Richland Beacon

The Presidential Fraud.

The press and politicians are making as much noise over the confessions of the Florida swindlers as if the disclosure of this gigantic fraud was something new; as if every man in the United States was not fully acquainted with all the facts in the case before Hayes was counted into the office of the Presidency by as palpable and gross a fraud as is proven by these confessions. And they speak of Hayes' personal knowledge of these frauds with as much apparent astonishment as if they had never suspected him encouraging or suggesting the means to be employed in accomplishing the fraud; and yet there is not a reading intelligent man who has not been familiar with these facts ever since the election returns of 1876 were promulgated.

Then why stir up this matter now, after it is too late to remove the usurper from his seat? We see no good to be accomplished by it, unless it is to keep the matter fresh in the minds; and this is being done by the very man who planned and executed the fraud. If Hayes has tried to discharge the duties of the office which was usurped for him, in a just and equitable manner, they would have been the last men to assail his title to the position he occupies.

These men, with their usual effrontery, are trying continually to fasten a portion of the odium of this fraud upon the democracy of the South, and it is the duty of the democratic press to combat this false charge at every point and keep this stupendous fraud fastened upon those who alone are guilty of it. The republican party—the party of fraud, official peculation and all manner of corruption—planned and executed the fraud, and is alone responsible for its results. Its leaders did all the pipe-laying, wire-pulling and bribery for its accomplishment. They counted Hayes into the office, with the full knowledge that he had been defeated.

They had all the evidence necessary to prove that Florida and Louisiana had voted for Tilden, and yet counted them for Hayes.