Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-12-01

The contrast between the two great polit-
ical parties of the county, as regards the
temper shown by each during the exciting
events of the past three weeks, has been as
marked as it has been significant. When
the Republicans generally believed them
selves TO have been hopelessly beaten in
the presidential contest they quietly ac-
epted the result, and it was evident that
the great mass of its adherenis calmly en-
tertained sincere purpose 10 give Mr.. Til
den and his administration fair trial, with
no purpose or desire to throw obstruction
or hindrance in the way. And when, after
few days, it became evident that there
was an even chance that Mr.. Hayes was
elected, and that, in any event, several
Southern States had been carried against
him only by a resort 10 the most questiona-
BILE practices, there was heard from every
side the expression of an earnest desire
that simple justice might be done, and that
the voles in the doubtful States might be
honestly counted, lei the result be what ii
might. The utlerances OF President Grant
and Gov. Hayes on the subject unmistaka-
bly, voiced the feeling Of the mass OF the
party.
On the other hand The disposition OF the
Democracy has only loo plainly been that
of desperate determination TO claim the
election of their candidate in any case. As
soon as the result began TO grow doubtful
a great and and universal cry of fraud"
went up; among their more reckless par
,isans threats of resistance in case Gov.
=,
made, and the leaders of the party, Mr..
Tilden himself the foremost, began plot
ting TO carry their purpose by some legal
or technical quiDble or other questionable
means if ii became necessary. Such has
been and is the status of the two parties on
this great question up TO the present time
the Republicans quietly waiting 10 sec the
actual result honestly arrived at and duly
declared, and the Democrats determined to
AIRY their point at any price, or, falling in
this, 10 make il seem that they have been
defrauded of what was justly theirs.
The moral OF the situation is too obvious
10 need pointing out The general temper
of the Republicans has been so calm and
judicial that, let the final result he what it
may, the party cannot be said TO have sus-
tanned moral defeat. With the POSSIBLE
ity before us at the present time that we
may not certainly know who is to be the
next President until he has been inaugur-
ated, the manifest duty OF the Republican
party Is TO independently aud in a manly
spirit stand firm in the purpose which it
has thus far exhibited. While there is no
disposition to claim or desire any advant-
age which justice does not accord, there
should be none TO weakly yield anything
to the force of fraud or manifest injustice.
While asking nothing which the right does
not clearly give, there should be no weak
surrender TO wrong. Should it appear that
1t was the wish and purpose of a majority
OF the people in the doubtful States that
Mr.. Hayes should be the next President,
and that they were forcibly prevented from
expressing their wish at the ballot box,
then. II there is:any truth or justice in the
American people the matter should DO sill