Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-17
NO EVIDENCE OF FRAUD.

The complaints of the Democrats that the
census enumeration in the South is being in
completely done for political purposes can
not be taken as worthy of much weight until
actual evidence is adduced in its support.
That there may be districts in the South
where the enumeration is done In negli-
gent manner is more than likely. Sparsely
settled districts are very likely to produce
such neglect, especially when the work has
been put in the hands of rather low order
of politicians. The possibility that serious
injustice may be done to a section like the
South by an incomplete and careless census
is decided illustration of the results of dis
tributing Government work as a matter of
politics; and much more good can be done
by the recognition of its force in that way
than by making unsupported charges of
fraudulent intent to deprive that section of
its fair representation.
OF course the deliberate neglect of o
thorough census in order to lessen the influ-
ence Of a certain section in the Government
would be an Intentional fraud, and q pros
titution Of the functions Of government to
dishonest political means. But very ur-
gent reason for not regarding such neglect
as prinad fdcie evidence of fraudulent iu-
tent, is to be found in the fact that there are
exactly similar complaints with regard to
the thckly settled localities Of the North.
Il there were any political intent in the
diminution Of the population 10 the South,
we may be certain that the population Of
stro,gboIds l,l,o ,lI.
would be returned at It's highest possibility.
Yet IL Is still an open question whether the
census total Of the population OF Allegheny
does not tall us much below what there was
good reason 10 expect, 40 10 alleged 10 DO
the case In the South.
without specific evidence OF the Intention
10 delrnud the South, we must decline 10 40
cept even nu incomplete census nv proof Of
such purpose. But In replying 10 The
accusation, the Republican leaders must 70.
member that they have largely subjected
themselves 10 such susplolons by their own
conduct, They have deliberately adopted
policy that lays them open 10 the charge OF
stopping at no means that will oryAtalige
their parIy's supremacy. They started out
Wy ueOInlnE Hehfly score ol contested
seats, ~ Mr.. Reed admits, not by the eyi.
denee hut by party interest They have
cast aside the parliamentary principles
Rvowed by the Speaker himself 10 make
these things possible. They have
shown themselves ready to overthrow
the settled policy Of the last century 10
pursuit Of the control by legislation Of O
majority In the next Congress. When they
have thus ayowed by their acts their deter
mnation to do almost anything in order to
legislate the control of the next Congress,
they hardly need be surprised If they are
charged with an attempt to steal representa-
tion by the census. The professional appro-
priator of other peoples goods must not be
too indignant when charged with an extra
piece OF plunder that actually happened to
escape his clutches.
As to the complaints of the census, there
is no doubt that there should be full and
indisputable count of the entire population
of the country. An investigation of the
deficiencies of the census, North and South,
may lead 70 a demand for a recount free
from the mistakes which have hampered the
recent enumeration.