Year: 1879

Though it must be confessed ihat tne
Democrats had the Republicans az
disadvantage in the discussion relative
to the admission of counsel in the con-
tested election case of Evans VS.. Car
michael on Monday evening, on account
of the precedent established in no less
than three previous contests, it is new
ertheless right that counsel should be
admitted in all such cases, and it needs
not the able and elaborate argument
made by Mr.. Rodney, published in full
in the REPUBLICAN Of yesterday, to con-
vince any reasonable person ofthat fact.
The whole action Of the Democrats in
the case showed that they were swayed
by partisan motives more than by a
desire to arrive at the full truth of the
matter in order that justice might be
done. In three several contests they
placed themselves plainly upon record
as being in favor Of the admission OF
counsel, but all at once when there is
a case before Council sitting as court,
q contest which in importance and mag
nitude overshadows that OF all other
contests, they suddenly go back on their
former record and refuse that which
they before so strongly favored. The
mere argument that the Republicans
refused in two or three otLer
election contests of trivial ma
ture, the admission of counsel,
does not Justify the Democrats for
adopting the same policy, especially
after they had placed themselves on
record as being in opposition to it. 1t
is not for us to dictate the policy of the
Democracy in the pending contests, but
it must occur to the intelligent public
mind that the course they are pursuing
only the more strongly leaves the i'm
preston that they are but carrying out
well arranged plan made by the lead
ers of their party to triumph in the
city at all hazards. The action of the
Democratic majority on Monday even
ing, is indicative of the result of the
contest. Were they really anxious that
fraud should be exposed and punished
they would not have raised a voice
against any means that could have been
made use of to carry out that purpose.
but the refusal to allow counsel to ap'
pear in the case is as much as saying


we do not care to know too much about
the case. Their action is but an evi
depcs of the weakness of a very bad
cause. Had they been anxious to ar
rive at the truth in the matter they
would have gladly accepted Of every
offer made by which the frauds could
be disclosed and punished. Instead o
this, however, We find the Democrats
in Council crushing out the very mean
by which fraud could be laid bare ant
by which fragrant wrongs could b.
righted. This action is but apparent
ly link in the chain which binds to
gether this great conspiracy to triumph
by fraud even though the people ar
outraged.


A recapitulation of these frauds an
the efforts made by the DemOcrac
to cover them is dark page in the his
tory of the doings of the Demcratic par
ty Of this city. In the first place th'
leaders of the party saw that defea
stared them in the face before the cit
election was held. A large number {
the most respectable adherents of Demo
cracy had become disgusted with Demo
cratic city rule as exemplifed in th
city government, and they determine
and did support the Republican car
didates, while many others of',the sam
party for the same reason did not 90
the election at all, being we'll satisfe
if the Republicans did triumph. W
say that this was all seen by the office
holders and a few others who want
ed to be office holders and some
thing had to be done to save thei
party and their offices. Then followe
the plan which was successfully carrie
out at the election. The offscourings {
creation were raked together, and en-
ploysd to go from poll to poll to vote,
repeat, to swear falsely, but in all case
to vote often, to put in the ballot boxe
plenty Of votes to carry the election
and the price for doing so was dolla
a vote SO "Bill" Miller says, and Bill
ought to know, for he made some twelv
or fifteen dollars by his afternoon
work. Conscientious Democratic Inspet
tors notified of the plan beforehand 8
that they might assist in carrying out tn
plan adopted, resigned their positions
and others were elected who had n
conscience and who did their frandulen
dirty work to perfection. By this mean
the Democratic City officials saved tn
election, some Of them even taking


hand themselves at repeating, an
others though not known to vote NOR
4Laa cnuu aL4nall,. drnra around II