The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1876-11-17
smisrsHanenns.
WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Nov 9th, 1876.
The end of the campaign was virtually
reached Saturday nightalthough person
al efforts in thousands of instances will
only cease with the close of the polls to-,
morrow evening; and We await the YER
dict with a degree of interest varying
from a condition of oyer-wrought ankle
ty and nervous trepidation almost unen-
durable, to state of phlosophie resigna-
ton to the inevitable, or stolid indiffer-
enee as to the result. From the peeul-
lar relations existing between the Gov
ernment and large proportion of the
residents of Washington and vicinity, no
community within the borders of the
United States can have a deeper or more
intense interest in to-morrow's election
then that of this District and outlying
counties of Maryland and Virginia, I'M
less it may be the freedmen and others
constituting in the South, the Repubh-
can party. Among the encouraging
features of the struggle now about to
close, in those sections Of the country
where public schools and their auxiliar-
les, including the Sabbath School and
unmolested discussion, have done their
work, are the freedom from violence and
the absence of personal abuse and vitu-
peration that have marked it as contrast
ed with proceeding campaign. Educa-
ton as the uncomprc missing foe of big
otry and intolerance, has rendered it
possible for neighbors of diverse polite
al views TO labor zealously for their can
didates without any interruption of
friendly relations and to scrupulously
observe all the courtesies of life The
requirements of an advanced Christian
civilization have been recognized and
practiced all over North and West to an
extent that would. have been
deemed ridiculous thirty years ago by
the leaders who relied upon added eggs,
tar and feathers and other manifestations
Of brute force to convince opponents of
their errors and heresies. Exceptions,
where they have occurred, were usually
in our larger towns when the direction
of political affairs have fallen into the
hands of unscrupulous partizans and ruff
fans who manipulated the masses of
legal and illegal voters with view to
maintaining the old methods intact, by
appeals to their prejudices, their supersti-
tions and to the brutal instincts of gross
ignorance. Mr.. TIlden has been treated,
generally, with fairness and the unfor-
tunate revelation of his record have been
urged to protect the interest of the
country from the periis to them invOlv-
ed, as generally believed, in his election,
rather than from any personal hostility
to him. If the bloody shirt" has been
waved at all during the progress of the
canvass, 1t was because the leaders of the
Southern Democracy boldly proclaimed
their purpose to resist by violence the
rights conferred by the amended consti
tuition, and to practically re-establish g
State of slavery. Another matter-the
method of counting the electoral vote
has furnished an element of novelty and
of anxiety to rejecting and patriotic
citizens during the last weeks of the
campaign, and still occasions much dis
cussion and some swearing. 1t is gener-
ally admitted the the twenty second
Joint rule has no longer an existence
and that the constitution and precedent
are the only guides TO solution of the
question of such vital importance. The
fact that in certain States the leaders
have avowed their purpose to carry
them in favor of their candidate. without
regard. or rather against the preferences
of majority. has been cited as a valia
reason why the electoral vote of such
tates should be ignored in counting the
vote while the apologlst for the muir
der, violence and intimidation that have
characterized the progress of the canvass
in certain States of the South, have hotly
rejoined that the troops recently order |
ed into the disturbed section, were there |
illegally, and that the vote would conse-
quently be null and VOID and OF 10 effect |
But the passions begotten by heated /
campaign Will have given way to the
promtpings of reason and patriotism be-
fore final action is demanded, so that the |
question can be received in all its bear
ings and decided in equity by approach
ingit divested of equal partizanship and
prejudice.
The threatening aspect of the Euro
pean situation has been to some extent |
forgotten owing to the excitement of the |
past week of the Presidential stuggle, |
here. 1t has been TIC prevailing belief
that Russia would force the quarrel other
purposes could not be sooner and more
certainly accomplished by diplomacy;
and her reported demand for the with
drawal of the Turkish forces in Servia, |
is regarded as confrmatory other beIlig-
erent intentions. The designs of Russia
that urged her to risk the chances ofthe
Crimean war, and which failed for the
time, have never been abandoned ac-
cordlng to the views entertained bvl
leading men here and she will neyerl
forego the opportunities offered by the
present disturbances, to carve up the I
sick man" to her liking. Preparations |
are being made upon every hand for the
reassembling of Congressand the inaug-
uration of "the Season" as 1t is designat-
ed, by the dev0tees of fashionable dissi-
patton who crowd the capital every win
ter. The absence of clerks and other
officials, of whom it is estimated that
fully seventy-fye psr cent now away to
vote, is very noticeable; and there has
been a remarkable elimination of the
crowds of Centennial visitors who have
given to our streets such an appearance
of activity during the fall, due to the
same cause The victims of the abscond
ing sharper, Moulton, continue to come
to the surface, but he is reticent and
sends them no assurances Of relief
Many of them suffer from their own
greed as the money intrusted to him was
placed in his hands with a promise of
investment at two per cent month.
For such the sympathy of the public is
not unduly exercised.