The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-01

spect and only changed his purpose TO act 40
counsel for the foreers learning that public
sentiment was overwhelmingly against them.
Inc Indianapolis crime, however, simply corrob-
crates other proof that the Democratic party is
an organized conspiracy against an honest bal
lot box In this country.
POLITICAL QUARANTINE NEEDED.
Chicago Inter Ocean.
The verdict OF guilty against Gov and Bern
hamer, charged with forgery of election returns
in Indianapolis is another voice proclaiming
that IN the northern tier Of States, at any rate,
votes must be cast as the voters wish. and must
be counted they were cast Crimes against
the purity of elections of the most helnous
nature By the quickened conscience of the
American people they regarded as not sub
ject to pleas in mitigation OF punishment: they
are held to be not only uujustifabe, but I'M.
pardonabie They proceed from the meanest
motives are executed by the viless of men, and
most disastrous in their effect. Miscarriage of
justice in case touching the purity of an elec-
tion is more to be deplored than miscarriage in
case affecting property or life of an individual.
for it touches the purity of those law-making
and law-exeeuting powers upon whose excellence
protection of life and property depend
The motive of the frauds in Indianapolis was
Illegally to accomplish the election of judge
the Criminal Court and OF a CLERK of the Circuit
Court. by whom the friendship of the criminal
secured fret, to the parties to the fraud, and
secondly, and through them. to the Democratic
party. in which they held places as leaders, Coy
being chairman of the county committee and
Bernhamer being active ward politician and
lately alderman. Among the conspirators
who nave not reached a second trial are Met
calf doctor, who was made president of the
Board of Health, and Sullivan, who is now
county clerk, and who the contractor
who furnished the patients of the Insane
Asylum with butter that stunk in its filth and
crawled In its maggot-haunted putreScence On
the recount of the vote it was found that Sulli-
van had a majority without the aid of the votes
which had been changed beyond dispute on the
tally-sbeets. Ayers was forced to resign the ju-
dicial Office which he had illegally held for
few days and the lawfully elected Republican
superseded him on the bench. All through the
trials-for there have been two, the Democrat
ic members of the fret jury refusing to convict
it has not been denied that the tally sheets were
fraud ulentiy manipulated; that much was indis-
putabe. The questions was as to the
agents of the fraud Coy aud Bernhamer
have been found guilty principals. 1t is not
likely that much time will be lost in bringing
the accessories to trial There is city of like
population in the world that is in greater need
of penal quarantine for rascally politicians
than Indianapolis. Considering the smalness of
the prizes to be drawn, the audacity of the risks
taken in the Indiana lottery of political scoun--
drelsm has been well-nigh incredible.
The attention of the country is now briefly
directed from Indiana 20 Ohio; if the tally-sheet
forgers in Columbus meet with the justice that
has been measured to those in indianapolis, the
chances of electoral frauds in the Northwest
will be reduced to a minimum.