Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1876-11-24
south carolina AnRIeh.,


al interest in that it corroborates what the
Republican Journals and leading members
! of the party have steadily maintained, in
the face Of press association reports and
the vociferous claims of the whole party.
The Democrats can make bolder stand
on nothing and be more defiant than any
party that has ever existed. 1t is only
week ago that the great World said that
both South Carolina and Florida had gone
for Tilden. The Republican paperS-the
/ New Yorl, Times. for example-has steadi-
lv claimed both States, and gave the best
assurance possible under the circumstances,
70 substantiate it. 1t has steadily main
tained. too. that the Democrats have never
seriously believed that they had carried
either Of these States for Tilden. and that
it was merely the partizan necessity Of
keeping the question open for the purpose
of fraudulent manipulations. The Times
claims that in both States the legitemate
majority for the Hayes electors is very
large, though the nominal majority on the
face of the returns-false and fraudulent
as many of them are-may be small Meth
er State was honestly considered doubtful
on the morning after election by the men
of both parties who were qualified to judge,
and Florida will as surely be foun dto have
cast its vote for Hayes as South Carolina.
The canvassing board IN Louisiana has
behaved with great moderation and judg-
ment. The canvass was begun on Monday
last, and the board invited five representa-
tive men Of each party to attend its ses-
sions and witness all its proceedings. 1t
has shown perfectly honest, manly inten-
tion to proceed in accordance with the
strict letter of the law and let the result
be shaped by the facts. It is found by the
Democratic visitors at New Orleans that
the board is not the ''elique of dishonest
carpet-baggers" that it has been represent
ed. There is no other purpose than to de-
clare the vote of Louisiana in accordance
with the facts and the requirements Of the
law bv which the board is constituted and
empowered to act. The Democrats who
went down there on the invitation Of Mr..
Hewitt, to ''prevent great outrage" have
learned a good deal since they arrived at
New Dreams, and all but a few have gone
to Florida or returned home. There will
be no Illegal counting in Of either candi-
date in Louisiana, and no cause given for
revolution or violence. Democrats are set
tling down to the conviction that Governor
Hayes viii be the next President by virtue
OF a fair count and an honest report of the
vote.
In Florida the, uncertainty still exists.
The canvassing board, consisting of the
Secretary of State, the Comptroller and
Attorney General, have by law 80 days
after election in which to await the returns
from the counties. If at that time the re-
ports are not all in, they must canvass ana
count such as are reported. and declare the
result Independent of the delinquent coun-
ties, whose votes are thus lost. The sim
pie state of the case is that in Florida the
returns are not all yet in. Several Demo-
cratic counties are purposely keeping back
their reports, hoping that the board will
go on counting and reporting such as have
been returned. This would show the Demo-
Gratis Just how much they would need to in
crease their vote in the delinquent counties
in order to secure a majority. The Rebub-
licans do not intend to be caught in any
such trap. The board do not intend to be-
gin its work until the thirty-ffth day, un-
less the county reports are complete before |
that time. Then, if the Democrats choose
to still keep back part of their vote, it will
be sacrificed. The Demos are endeavonng
to bring legal pressure to force the board
to canvass the incomplete returns as they
now stand, but-there is no prospect that
they viii succeed. 1t should be understood
that in nineteen counties in Florida, the
whole election machinery is in the hands |
of the Democrats. Beaten in South Caro-
lima, and despairing of success in Louis
lana, the whole energy of the Tilden man
ayers is now turned toward Florida. 1t is
their last hope for that one electoral vote
required to gain Mr.. Tilden's election. A
number of the Northern Democrats who |
were at New Orleans have gone to Florida,
and committee of Republicans, including
Gen. Noyes, has gone thither also, to look |
after the interests of Governor Hayes
Florida will be the last State to report.
Her four votes will decide the Presidency. |
The best informed men in the State claim
.unqualifedly majority of not less than
1000 for the Republican ticket. Republi
can interests there are in able and honest
hands, and there is no fear of the result.
The following are the Electoral votes as
they now stand respectively, with Louisiana
and Florida standing by themselves-to hear
from.