Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-12-22
Two sides to the DIGESTION.

A great many people have got their
brains sadly muddled over the presidential
question: and no wonder. What with tue
disputes over returning boards, supreme
courts, "bulldozers," aud federal bayonets,
il is not strange that many people have be-
come mystihed. Bnt when it is suggested
that it will be impolitic for Gov. Hayes TO
assume the presidential chair, even in case
he is declared elected in duo form, for the
reason that his majority in the electoral
college may have been secured by fraud
though there is no substantial proof or fair
probability that it WdS,-lhen the mystif-
cation becomes objectionable. Far be it
from MS 10 advise or desire the Inaugural
ton of President upon whose title there
is a reasonable suspicion of fraud but let
us remember that there is another side 10
this subject. Is there a Republican, or an
honest Democrat, who believes that Til
denis majorities in the Southern States rep
resent the actual condition OF public senti-
ment in those States,-that the vote was I'M
restricted and unintimidated Whatever
else may be unsettled, -however other facts
may be beclouded, misrepresented or dis
guised, this thing we know namely, that
Democratic terrorism prevailed to great
extent in many If not all The Southern
States. We have evidence of this the most
direct and convincing,-namely, the tesii-
mony of Northern people resident in The
South, and with whom we are personally
acquainted. They represent the terrorism
existing previous 10 The presidential cleo
-
time since the days Of the Kuklux. North
ern men, even though taking no active part
in politics, were logged and insulted, if
not assassinated, and negroes were shot
down like dogs. And yet we are asked to
overlook all this, and to stand as hast at the
spectacle of a returning board daring TO
question the validity of an election held
under such circumstances 1t is very well
to say that Gov. Hayes cannot afford to &C
cept the Presidency under suspicion of
fraud but can Gov. Tilden any better af-
ford to accept it, when his vote is due to
W holesale violence and intimidation For
ourselves we desire to see Congress insti-
tute rigid and impartial inquiry into all
the circumstances of the recent election.
If the Southern States have shown them
selves unfit for self-government-as we
are well assured they have-by allow
| ing murderers and rioters to elect their Off
cials, by refusing 10 their people the free
exercise of the right of suffrage,-let the
evidence be given TO the world in form
that will admit of no doubt or denial. IF
Democratic electors have been chosen
through a practical denial OF the right OF
voting 10 large proportion Of the voting
population, the entire nation is concerned
to see that the candidate thereby elected
shall not be permitted 10 assume his office.
II, on the other hand, frauds have been
committed by Republican returning boards
or other officials, by all means let the facts
be known. Until the facts are brought fully
10 light, we must be permitted TO express
and maintain our conviction that the heav-
lest probabilities of fraud are decidedly OH
the Democratic side.