The Portland daily press., 1876-12-12

they did last month The Democrats couldn't
have done much towards it. 1t is Republican
SWIVEL, depreciation. self-reproach and whining
apology that have wrought this mischief. But the
enemy seem determined to make patriotic cti-
zens sick of the party without subiectng the
country to taste of its governing quality. That
Oregon business is little too much for decent
people. If Gov. Hayes were party to perform
srce of that sort, should be very sorry to see
him inaugurated The introduction of the game
OF three-csrd-monte into politics is sounding
deeper depth than infamy has ever reached be-
fore. guess that will relieve all doubts as to
the acceptance of the returns from the disput-
ed states. Authenticated as they are, by the
reports of competent and reliable witnesses,
and taking into account the evil which would
ensue from raising the question of their accu-
racy, the proprety and expediency of adopting
them without further inquiry will be generally
conceded by Republicans.
The suggestion which was made and siren
uousy supported by an extremely pretentious
weekly paper published here, that some one
Republican elector should betray his trust,
is important only as showing what mudd,ed
notions of ethics find Judgment in the brains Of
that class of publicists who especially plume
themselves on being independent" The pa
per that made this extraordinary recon- me nds-
ton affects great superiority over its contem-
poraries in the matter of heighth of tone and
loftiness of aim. 1t berates mankind 10 gene
raj and politicians in particular, for falling SO
Tar short of its own standard of excellence.
And yet it coolly, seriously, deliberately advis
es an act of perfidy which would render its per-
Petrator infamous and disgrace human nature
There are so many aspects of enormty about,
that il is strange any body should ever have
had the hardihood to PROFOUND it. 1t would
not only degrade past redemption the fellow
who cast the vote, but would involve in rem
ediless ignomiDy the man or the party that
would consent to take advantage of it.
l should be sorry to believe that any partizan
of either organization could SO far forget the
obligations of good faith as to tolerate so
wretched scheme for making bad worse The
Oregon maE9uvre is contemplate enough in
all conscience, the other project is far more
disreputab!e. The trick of oustiag Watts is
palliated on the ground that it is merely to be
used as means of opening an Inquiry as to
the validity of the Ietarns from other states
1t is not pretended that his vote is to be cast
and counted. They mean to throw it out when
they get enough others to enable them to spare
it. These articles are ineffably base. The
Presidency is not a post to be lost or won by
thimble rig. Honorable men of both parties
would infinitely prefer defeat if the voice of
the people had decreed il, ihau victory achieved
by methods to which the slightest pieion Of
off R,.r ha,, II
turn on the treachery of member of the
electoral college of either party would be to
diyest the Office of all which makes it desirable
except the salary.
Turning for a moment from national to mu-
nioipal TOPICS L note with sincere regret that
New York has lost, by the withdrawal of Mr..
Green from the Comptrollership, the ablest
officer that has served her for many year, if
ever. With entire faith in the integrity of
John Kelly, and with high personal respect for
him, nevertheless think it a misfortune to
the city that Mr.. Green has been superseded at
the expiration of his term. The change is a
glaring defiance of the principles Of civil SER
vice reform. Mr.. Green has proved an able,
diliaent and independent custodian of the pub
lie funds, little heedful of party trammels and
perfectly fearless and impartial in the dis
charge of his duties. There is no check or
barrier now to the absolute and imperious sway
of Tammany Hall. The new Mayor and
Comptroller are estimabe gentlemen, but they
are avowedly party men, and when they find
1t impossible to restrain their impetuous follow
ers, they will feel obliged to succumb to them
The great merit of Mr.. Green was that al
though Democrat of the straightest sect he
never suffered political necessity" to swerve
him hairs breadth from the strict line of
duty. YARMOUTH.