New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-02
REBUKE Fraud.

True, it is disgraceful that bare majority
in National election, if it is against the DEM
ocratic party, is not enough. But the facts
are notorious any majority not too big to be
stolen away is no majority at all. The Demo
Gratis manufacture majorites to suit in South
ern States No sane man imagines that pop
ular vote against them, however large, would
have any effect whatever upon the returns from
any Southern State. The very same tactics
have been introduced in Illinois. where one
Democratic committeeman labOrS In States
Prison in consequence; in Indiana, where other
Democratic managers have been indicted and
conyicted in Ohio, where other indictments
and convictions followed and in New-Jersey
and New ork, where convictions have as yet
been prevented by partisan control of the ma
chinery of justice. Being desperate, the Dem
ocratic party must be expected to employ South
ern methods to the extent of its power in the
doubtful States this year. With first-class
thief on the premises, man cannot be sure
that he owns anything movable, except, per-
haps, a red-hot stove So in dealing with the
Democratic party, the people cannot be sure
that any majority is of avail unless it is too
hot and too big to be taken away by fraud.
That is the one remedy for this disgraceful
state of things. If Republicans and honest
Democrats throughout the doubtful States will
take care to make the majority for Harrison
and Honesty so large that it cannot be defeated
by bribery or false returns they will be safe
in the exercise of their right Of self-govern-
ment. Otherwise, the power of self-govern-
ment will be stolen from them, if possible, by
the same party which Governor Hill faithfully
served when he killed the bill to secure purity
of elections. He and his party knew that a
pure election would mean mischief for them,
and they have deliberately retained the power
to rob the people in spite of popular protest.
The largest majority that can be honestly Sc
cured for Harrison and for Miller in every town
and voting precinct where pure election can
be held, ought to be the object for which every
Republican or Democrat, who respects and
values the rights of the people, should
increasingly strive. Democrats were beat
en- in that way in Indiana, though
even there they stole a seat in the Sen
ate. In that way the party was beaten in IL
lnos, and failed to seal the defeat Of General
Logan. In that way it was beaten in Ohio
and failed to steal the seat of Senator Sherman
Here also Democrats who know that their party
relies upon fraud are not few. They may lack
legal evidence to convict anybody. But thou
sands of them have nevertheless moral GER
! tainty, and in their consciences they know that
| crime, and nothing else, is expected to defeat
the will of majority. Their part as honest
citizens is to swell the majority until it cannot
be defeated. If they refuse, and by their votes
help the party which relies upon crime, they
make the guilt their own.
Republicans have the very best of reasons
| for avoiding overconfdence. A perfectly pure
| election would give them success, but upor
that they have no right to count in this State
| or New Jersey, any more than in Virginia Oh
Louisiana. Happily the laws and the courts
give them some power here to guard agains
fraud, and they can cut it down, if they will
so much. that it will prove impotent. That il
their part now, to poll every honest vote, and
to guard against frauds with unceasing and
unyeldDg vigilance.