Year: 1877

III blAO ANVIUt 1Httl tJNh AltCttU AJl v III
Judge jeremiah S. Black appears as the
contributor of an article entitled THE
Electoral Conspiracy" which is by all
odds the most complete, eloquent, and
sCathing exposure that has yet been made
of the fraud by which Rutherford B.
Hayes was foisted into the Presidential
chair.


"Thou hast 1t now, King, Cawder, Glamis, all,


AS the weyard women promised, and fear


Thou play DIST most foully for IT,"


SINCE the first formation of what
Washington called "our happy system Of
government" no event not accompanied
with violence or war has excited a feel
ing so intense as the act of counting in
Hayes" But the public men of the
country, and the people generally, are
far from being agreed about its character
or its probable effect in the future,


Democrats, who knew Mr.. Tilden to be
elected by an overwhelming majority
both of the popular vote and of the elec-
tors duly appointed, were transported
with passionate indignation when they
saw his defeated competitor lifted over
his head by a'series of maneuyres which
they thought alike incompatible with
honesty and law. In every part of the
country, by the press, from the rostrum
and in the halls Of Congress, the charge
of base and unmitigated fraud was thun.
dered into the ear of the world. Some,
who INDUCED in no vehemence of OBJ
jurgation or reproach, were bowed down
with shame at the thought that their
proud right as American citizens of elect
ing ruler for themselves had been taken
out of their hands by a trick, and trans
ferred to set Of low conspirators, whom
they could not help but hold in utter de-
testation, All that once ennobled the
nation seemed to be buried In this deep
grave dug by the Returning Board and
filled up by the Electoral Commission.


But the voice of lamentation proves
nothing; neither does the wrath which
"cleaves the general ear with horrid
speech; for bothsare the natural utter
ances of defeated party, especially when
the defeat comes Unexpectedly, after vic
tory was assured, and in ways not fore
seen. There is another side to the case.


The men who did this deed will not
admit it to have been wrong, or let iudg.
ment of condemnation 60 by default.
Some misgivings there may have been
here and there; but nearly all jealous
Republicans saw it with unreserVed ap-
probation. Not only the herd of low
politicians, who always ramp and swear
and blusterIon the winning side, but high
placed gentlemen of good character heard
the announcement with pleasure, that
what we call the Louisiana swindle was
too sacred thing to be questioned. The
decision was hailed by Christian states
men with loud benedictions. On Sunday
the 4th of March, pious Republicans as
sembled themselves together in prayer
meetings, and simultaneously sent up to
heaven the most frequent petitions that
God would bless the Returning Boards
and the Electoral Commission, sanCtify
the work Of their hands, and prosper the
pseudo President whom they had placed
in power. Elsewhere the party demon
strated its pleasure by firing off large
number Of great guns. In some places
the admiring people gathered in gay and
festive crowds, and drank potatlons to
the defeat of Tilden's big majority, while
Bradley and Kellogg, Chandler and
Packard, Wells, Anderson, and two mu-
lattoes, were Gin their flowing cups fresh
ly remembered" In both Houses of
Congress the representatives of the party
! to whom Mr.. Hayes belonged stood
square and solid in defence of his title.
They heard the imputation of dishonesty
upon themselves and their felloW.parti-
sans with no sign of shame or fear. On
the contrary, hope elevated and Joy
frightened their crests, as they saw the
imposture progress step by step to its
consummation. Two members from
Massachusetts, were troubled with scru-
pies, and one from Florida denounced
the fraud which elected himself as well
as Hayes; but this could scarcely be said
to break the unanimity of the party.
Since the close of the session they have
seemed to enjoy their triumph nightly,
and the applause of their beloved con.
stituents has not been wanting to in.
crease their self-satisfaction.


It is very manifest from all this that
the party calling itself Republican differs
toto colo from the Democratic view of the
subject. Republicans believe either that
no fraud has been committed, or else
that fraud by which they pro6ted was
fit and proper thing for them to do.
Whatsoever Of these positions they take
question is raised which demands fair.
full and free discussion, so that truth
may prevail and justice be done. If the
organs and presentatives of the Democ-
raCy have merely raised a false and ma
liCious clamor against their opponents,
they deserve the severest reprehension
that the censure of the world can visit
upon them; they should be deprived of
all political influence, and no share in
public business, local or national, should
ever again be trusted to them. On the
other hand, if it be true that we have an
administration of the general government,
which is not the result of an honest elec-
ton, but the mere spawn of corrupt
conspiracy, then popular liberty has been
deeply, perhaps fatally injured, and all
who aided in the crime, all who gave
comfort to the criminals, and all who
knowingly partook ofthe iniquity by re-
ceiving its wages, ought to be, and in the
fulness Of time they undoubtedly will be
classed among the worst malefactors of
the age.s'g .olowifiAd Wo2 eatmb-istau


The prominent and well known facts
Of the case, set forth in the plain style Of
simple narration, will show whether the