Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1890-08-08

| edhIuS VI oSooihiOiy PAO5 ScoAnS
killed Colonel Clayton to suppress
the investigation. No other motive
is possible. The necessity for the
enactment of some laws which will
prevent ballot-box stealing and mur-
der from comforting a prima facia
title to seat in Congress is evi-
dent from the result in the contest.
| Had such laws been in force as
would have prevented the coutestee
from taking his seat with such a
title, no one would have attempted
to confer such title by stealing the
ballot-boxes. Evidently ballot-box
stealing was looked upon as joke
in the community until the awful
consequences that have resulted
have appalled, the good people of this
country. No doubt some of these
men would have been deferred from
taking the first step in the crime if
they had realized that murder would
be the end. but they crossed their
Rubicon. Breckinridge got the seat,
and one crime followed N the foot
steps of the other. The least guilty
of the criminals dare not expose the
more guilty lest the fate of Clayton
should oveTtake him.
"The murders of BENJAMIN, well
known Little Rock Republican, who
was killed near Morrilton while con-
ferring with local Republicans with
regard to bringing the ballot-box
thieves to justice, must be well
known, for large number of per-
sons were present, but they are not
indicted no indictments have been
found under the election laws for
the ballot crime; the murderer
of Smith is discharged without trial.
the killing of Bentley is not investi-
gated, and the only man whose crime
is punished, is Wahl, the Federal
supervisor, who was indicted for
playing cards when he was shot"
The contention of Breckenridge
and his counsel that the acquittal of
the judges and others charged with
frauds in this election should bind
the House and that this adjudca-
ton should be accepted by Congress
as proof that frauds did not exist,
the report says, is surprising and
the majority decline to be bound
by the action of an Arkansas jury in
a criminal case. The report also
disagrees with other legal PROPOSE
tions.
In Cleveland County one Dansby
appeared--says the report-and
bringing two shot guns, announced
his intention of taking an active i'm
terest in the proceedings. He was
under the influence Of liquor.
Dansby is strong Democrat and
partisan of the contestee. His high
connections, instead of being treated
as an aggravation of his gross vio-
lation of both State and Federal law,
is rather urged as an excuse for
shielding him from punishment.
For this offense Dansby was fined
$500, a portion of which was paid
by the contestee. That the nominee
of great political party should ac--
cept certificate of election to a
seat to which he was clearly not
elected, and at the same time aid in
the payment Of fine imposed upon
another violater of the law, and that
such conduct should not be met
with anything but condemnation
and approval by his political follow
ers, shows state OF disregard for
the principles of popular govern
ment which may well make the fu-
ture of the country be looked upon
with apprehension. That men may
be found lawless enough to commit
these crimes is to be deplored; but
when men of high character and
standing complacently avail them
selves of the fruits of such crime.
and the control of the National
House of Representatives is made to
turn upon such methods, it no long
er remains mere matter of local
concern, but arises to the magni-
tude of national calamity.
hS PiSCChU CuSC The
report, has attracted national atten.
tion, but not because it stands
alone as startling and striking in
cident OF dangers ahead of our form
of government. In the old days of
the code of honor, political antagop-
lists often met face to face and eve
to eye, and sought their adversary's
life. This method of settling polit-
ical differences has become obsolete.
and we frequently congratulate our.
selves upon the improved moral tone
of our day and generation. But
never before has a contest for seat
in Congress been terminated by the
bullet of an assassin. IF such meth.
DDS are submitted to in silence
the party benefited by the crime of
his partisans, quickly and without
dispute retaining the benefits
- 80 1,