The New York herald., 1876-12-22
Tn. Political Clouds Are Breaking.


in the storm, the earliest glance of
the sun, TO take his latitude and
ascertain how far the elements have
driven him from his true course" The oc-
casion to which this striking language was
applied was trivial in comparison with the
waves on which our politics have been drift
ing. and the thick, threatening clouds which
have hung over them for the last six weeks.
II has been n matter of doubt in many
anxious minds whether our institutions
were not destined TO be wrecked either
by civil war or by a disagreement
between the two houses which would
dislocate and destroy the governmental
danger by no means chimerical ii the Senate
should recognize ono man as President and
the House another. The storm which
seemed to be driving us upon these sunken
rocks has so fer abated that we are able to
take advantage of "the earliest glance
of the sun" through the breaking clouds
and make observations for determining the
present latitude of the ship and heading
it toward some safe port. The dashing
waters still beat against her Sides for rs
when the ocean has been vexed by tenn
pest the waves continue to roll after the
storm has spent its violence, SO popular agi-
tations do not Immediately subside when
their causes begin to slacken. But the
weather-beaten mariner who watches the
sky discovers when he may safely dismiss
his anxiety.
We have, perhaps, unduly prolonged this
figure, but it seems so fit an image of the
political situation that we have dwelt upon
it for the sake of the application. 10 be
sure, illustration is not argument; but when
the facts by which an opinion is supported
ore derived from sources which do not per-
init their publication in detail we can only
indicate them in such way as to
raise expectation and prepare the pub
lie to watch for and interpret approach
ing developments. We affirm with much
confidence, and on sufficient information,
that the great danger is past-that 'the
wave has passed under the ship" There is an
entirely different tone of feeling among the
political leaders on both sides from that
which existed eight days ago 1t is not a
change founded on anything SO unsub-
stantial as mere sentiment, but upon
new view of the situation growing
out of and compelled by better
knowledge of the facts. Within the last
few days the confidence of the republi-
cans at Washington has been shaken in the
soundness of their claims to one or more of
the disputed States, and they will probably
use the advantage they possess in the cleo
toral certificates and their control of the
Senate to secure compromise in
which both parties will acquiesce.
The shape into which the election
is likely to pass is failure on both
sides to secure majority in the final count,
when the House, in pursuance OF the con-
stitution, will elect Mr. Tilden President
ident for the ensuing four years. Indeed.
no other result is constitutionally possible
if the reports Of the committees now pur-
suing their investigations in the South shall
show that Mr.. Hayes is not entitled to all
the disputed votes-a result which is now
generally expected.
1t by no means follows that if they cannot
be honestly counted for Hayes they must
therefore be counted for Tilden. However
clearly it may be shown that this ought to
have been the result it is too late for it to
be accomplished now. The legal obstacles
are einsurmountable. Take the case of Florida
for illustration. The law requires that
the electors in each State shall assemble on
a given day, cast their votes, prepare and
authenticate their certificates and appoint
their messenger. The 'Tilden electors in
Florida did not meet on that day, did not
vote, did not make out certificates
and send them to Washington. The
Office of Presidential electors expires
on the first Wednesday of December.
On the following day they have no more
title to act as such than any other private
citizen. If the votes of the Hayes electors
in Florida are illegal no votes from that
State can be counted. The necessary con-
sequence will be that there is no choice
either of President or Vice President by the
Electoral Colleges.
1t may perhaps be contended that a ma
jority of the votes counted will suffice to
elect, and that Tilden and Hendricks must
be counted in. This is On untenable po-
sition. Take Florida again for illustration.
The constitution declares that the person
having the greatest number Of votes shall be
President or Vice President, '.if such num-
Der be majority of the whole number of
electors appointed" Now the democrats
would stultify themselves by maintaining
that no electors were appointed in Florida.
If the Hayes electors were not appointed on
the 7th of November the Tilden electors
were. They were appointed, but were pre-
vented from meeting to exercise their office.
The votes which they failed to cast
cannot be counted for any candi-