Middletown transcript., 1876-11-11
THE RESULT OF THE ELECTIONS.

SATURDAY MORNING, NOV. ii, 1876.
THE RESULT OF THE ELECTIONS.
After a campaign Of unprecedented
enthusiasm and excitement the national
election on Tuesday last resulted in the
choice of the Democratic candidates
Samuel J. Tilden and Thomas A.
Hendricks for the Offices of President
and Vice. President respectively for the
term Of four years from the fourth Of
March next. Contrary to the anticiPa-
tions and most ardent hopes Of Demo-
Gratis and non -partisans alike, the result
shows an exceedingly close contest. 1t
was earnestly hoped that such would not
be the case but that the verdict OF the
people would be pronounced with no un-
certain sound and that it would be SO
plain and emphatic that there would be
left no room for cavil, or temptation for
interference with the ballots in the
Southern States by the party in power.
AS it is the election is so close that
grave foars are entertained lest frauds
may be attempted by the returning
boards of some Of those States and the
popular will thereby defeated. Such q
proceeding might, and probably would
lead to serious trouble as it is not likely
that the people will tamely submit to
a deprivation Of their rights without .
struggle for their retention.
The election Of Gov. Tilden to the
presidency is great national blessing
for which the whole American people
without regard to party, have reason to
be exceedingly thankful. It is grand
triumph in favor Of the constitutional
principles Of our Government, Of the
rights of the States to regulate their
internal affairs in their own way and Of
free elections untrammeled by the Fed
eral Government.
So notoriously corrupt and imbeclle
has the Administration Of Gen'l Grant
been that even bis own adherents and
partisans were obliged to admit the ne
cessity for change and for reform Of
his many abuses. This reform they
promised should be made under the
administration Of Gov. Hayes should he
be elected. But however willing Mr..
Hayes himself might have been to make
these necessary reforms be would not
hav. been able to do 50. The same
corrupt influence that has always sur
rounded the present Administration
would have been exerted upon him also
and in none Of his public services has
he shown himself superior to party in
Auence, or capable Of accomplishing
great reforms. On the other hand,
with change Of parties will come
change Of influence and the bad men
who have SO long controlled the govern
ment will be obliged to retire to private
life, and new class Of men selected
with the utmost care from among the
very best and most talented statesmen
Of the country will be brought into the
counsels Of the chief Executive. In
addition to this President Tilden has
proved himself, in bis official capacity
as Governor Of New York, as far supe-
rior to mere party prejudices. and as
capable and willing to correct and pun
ish corruption, fraud and official abuse
wherever it is found. With him as
President peace and prosperity will be
restored to the Southern States and to
the whole country. The Federal army
will not be used to control the elections
in the interests Of party; the "bloody
shirt" will be buried; the 'outrage
mill' will be silenced and mutual hap
piness and good feeling will be restored
to every section Of the Union alike.
The right Of regulating their internal
affairs in their own way, without inter-
ference BY the Federal government,
guaranteed to them by the constitution
but Of which they have been illegally
and forcibly deprived these many
years by the party 10 power, will be
restored to the States Good govern
ment will succeed to imbecility, the
Constitution will once more become the
supreme law Of the land and we may
all confidently expect new era Of good
feeling and kindness to be inaugurated
such as the country has not enjoyed for
a period Of many years.