Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-01-25
MORNING. JAN. 25. 1859.
A FALSE NOTE IN THE PRE-
LHDE

LUBE.
AS long ago as six years, Gen. Benjamin
3Harrson was performing, to use his own
Repression, bugle blast in the U. S. SEN
late in behalf of a free and interrupted
ballot. A few weeks previous to his
ELECTION, in receiving some voters he played
the same air for their instruction and en-
tertainment. A few weeks after his
election, in addressing some of his COM
Trades of the Grand Army Of the Republic,
he drew his bugle and gave the old notes
with the clearness and precision which
bother days, and added some slight varia-
5tion in the way of a threat. His remarks
freely translated into the English of thu
common people, were to the effect that if
there wasn't free and pure ballot in
''this country" he would see about it,
HE did not specify exactly where this
country to which he alluded is geograph-
ically situated, but the applause OF his
Republican audience would seem to
have indicated that he did not in
clude either Indiana, or New York. In
both of those States unlimited corruption
funds. innumerable bulldozing pay enve-
lopes, useful ''bIocks of five, " forged issues
of knights of Labor organs, and stolsn
subscription lists of Prohibition organs.
were used ''in the interests of honesty, -
] by the Republican leaders, but this has not
probably attracted the Generals atten-
tion. Or if it has, he relies on his
bugle blast to bring the perpetrators to
justice. In at least one case, and that in
his own State, the result so far must have
been very disappointing to the bugler. The
Honorable and Colonel W. W. Dudley
the Treasurer of the N ational Republican
Committee, to aid the campaign which
resulted in Gen. Harrison's election.
issued circular letter which was thickly
distributed in the Generals own State of
Indiana. In it he directed the Republi-
can County Chairmen to arrange for the
purchase of the floating voters Tin blocks
of fve," and assured them that the funds
would be sent them for that purpose.
Now Section s. 511 of the Revised Statutes
of the United States, provides among
other things that ''any person who aids,
counsels, procures, or advises any voter,
person, or officer to bride voter or at
tempt to do so," shall be punished. on
conviction in the manner hereinafter
laid down. When Judge Wood of the U.
5. Circuit Court of Indiana-a friend of
Gen. Harrison, so close that his appoint
ment to the U. s. Supreme bench by him,
is expected-held his court in December
after the election, the air was thick with
the indignant denunciation by good men
OF both parties, of the frauds of November.
When the present. Grand Jury of that
court was impaneled he charged it to the
effect that the statute made it an offence
to simply advise another to attempt to
commit bribery. This was in opposition
to the opinion of Republican lawyers-for
by this time the excitement ran so high
that the lawyers construed the law &C.
cording to their politics. 1t had been
threatened that W. W. Dudley would be
arrested if he set foot in Indiana, and
that in any event he would be indicted
under this statute, and his Republican
friends of the bar held that he could not be
indicted unless it could be shown that not
only had he advised the bribery, but that
some one had acted on bis advice. When
the Grand JHry assembled again on Sat
urday week--composed of seven Republ1-
cans and ten Democrats-the discrepancy
between the Judges charge and the noisy
clamor of the Republican lawyers puzzled
them. Sufficient evidence had been mt
before them against Dudley TO warrant
his Indictment if they followed the tenor
of Judge Woods charge. They took
recess for week. Ga the Monday after,
they assembled and Judge Wood called
them before him and came around to the
view of the Republican lawyers. He told
the Grand Jury this time that in addition
to the mere sending letter advising
bribery of voters which was not indictabie,
that there must be shown, in addition, al
attempt by the receiver of the letter, or of
some other instigated by him, to execute
the scheme by bribery, or attempt to bride,
some voter in respect to the election of
congressman, or in such way as to affect
such election
This construction of course puts an end
to all danger of indicting Mr.. Dudley, as
it is not possible that any Republican
county chairman will volunteer to 90 on
the witness stand and testify that he on
the advice of Dudley bribed voters. This
is disappointing response to the blast of
Gen. Harrison g bugle for national rally
around free and uncorrupted ballot. The
only suppostitious consolation that we
can evoke out Of the situation for him is
that possibly the blast was not intended to
be heard in Indiana where the s'blocks of
five'' were worked, nor in New YORK
where the 100000 Of that distinguished
boodler, John Wanamaker was disbursed,
nor in New Jersey and Connecticut where
the bull doing ''pay envelopes" to the
working men were distributed with their
wages Saturday nights indeed any,
where North of the Potomac River. 1t
will be further consolation to the Gener-
al to reflect that there is a land through
which the ringing notes of his horn can
be made of partizan service to his party if
not to his country. That land lies
South of the Potomac River. 1t contains
about eight millions of the Generals eoun-
trymen. Twenty-three years ago. after a
disastrous war in which his countrymeu
after a brave fight were defeated,
their farms ruined. their system of labor
upturned, the flower of their population
strewed dead on the battlefield. and just as
with patience and courage heroic in its