the ballot box2 Is it no crime for Demo
crat TO cheat honest votersa
Turning to Columbus the same thing
going on. Democratic talIy-sheet forgers
trial there. Democrats doing their utmost to
shield them The foremost Democratic lawyers
in the State defending them. The evidence of
guilty coparceuers revealing the active compile
ity of well-known names in the party in the job
of fraud which sought to cheat State out of a
United States Senator. and to install IN that
high place a whiffet whose only qualification
a abundance which
had no hesitation in using without the slightest
scruple. One Democrat alone-tha noble old
Roman that he is-stands out and, amid the
curses of his party, joins the prosecution. Allen
G. Thurman, having studied the evidence, be-
.lieves the accused guilty and lends his powerful
aid to secure their conviction. Why does he
stand alone7 Aud why is he howled at by the
party press though he had committed
pardonable SIM He rightly that such
crime is that lifts it's hand against every
man, and that it ought to have no claim for the
Slieh test immunity.
That stanch old Democrat of the school of
other times than these is right But why does
he stand alonef