Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1888-04-26
SHERMAN AND LOUISIANA.


New York Trihane
Senator Sherman's speech in the Sen
ate last week on the election of 1876.
came at most felicitouS time. Even
while he was speakinga a body embracing
thousands of Democrats who wished re-
form were trying to get an honest count
and return of the votes in New Orleans.
Only by threats almost revolutionary in
their character. they succeeded so far
that the corrupt ring in that City was
defeated. But at the same time returns
were coming in from the parishes, where
there existed no such power to compel
a fair count, and these were as impu-
IDENTITY false as the returns upon which
the Democrats claimed the election in
1876. The result of this fraud, to which
it is to be hoped that Senator Sherman
and his Republican associates will not
fail to call public attention, is that a
Democratic majority of $1,000 or more
is returned, where there is an actual Re
publican majority. There is scarcely
a possibility that satisfactory evidence
can ever be procured as to the nature
of the vote cast. Democratic nartiSans
will continue to assert, as in 1876 they
did in defiance of ali evidence, that the
colored Republicans voted the Demo-
cratic ticket. But the letter of Gov.
Yarmouth, recently published, stated the
reasons for expecting this fraudulent
return and the evidence that it was in
tended, in manner TO convince candid
minds. The result follows, with returns
of overwhelming Democratic majOrities
in precisely the parishes where the pres
ent Governor had directed his tools to
manufacture Democratic majorities "at
all hazards"
Senator Sherman utters the belief and
the indignant feeling of all genuine Re-
publicans in his strong protest against
this chronic crime Granted, that no
adequate and practical remedy has vet
appeared Granted, that protests under
such circumstances seem fruitleSS and
empty. The crime goes on, year
after wear, and with each success in fab
rica.ing false returns its plausibilitv is
increased. Young men and indifferent
men, who easily forget, if they ever well
knew, the overwhelming force of the ev-
idence against the Democratic pretences
in 1876, are impressed each year when
they see that Louisiana goes Democrat
ic again, as it did before, but only some
what more strongly Democratic" 1t be-
comes each year harder for them to real
ize that there has not been anything
oil -aFr1 sf
votes in that State for twelve years; that
at hundreds of voting places partisan
officials have been found, and regularly
appointed, to set down on pretended re-
turns each year larger Democratic
majority, without the slightest regard
to the votes cast; that the number of
such voting places, where the elections
are mere farce, increases year by year,
as the party of crime extends its power
over new localities; that honest citizens.
finding that their votes make no sort of
difference, and that they have no re-
dress, become each year more indilfer-
ent to the voting, and leave the election
more completely in the hands Of per-
jured tools of party.
waste Of words, to tell the country in
plain Anglo-Saxon that these returns are
lies, and these elections are but success |
sive steps in a great crime against self
ernment. Many of the Democrats who
most strongly deny it are perfectly
aware that it is the truth. They
know, beyond the question, that neither
Republican votes nor the strife
Of factions among Louisiana Democrats /
can make any difference with the re
turns, which are sent in as party leaders
may direct. 1t was this great crime
which the Republicans of Louisiana de-
feated in 1876, having legal power to
that end, by throwing out returns of |
certain parishes, though at that day or
ganized violence, terrorisms and asSassi- |
nation played large part, because it was
not then possible to do the whole work |
by forging and swearing to Il false re-
turn. The Republicans await their OPP
portunity. Sooner or later it will come, |
and then a single fair election and hon
est return in Louisiana viii prove that
the party of crime has counted that |
State by fraud for all these Years.