The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-04-18
WHOLESALE BRIBERY AT THE POLLS.
The Rhode Island Election the Most Dis,
graceful Contest ever Witnessed.

AftC 1sla0tl t1ltCtfOU t&AC tAoeC Dib'
graceful Contest ever Witnessed.
The Providence Tdegrahe gives a graphic &C
count OF the corrupt election in Rhode Island
April I: In many respects il was the most dis
graceful contest ever seen in this country. The
ward rooms and the adjacent sidewalks were
crowded with heelers and bummers and drunken
! men, black and white, were seen riding about
the polls in carriages for the 0stensible purpose
OF bringing voters to the polls. The price Oh
votes, openly purchased at the voting places
ranged from 8 TO $40. The rich men OF the
state came down handsomely, and swelled the
republican fund to a fabulous amount. MeT
anxious TO sell their votes hung about the ward
most sickening spectacle, and one which will
not be forgotten
The Telegram, prefaces its account Of the cor
ruPtion with this prayer:
| Especially do we thank Thee Heavenly Father ioI
die manifestation OF Thy spirit and power AT the
polls of this state. II was a divine Endorsement Of
Thy numerous faithful servants who have sriven sc
long to purge land OF the awlessness and eorrup
ton that abOunded- 1t TO the prayers
OF Thy children that righteousness should prevail
and the era OF crime. disorder, and misgoyernmeni
when W uts olpreSse0 ms people Tor yer Should
I enc we pray that the victory may be permanent
and that Thy saints who have toiled 50 faithfully in
Thy vineyard, may persevere TO the end and not
halt until the inqUitieS under which the people have
gTOaned are no more. Again, most Holy One, do We
thank Thee for giving Thy servants the fruits OF
their labor. Ii was Thy work alone, and 10 Thee be-
longs the glory, but nevertheless encourage those
who served Thee, that the people may he led OF
the land of bondage, out Of the darkness Of Egypt
the rumoeracy, in which they have been held
captive.
This is a portion of prayer made OH Sun
day by the Rev. Hugh u. Singleton, visiting
clergyman and friend of the Rev. Montgomery,
the stump orator who was imported by Sena-
tor Aldrich for working the religious element
during the recent campaign. Ii is a notorious
fact that corruption and iniquity, which the
Rev. Singleton, with so much JUNCTION, thanked
God for delivering the state from, was openly
practiced by the very people who are now de-
/ scribed as Gods children" the Servants OF
the Lord, and "laborers in the vineyard" Ii
was so in every part OF the state, but particu-
larry in Kent county, the stamping-ground OF
the saints"
The telegram gives this interview with one
Joseph Wilde OF Warwick, one Of the men
hired by the republicans to buy votes. He
had read the Providence Journals admission OF
his party's guilt, and called NJ the office Of the
Telegram 10 explain. lie had read the Jour
mars admissions, and was very indigant at the
Liberty il had taken with him. He proposed
10 have the truth told. Ii was a gross and out
rageous reflection on his integrity TO intimate
that he had not paid them niggers the full
market price OF the votes in Warwick, and he
wanted the wrong rghted. SAID he: The
Journal make out that the niggers were pronl-
ised $l5 TO $50, and that they were cheated out
Of their dues. say every man got his due"
"What he was promised"
Glow much was he promised?
"Pm coming to that 1t was this way: In
the morning the niggers were got together and
were told that they should have for their votes
whatever the bOughten votes might fetch at
any time during the day. Five dollars down
was paid, and IL guaranteed that they
should have afterward the difference between
that sum and the highest amount paid for any
vote during the day. In the afternoon the
price went up to $40, but only for few min.
utes, not more than than three think. II was
caused by the democrats trying TO get one of
our men. They said they would give him Sc
rather than see him vote our ticket, but il was
ali a bluff, for they hand no money, but it
caused us 10 raise the sam TO As, and then TO
SO, which secured the vote In few minutes
the price dropped TO $ agan, and it closed at
s.. All who voted before the price went up to
SO were paid an additional 8, bat those who
did not vote until the market had been bulled
got but $, and that is the Gods truth OF it."
''Have YOU got your due?'
"I'm rot complaining. It's these niggers who
are talking. | don't want any name mentioned
in this, bur if summoned to q court of Justice
can prove that every Niger got every cent he
was entitled TO. i came in this morning be-
cause thought you would be glad TO get a
chance TO show up the Journals mistakes"