Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-11-23

en- head rather lheo have permitted such
"outragts' to pass unchecked aud uorebuked.
The character and quality o! federal soldiers
has sadly changed since the war, If such was
the case-:hey were not then, IT our memory
serves Us, so easily intimidated. La truth It's
the mercst stuff aud norsenc, to talk ci fraud
aud intimidation, either 10 Florida OF l.ousl-
anu. Tie elections 10 bath States were untalnt-
ed either with force or fraud on the part OF
!ha democracy, aud the result ol llosc elections
ongGt, 10 comtGon decency and honesty, 10
place MIR. 1Gldeu in office. Still that result has
not bseu apuolncei, End knowing The charac'
ter Of the republican leaders knowing the
reputation and past history Of the returning
since the election, but above all whal has been
suppressed. there seems to be tue gravest req
sou to appreheud that q fraud bs5 alI along
been contemplated, and even now IS 10 process
OF execution. There are tour possible Issuaa or
modes OF dealing with the situation First. the
Returning boards IN the twa States, or one 81
them, may be more hoGest than we have reason
to expect, or the difficulties in the way Of eou.
summatiDg fraud in the face uI millions OF
people may be greater than they expect, and
one or both States may be given, as their peo-
pie have voted, Tor Mr. Tllen. Or secondly,
the people may fight about it in their lulgua
ton at being cheated-a result which we most
| earnestly deprecate aud would sincerely de-
plorc; or thirdly, the people may submit to be-
ing cheated as the lesser Of the evils-a result
taught With scarcely less evil TO the future OF
the country than civil war; OF tourthly, they
may do neither tho one nor the othcr--uolther
| fight nor submit, but proceed IN entire reliance
| upon the Righteousness oil their cause.-The
justice of public opinion when fully informed,
| and seek redress. for their wrongs in a manner
entirely witbo the law, and in strict accord
anse with the genius and spirit OF our usl'u'
tions. That the great body Of the republican
| party would sanction whatever course the adj
mus.ration might adopt TO secure party trl.
| unph there is little doubt. Many would be
controlled by party spirit, for 10 the minds OF
mauy otherwise honest meu party icalty Is so
strong that Judgment is o5scured and ADDER
encc to party is to them Synonymous With pa
tro.ism. Many would approve ignoranty ard
contcuc to follow accustomed leaders; many
would be controlled by motives Of sell:intercst,
| but minority, aod that minority constituting
the cream of the party, can, 10 great Crisis
like the present. rise above the spirit Of mere
| party, and on great occasions play the roll OF
statesmen and patriots. The world has seen
such meD, and We do not believe the race is
yet extinct. Il will be hard to break party dis
| cipli1c; it will be hard to turn their backs on
party friends; it may be difficult to make them
sec that it is their duty to do SO, but when
{ they do sec it, re have 20 doubt that there
arc republican Senators who will stand side by
side with the democrats and do battle for tho
right. Lex then the House of Representatives,
should the result require it, collect all the facts
through Investigating committees Of the high
est personal standing; let them bring al the
evidence 90 whichever side it may count, and
if that evidence clearly shows that the cloc.
| tons in Florida aud Louisiana were free from
all taiut Of fraud and Intimidation, aud that by
the voice OF the people Sir. Ti!dca is elected,
then such men as Mr. Edmonds Of Vermont,
aud Conkling Of New York, setting i1 udg-
ment on that evidence, must decide 10 accord
ancc with the facts as proved. These gentle-
men have Too mucf. disccromeut to be iecee
ed by others, aud have too much integrity to
| deceive themselves Their COURSE hitherto has
| been too brilliant. their present positions too
exalted, thrif future liz t1u bright, and though
10 politics d;amc,rica!Iy opposed to each, yet
We may add their characters before / he world
are too pure TO justify the belief the fear that
they will sacrifice their past ind their future
themselves aud their country, for the sake OF Il
mere parly triumph. hey kuow full we'll what 1t
means To rul ua1 10 the presidential chair
| by fraud. they know that whether Submitted
| to Or not, it would be the beginning OF The
! cod" Of American institutions. They kaoW
| that the eyes OF this generation are upon them,
| aud that as we look back upon aud revere the
virtues OF the founders Of this great republic,
50 the generations which are to come will re-
| member them either as the preservers or the
destroycrs of our liberties Meo of less promi
nence may escape, but such men as We have
named will surely reap their reward 10 the veu-
Grafton or execration Of posterity. Turn on
the light-let all the facts be put upon record,
and we have still enough confidence in the rep
resentatives of the American people in Con
gress assembled to believe that their award on
the second Wednesday in February uex, will
meet the approval of all right minded men.
lu the midst Of the confusion consc4 lent
upon the radical revolutionary attempts 10 The
states of South Carolina, Florida and Louisi.
ana, and the general disquietude and unset
tied condition Of the public mind throughout
the country the Grant organs are 1uI,UY