The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-24
Where VIII TOY stnnd

where will they standi
II is the habit OF other constitutional
Governments to defer To- the judgments
and suggestions of the popular branch of
the national Legislature They, cropping in
darkness, thiuk there is danger in fOrcible
opposition to a body fresh from the peo-
pie representing public sentiment. They
foolishly imagine that the modern way
to wisely govern is to defer to the
popular demand Tor honesty and fair deal
ing in the administration of Affairs, rather
than blindly resist. and rely upon the
brute force Of the military arm to uphold
injustice.
But our rulers aud statesmen profess
to know better than this. They believe
with GEORGE ILL.,, and the crowd who
brought on the American Revolution. and
the same class of men who, in every
age. have made n mess OF public affairs,
that when wrong and oppression are COM
planned Of the way to stop the complaint
Is not to right the wrong, but to fire bull
lets into those who complain.
Perhaps we ought not TO expect anything
better of an ignorant soldier like Gen.
GRANT. But there are some men in public
life at Washington among the Republicans,
let us nj least hope, who think they have
some claim to be considered statesmen.
The violent and crack Drained partsans
who are endcavoring to force fraudulent
count in the Presidential election, are
Rbundantly capable of bringing on an
epoch OF msgovernmcnt that will result
in untold disasters hereafter. They
have already succeeded in agitating the
country from one end to the other. They
have iuhamed party feeling everywhere.
and excited communities and individuals
otherwise peaceably disposed, to quariels
md bloodshed over the election. They
have thrown the business of the country
into confusion, stopped the progress Of in
dustrinl recovery, and compelled the ma
tion 10 await in profound suspense the de-
feat on the contamination of n gigantic
fraud. They have raised the noodgaics OF
national irritation, through brazen deter
mination TO commit great public crime
These men, and such as these, we thus see.
arecompeteut to create public disorder aud
innamo it to the highest pitch.
II IL idle for the presumed statesman to
say or to think that when the medtated IN
fanny shall have become historic fact. the
difficulty and the danger will all blow
over, aud the public mind be restored to
repose. This Is not the history of such pro-
ceedings in the past, and il will not he in the
future. These things are not ended in the
doug. Tney are wounds which do not
heal, but inflam". Bad AZ first, they get
worse aft,rward.
A Presidential election 10y fraud is an
infamy that will bite like serpent
and sting like nm adder. 1t Will
stimulate all the dcyiltry of tho country,
and inluse II malignan, poison INTO all the
details Of politics. What are now their
worst practices viii become their every
day history. The corruption Of GRANTS
Administration has already demoaliled
the country 10 degree which Is seen and
known of ali men as something altogether
beyond any thing Of the sort that was ever
known before The influence Of It's tuIpi-
tude has VIGOROUSLY -uuk the public
morals until cXtoriion and robbery in all
minor administration have become univer-
sal. The Administration Of Gen. GRANr
has scarcely drawn an honest breath from
first 10 last. from tRLsW LII and BLLkNAP
ana RoBEsoN down to CHANDLER aud
CAMERON.
And now. from theft ana pluudor il is
going on under the lead of it, rash adVis-
ors. to violence and fraud on the ballot
box and the employment OF the army 10
settle elections, stop complaint. and de-
feat attempts at reform.
What we now most desire to know is,
whether there really are any such men MS
Republican statesmen, and If there be-
where they stand IN the present crisis. AID
whore they propose to stand IN the still
more formidable one that is threatened
in the military Inauguration of HAYES
What viii bC their place aud attitude
IN the moral tumult and agitation con-
vuislon that VIII follow A great question
will arise then. L; VIII be whether the
people themselves shall he allowed to set
tie the question of who shall he their
rulers, or whether they Will consent that
the decision shall continue 10 be made by
the sword. That contest will he a consum-
ing FIRE. Don't the Republican statesmen
ou the whole think IL best 10 avoid III
More especially when they will have TO
enter II under the disadvantage OF quar-
ter ora half million majority against them
at the start, and with every historic pre-
Cedent threatening them with shame, con-
fusion, defeat, and iguomiuy. Gentlemen,
Republican statesmen, will Nou come to
the fIouti Al least be able TO say you
have saved your honor, aud forosecn the
''" from nash and shameful Ills-
government.
MethOdism in Cities.
Some days since we told Of the meeting