The New York herald., 1876-11-10


SO widely and deeply stirred as during
the last two days of uncertainty and sus-
pense. In every city. town and village
within the range Of telegraphic COM
munication the people are tossed on
a sen of tumultuous emotions, con-
sisting of ever fluctuating hopes, fears,
curiosity, anxiety, party spirit and patriotic
apprehensions. These exuberant demon
strations are SO natural, SO irrepressible,
SO pardonable under the circumstances,
that it is impossible to breathe q
word of censure but popular feeling
is wrought up to such pitch that
it seems necessary, or at least justifiable,
to utter some words of caution. This in
tense strain on the public sensibilities does
no harm SO long as the vast crowds which
throng around the newspaper bulletins and
other places of political resort preserve the
good temper and jocose disposition which
have thus far enliyened the scenes in the
streets. So long as the intermingled parti-
sans, whose alternate cheers over the
varying reports of each hour are SO wildly
enthusiastic continue to chaff and banter
each other the assembled crowds only serve
to give animation to the streets and give
them dramatic life. But if this strain of
suspense, anxiety and party emotion should
continue for two or three days longer the
exhaustion which necessarily follows SO
much excitement will produce an irritable
nervous condition, which may cause the
good-natured banter and pleasant mockery
to be turned into angry and bitter recrim-
nations, and lead to deplorable disturbances
of the public peace. 1t is to be hoped, on all
grounds, that this severe tension OF the public
sensibilities may be ended by definite and
authentic news before another day shall have
elapsed; for it is doubtful whether more
than three days of such intense excitement
can be endured without draining the sources
Of grotesque and jesting humor and turning
all this forced mirth into bitterness The
most amiable and peace-loving men
easily lose their temper under the nervous
exhaustion which follows overstrained ex-
citement, and if popular feeling should
reach this unfortunate stage the multi
tudinous crowds in our streets would
easily be transformed into angry mobs
on any chance provocation, and
riot once begun is liable to go to extreme
lengths. The excellent temper thus far ex-
hibited does credit to the manliness Of the
American people, who exchange pleasant
repartees when their feelings are moved to
the profoundest depths, and if their nerves
were as reliable as their good intentions there
would be no reason for apprehensions. But
human nature has its limits, and the excite
ment cannot be much longer maintained at
its present high pitch without leading to a
reaction, which will bode no good to the
public tranquility We hope and trust that
the real state Of the vote will be known be-
fore the sun sets to-day, and that the feverish
agitation of the public may be soothed and
quieted by good nights sleep after three
days Of overwrought anxiety.
But if this great strain of exciting sus-
pense is destined to continue till the end of
the week the appeal which we now make to
the better feelings of the community is
not out Of place. While the people are
yet in an amiable and generous state of
mind they may listen to advice which would
later, when the irritability of exhausted
nerves shall succeed the bantering good
temper which has thus far marked
the bearing of political partisans
toward each other in the dense and
thronging multitudes. Our voice is for
peace. Wewould fain allay the excitement,
harmless as yet, which may lead to serious
and regrettable consequences, if reason and
moderation do not come in to assuage popu-
lar feeling when the overtaxed fountains of
good humor shall begin to give out We ac-
cordingly ask citizens of both parties to be-
stow their patient attention on the following
considerations
In the first place. then, it is almost too
obvious for statement that nothing which
can be done in the streets of New York or
the streets of any other city can have any
influence on the result. The electoral vote
of Florida and Louisiana will be what the
convassing officers of those States may de-
clare it, and this wonderful ferment
and commotion of the public mind can alter
nothing, even if the furnace Of excitement
should be kindled to tenfold heat. Before
IN election glowing exhibitions of popular
feeling may produce great effects, but after
an election they cannot have feathers
weight one way or the other; for the
election has now reached a stage where
everything must he decided by official ac-
ton, in pursuance of settled principles Of
law. The local inspectors of election in
the various voting precincts have already
prepared their returns, although the re-
moteness of the places and their distance
from the telegraph prevents our knowing,
rs vet, the contents Of the returns. They
already exist in black and white, and only
the State boards of canvassers in the doubt
full States have any legal power to re