Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-07-12
THE FRAUD OF 1876.
Swindling Samuel j. TiIden Out OF
the Presidency.

Swindling Samuel J. TiIden Out OF
the Presidency.
During the month of November, 1876,
II became apparent that an effort VAS
being made in Louisiana to Undue" the
returning board, as the state canvass :
ing board was called there, to reverse
the result of the voting on election da%.
BY his superiors this reporter was
rushed to Louisiana to watch the at
tempt for his paper.
1t did not take him long to discover,
after his arrival in New Orleans that
the field of his activity must be that
city. This was so because, though the
figures of three parishes in the north
ern part of the state were to be chang
ed, the work was being done in New
Orleans. In Louisiana the civil divis-
ions, which in our state are called
counties, are termed parishes.
The figures of the count on election
day had given Tilden over 5000 major
ity. Question as to the accuracy of
that count had been raised and allega-
tions Of fraud made in the three par
ishes. The parish canva ssing officers
were not to be found at their homes,
and it was said that they We're in New
Orleans under cover. In the meantime,
in some mysterious way, the official re-
suits were being held up somewhat be-
tween the parishes and the capital of
the state.
At that time the state of Louisiana
was under the control of as rascally a
gang of carpet baggers from the north
as ever encumbered the earth, aided
by a constituencies group of colored
men, who controlled the negro vote.
This control was supported by the
presence of United States troops.
The city was in a state of wild eX-
citement. The Democrats were nearly
frantic over what they believed was
barefaced, fraudulent attempt to de-
prive them of a well earned victory
won over great odds-wOn over United
States troops stationed at the polls to
influence the voting.
To them the seating of Tilden in the
presidential chair meant relief from
burdens and expressions of the United
States troops and the dissipation of the
crew of carpet -baggcrs, who were rob-
bing right and left.
They were angCred To the fighting
point and all were more angcrcd be-
cause they could not learn what was
being done. Crowds of militant Demo-
| Gratis throngcd the streets. the bar
rooms, the hotel spaces, talking wildly
| in threatening and dcnunciat"ry words.
4 very dangerous outbreak was pos
sible at any place and at any momclt.
The reporter felt that in order To
move about in these excited crowds,
| with a degree of safety, it was ncces-
sary that his own mission should he
| thoroughly understood. So he was at
pains to make himself known and that
| he represented a northern paper
| which was supporting Tildcn-in short,
that he was there To do his part in pre-
| venting the theft of a state.
Perhaps that is the reason why he
achieved a comSpicuity at which he had
not aimed and why hc was, To a slight
| extent. involved in an incident that
promised at the time to he of great i'm
portance. First, it is To be told as
having a degree of relationship to the
incident of which mention has been
made that there were in town strang-
ers from the north who, the reporter
was firmly convinced, We're agents ol
the Republican national committee.
In the case Of two of them thcr" was
no concealmcnt to the reporter, for
they were aware that he knew what
had been their relations to that COM