Democratic Sentinel, Volume 2, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 August 1878 — THE RESULTS OF INVESTIGATION. [ARTICLE]

THE RESULTS OF INVESTIGATION.

What Has Been Proved So Par by the Potter Committee. [From the Washington Post.] The Potter committee have proved, beyond successful rebuttal, things believed to be true, but not absolutely proven to be true before, to wit, that the electoral votes of Florida and Louisiana, which were given to Hayes, belonged to Tilden. Leaving out of consideration the State of Florida, which no honest man will deny to have been stolen, we will take up Louisiana. As to this State the Potter committee have clearly proved: 1. That a conspiracy was entered into by certain Republican leaders, the object being to hold no election in East Feliciana, Grant and other Democratic parishes. 2. That the fact that no Republican votes were cast in East Feliciana was not due to intimidation, as alleged, but was owing to Anderson’s advice to the Republican leaders not to vote, as it would have a better effect than all the affidavits that could be produced; 3. That for a period of two days after the election the Republican leaders admitted that Tilden and Nicholls had carried the State by a heavy majority. 4. That when it became evident that the election of Hayes depended upon the result of the State, deliberate preparations were made for the purpose of defeating the will of the people as expressed at the polls. 5. That, in pursuance of this plan, protests forged and altered to suit the occasion were made for the parishes of East and West Feliciana, whereby a Democratic majority of over 2,800 was changed to a Republican majority of 500. 6. That the Supervisors of the abovenamed parishes were prevented by promises of reward made by John Sherman and others from exposing such forgeries. 7. That on the 27th day of November, when the Returning Board proceeded to sum up the result of their labors, it was discovered that, while Packard aud a Republican Legislature were elected, Hayes was defeated. 8. That after the above date, and in order to secure the electoral vote for Hayes, forged protests were made for Richland and other parishes, and the returns from Lafayette and other parishes so changed as to increase the Republican vote. 9. That affidavits bearing fictitious names, and the names of dead men, were manufactured in the Custom House, and upon such affidavits various Democratic polls were thrown out. 10. That the acts above recited were known to some of the visiting statesmen, and received their approval. 11. That the electoral vote of the State, as counted before the two houses of Congress was a forgery. 12. That John Sherman, now Secretary of the Treasury, and at the time the personal representative of Mr. Hayes, was guilty of subornation of perjury. 13. That the leading parties necessary to a completion of the fraud were promised by him protection and reward. 14. That the fraudulent President, in fulfillment of Sherman’s and Noyes’ promises, has rewarded with office every scoundrel connected with the great crime in both Florida and Louisiana. 15. That Stanley Matthews, a Republican lOenator from Ohio, and Justice Harlan, a Judge of the Supreme Court, had guilty knowledge of the fraudulent transactions by which the vote of Louisiana was stolen, and personally interested themselves to reward and protect the criminals. 16. That Senator Morton and Gen. Garfield, both members of the Electoral Commission, knew when they voted to count the vote of Lonisiana for Hayes that it was both fraudulent and a forgery. 17. That Senator Kellogg, who assisted at the forgery of the Louisiana returns, has since been guilty of secreting the witnesses. 18. That not one of the criminals who assisted to perpetrate the colossal crime of the age has been punished ; but that all but two —numbering over a hundred —have been provided with offices by Mr. Hayes’ direct order or request, and in some cases by and through his continued and persistent interference. With few exceptions these facts are proved, exclusive of the testimony of either Anderson or Weber, notwithstanding that the committee has only fairly entered upon its task.

Civil-Service Reform and Despair. The Republican struggle for the possession of the House of Representatives in the next Congress has already partaken of the desperation of despair, if tautology will emphasize the statement. The administration has tossed aside almost all pretense at civil-service reform, and the Republican managers clutch at the straw-like hope of this one victory, the only one for which they can hope, with the reckless but determined longing that is just this side of hopelessness. The Republican party has issued a wail —and an assessment. It is for the old flag—and some contributions. The Republican Congressional Committee present their plea, and their tax. Eugene Hale is Chairman of the Executive Committee. George C. Gorham is Secretary. William B. Allison, Stephen W. Dorsey, B. K. Bruce, Charles Foster and Mr. Hiscock are among the members of the committee. The mad address which Eugene Hale sent to the country about “ Mexicanization” and “revolution” will be remembered. The appeal of Postmaster General Key to the people of the South, to make this an issue, and its motive, are not forgotten. The attempt of the entire Republican press of the country to create a false issue is fresh in the recollection of all. But the Executive Committee of this Republican Congressional Committee have levied a tax upon all the Government employes, in the face of that civil-service order, to which it is ostentatiously announced the administration will still adhere. Mixed with the demand for money is the wail of despair. The terms in which the as : sessments upon Government employes is couched are the emphatic thing: “ This committee, charged with laboring for the success of the Republican cause in the coming campaign for the election of members of Congress, call with confidence upon you, as a Republican , for such a contribution in money as you may feel willing to make, hoping that it may not be less than Why is this phrase, “as a Republican ? ” Is it an intimation that the assessed indi-

vidual, if a Republican, is expected to make the contribution, and if not a Republican is expected to make way lor a Republican who will contribute ? A noticeable thing in this letter of assessment is the fact that the blanks for the number of dollars below which the committee hope the contribution will not fall are filled out with scrupulous care. It is announced to each employe of the Government that the committee hope his voluntary gift will not fall below a named number of dollars. We have before ns one of these assessment letters addressed to a servant of the Government who receives a poor pittance of S3OO a year for his services. The starving salaries, even, do not escape taxation. It was necessary to advise the em-. ployes of the Government that they could not hide behind any civil-service rule to avoid paying the assessment. And so the amercing epistle reads: “The committee deem it proper * * * to inform those who happen to be in Federal employ that there will be no objection in any official quarter to such voluntary (?) contribution.” This is not the action of President Hayes; it is the action of the Republican managers. The vicious system of political assessments has never, in our history, been carried further than this. It has never been more bald and bold. The assessment has never been more bluntly made. Nor has it ever been made so hypocritically in the eyes of the country. The Republican committee do not fail to make known the reason for this, under the circumstances, extraordinary procedure. It is found in these words: “ The importance of the pending struggle cannot easily be exaggerated. That the Senate is to be Democratic after the the 4th of March, 1879, is very nearly a certainty. In view of this the election of a Democratic House of Representatives would precipitate upon the country agitations which would inevitably add to present distresses.” „Tho letter points out the possibility that the House may elect the next President, and all this is a Bag of distress. Lest it be asrerted that it is only “voluntary contributions” that are solicited, we quote the peremptory concluding words of the invitation: Please make prompt and favorable response to this letter, and remit at once by draft or postal money order, to Sidney F. Austin, Esq., treasurer, etc., German American National Bank, Washington, D. C. By order of th 9 committee. Geo. C. Gobham, Secretary. This is Eugene Hale’s civil-service reform. Along with it comes the a bandonment of the Republican hope of capturing the next House.— Cincinnati Enquirer.