New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-19
TIE SOUTH CAROLINA ELECTION CASE.
AN OUTRAGEOCSLY PARTISAN DECISION OF THE
HOUSE COMMITTEE FOR THE SITTING
DEMOCRAT

|
! Washington. Fen. Is (speciaD.-By a party vote OF
| 6 10 3 the House Committee Elections today de-
cidcd the contested election II Miller against
Elliott from the With south Carolina District, IN
favor OF the sitting member. This decision IS par
| tisan outrage-Simply that and nothing less. The
action q the Elections Committee on contests arising
| in Northern districts has been so fair on the whole,
as 10 furnish little reason for complaint but In us
treatment Of the Southern contcsts-that Of McDni'"
against Turpn. from Alabama, and the South Carolina
| caSc-the Democratic majority has been unable 10
dlvest itself OF partisan bias and prejudice, and has
| laid itself open 10 just and severe ccnsurc.
The election returns in the south Carolina case
| sh )wcd that Thomas T.. Miller the Republican can
didatc received 1000 votes and that william Elliott
The Dcmf cratic candidate received 3793 votes, giving
Miller a majority Of 32O7 votes Elliott. There
Is dispute about these figures. which were returned
by the precinct board OF canvaSser~, majority OF
each OF which composed Of Democrats. Despite
these returns. which made in accordance with
law and in all respects regular. certificate Of
election was awarded 10 Elliott and he has held the
scat. In order TO lay foundation for this action
the State Board Of Canvas>crs On various petcXts re-
jectcd 1855 votes cast for Miller thus manufacturing
a false and fraudulent majority Of AS for Elliott.
The questions raised In the Miller Elliott case and
upon which 1t to-day decided in Elliott's favor.
were raised to the returns from the district
the last Congressional election the defeated
Democratic candidate made demand for a certificate
of election the same pretexts. But political
control In South Carolina is In different hands
from what 1t In 1890. and, be it said 10 the
credit OF the State Canvassing Board under Governor
Imsn. It ruled exactly contrary 10 the findings OF
the Democratic Committee Elections OF the House
OF Representatives this morning. and awarded tho
certificate OF election to the Llld Congress 10 the
Republican candidate who Was elected, aud that.
TOO regardless OF the horrible fact that Ire Is the
blacklist specimen OF the coored who ever sat In
Congress No believer III honest representative Gov
effIment will believe that the Popust movement In
the soutE1as been altogether In vain when 1t results
in securing the honest, Industrious labor element,
regardless Of color in that region. protection In the
equal use Of the elective franchise and In the fruits
thereof.
Occasion has heretofore arisen In this correspond
enco 10 commend tho open. frank and fair action OF
Chairman OFcrrall, OF the Elections Committee IN
regard 70 contested In this Congress- whenever
a doubt has existed he has given his party the h'neht
Of it, but lie has steadily refused TO lend llTSeh 10
fragrant outrageous injustice such as that which was
perpetrated BY the Elections Committee to-day. lie
Was undoubedly aware Of the purpose OF his Demo
craiic colleag1l.,, and washed his hands OF u Oy
remaining away from tho meeting. After rs I'M
happy experience IN the NOyc- Rockwell case he may
have thought that the wiser course TO pursue