Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-09-05

colored population is, and yet the Demo
cratic candidate last November polled 49,
s5+ votes and the Republican candidate
8 ,s31, according TO the returns.
1t IL very evident, from the above fig
ures, that full and free EXPIRE, sion Of the
negro vote alone would be sufficient to
elect Mr.. Minor by good majority. But
nobody claims that his support Is at all
limited to the colored population. IL is
conceded that he has very strong white
He Is himself one Of the fore
most planters In the district. For long
time he WAS identified with the Demo-
cratic party but left it in 1888 because he
WAS unable to approve its Free Trade pol |
ley. He was not alone In this change |
hundreds Of the most influential planters |
Ia the State went with him. Mr.. Minors
influence In this movement was very
great. He Ia connected with some OF the
best families In the South, and is socially
and intellectually accepted by all, Demo
cratic a. well as Republicans, as man Of
great power.
The strength Of this secession Of leading
white planters from the Democratic party
WAS clearly shown in the National CAM
paign Of 1884 when thousands OF whites
hocked to the Republican standard, there
being actually majority for Blaine south
OF Red River. in what Is the white por-
ton OF the State.
1t can but be evident to the unbiased
observer that with such large white
following and the united support Of the
negro population. already in the majority
In that district. the election Of Mr.. Minor
by a very large majority Is assured with
anything like free vote and fair count.
II Ia just this, however, that the Demo-
Gratis determined to prevent. They
early began their bulldozing tactics.
Negroes were visited and warned to
leave the district on the penalty of their
lives. Many were brutally whipped,
among them being a United States super
visor Of election. Some OF the towns
were paraded by regulators, heavily
armed and on horseback, who enforced
their Democratic ideas In the same out
rageous way that has enabled them to
control the district In years past. Re-
publican meetings have been broken up
and extensive preparations made
for the preparation of gigantic frauds
In the count. The returns thus far re-
ceived indicate that the result of these
tatics has been to bring about another
Democratic success. The reports from
the District are not as yet very complete,
but they show that the Bourbons carried
their bulldoZing tactics to the polls where
some turbulent scenes were enacted.
Among the brutal outrages committed was
the shooting of Deputy Sheriff Jacobs, a
Republican official, at the polls In Frank
lin. 1t is pleasing to know, however, that
the Democrats are by no means certain to
gain any advantage from these outrageous
proceedings. The election was too close
ly watched. The eyes of the whole ma
ton were upon it. Every arrangement
frauds practiced by the Democrats.
Northern congressman were on the ground
and participated In the canvass. Among
them was Hon. J. G. Burrows who de-
clared most emphatically from his own
personal observation that 1.-The elections
in Louisiana are farees." lie thought the
best thing the Governor OF the State could
de would be to dispense with the formal
ity Of an election. and instead Of holding
regular one, simply make out commits
sions biennially and hand them to whom
ever he might desire sent to Congress.
1t is very evident that when Mr.. Price
presents himself at Washington. Mr.
Burrows and his associates will have
something to say about the pro-
priety Of his taking seat in the
National House. They will speak,
too, with an abundance Of evidence, and
the chances are that the man whose
election was comprised by such gigantic
frauds against the constituted rights of
the citizens of his district, will not
be permitted to have voice in the
National councils. 1t is interesting to
note that In this contest the Democratic
papers Of Louisiana have made no at
tempt to deny the commission of gross
outrages. Instead they have undertaken
to palliate them. In doing this their
stock "argumenl" has been an appeal to
race prejudice. Such Qualifications may
be sufficient In the minds of Louisiana
Bourbons, but they will not be ac-
cepted by men who believe in
free ballot and an honest count.
There should be, and we are inclined to
believe that there will be. no hesitancy on
the part Of Congress in dealing promptly
and justly with this and other similar
cases.
The proceedings in this district only
further enforces in an emphatic way the
crying need of national law to govern
the election Of Congress smen. As the
Philadelphia Press forcibly remarks, No
party should be compelled to see that it
has its rights at the ballot-box. That is
the duty Of the Government, and this re-
sponsibility can not be shirked any longer"
/ Men elected In the manner that Price
was cannot longer be permitted to hold
seats in Congress and legislate for the
whole country. The people have a
right to demand that the members
Of Congress shall be honestly elected.
and as the office is prominently Nation
al one, elections to it should be under
National sunorvisinn