Rensselaer Union, Volume 11, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 August 1879 — A Great fraud Exposed. [ARTICLE]

A Great fraud Exposed.

The New York Times publishes an analysis of the popular vote of 1876 which cannot fail to arrest public attention. The effect of the publication is to prove as conclusively as anything can be proven by facts, figures and logic, that enormous fraqjis were perpetrated in 1876 in the States of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut in the North, and Louisiana, Florida and Mississippi in the South, and that these frauds were perpetrated in the. interest of Mr. Tilden. The investigation by which the facts were obtained lasted several months, and was of the most exhaustive character. The statement of the results and conclusions arrived at occupies ten columns in the Times. The labor bestowed on the undertaking was enormous, as the labor of unearthing great frauds generally of necessity is, but the expose is complete and convincing. Without going into details here, it shows first, that in the six States above named there was an enormous apparent increase in the popular vote, out of all proportion to the increase in population; that the percentage of electors not voting was decreased in a most astonishing manner; that the ratio of voters to population belied all previous experience; that the claim to a majority of the popular vote is based upon votes fraudulently cast. These conclusions arc reached by comparisons of figures and statistical reasoning which must carry conviction to every mind capable of following an argument. As a specimen of the facts brought to light the following may serve:

The history of Presidential elections during the last"flfty‘j’ears shows that in periods of the greatest political excitement and under the most favorable circumstances not more eightyfive per cent. of the voters of a Statecan be fairly brought to the polls; that is, fifteen in every hundred of qualified voters for various reasons do not vote. This rule holds good with very little variation down to 1876, and in nearly all the States that year. But in that year ninety-nine per cent, of the enumerated voters of Louisiana came to the polls and voted; ninety-six per cent, of fiiose of South Carolina, 94.5 per cent, of those in Mississippi, 95.2 per cent, in New York, ninety-nine per cent, in New Jersey, and so on. The election of 1876 was not a specially exciting one, and there is no possible theory consistent with honesty and fairness that will account for so large a vote. Further examination shows that of this largely increased vote the Republicans only got their usual proportion in each State, while the Democrats received greatly mure than they we ’e entitled to by any law of averages, or by any theory consistent with a fair election.

Again, the comparison of population and the Presidential votes shows the following striking facts: For the twenty years, from 1840 to 1860, the population of New York increased 59.7 per cent., and the popular vote 30.3 per cent.; but from 1860 to 1876, a period of sixteen years, while the population increased 22.9 per cent., ■ the last Presidential election makes the popular vote increase 56.6 pjer cent. New Jersey, during tile first period named, increased in population 80 per Cent., and the popular vote increased 87.9 per cent.; but in the second period, while her population increased 55 percent., the popular vote increased 81 per cent. Connecticut, during the first period, increased her population 48.3 per cent., and the popular vote 35 per cent.; but in the second period, while the population increased 26.8 •per cent., the popular vote increased 58.3 per cent. These are the general conclusions. In proof of them the vote of each State is examined in detail, with surprising results, all supported by the facts of history and logic, and dovetailing together with absolute accuracy. The Tim?s says editorially of the "expose: “ Whether we consider the impossible proportion of reported voters to the number of qualified voters; or the impossible increase of the reported vota to the population; or the mysterious and sudden increase in the Democratic vote without any decrease in the Republican vote—with, in fact, the legitimate and regular increase of the Republican rate—all the facts point to the one conclusion, that of Democratic fraud on the most extensive scale.” The exposure is a fit companion-piece to the great cipher-dispatch fraud. This fraud emanated from the same fertile brain, and was executed in the interest of the same man, who is now planning a repetition of the game in 1880. No wonder the Democrats are determined to break down the barriers against election irauds.—lndianapolis Journal.