The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-12-15
the suruAruoN-ouR POSITION.

TN The lace oil the electoral returns, not
taking into consideration the Cronin
vote, Mr.. Hayes is elected Int, count
ing the Cronin vote. Mr.. ridden is cleo
ted.
The Republicans, and not few Demo
Gratis, believe that the Cronin vote ought
not to be counted. The Democrats, and
few Republicans, believe that the Lou
isiana vote ought not to be co,v.tcd.
The Republicans and Democrats who
object TO the counting of the Cronin vote
for Tllden, do so because they know
that majority OF the people OF Oregon
prefer Mr.. Hayes to Mr.. Tilden for presi-
dent. The Democrats aud Republicans
who object to the counting of the votes OF
Louisiana for Hayes, do so because they
believe that a majority OF the people of
hose states prefer Mr.. Tilden
to Mr.. Hayes for president.
There can be no doubt about Oregon.
II is Hayes state aud whatever may be
said about the right of Gov. Grover to
give Mr.. Cronin certificate of election
as elector, no one can deny that the ma
jority OF the people of that state did not
want him to be enc OF their electors. In
fairness, Mr.. Hayes ought TO have the
vote OF Oregon.
In 20 far as the vote OF Louisiana is
concerned, the condition of the matter is
rs follows:
On the 9TH of November the people OF
that state voted tor presidential electors
On the face OF the returns, at the
close of the election, the Tilden electors
had majorities ranging from G,300 for the
lowest, to 500 for the highest. These
returns were sent up to the capital, and
put into the hands of the returning
board OF the State, which it is claimed
had authority to canvass the votes and
ascertain and declare the result. This
board went behind the returas. and.
wiping out tie naiorities for the Tilden
electors. gave to the Hayes clcc-
tors a majority ranging from
1925 for the lowest, TO i,7l2 for
the highest. This was done by
throwing out II $50 Democratic votes,
and 1,755 Republican votes. against the
legality Of which votes not a word had
been urged. The Democrats denounce
this action Of the board. The Republic
cans applaud it. The Democrats de-
nounce it because they declare it ialsiiies
the wishes OF the majority of the people
of Louisiana. The Republicans APP
plaud it. because they say it really gave
expression to wishes OF majority of the
people OF that state.
We believe that if the Republicans are
right in the assertion they make in this
regard, the vote OF Louisiana ought TO be
counted for Hayes and, we have no
doubt, that all honest Republicans will
| agree with Us in saying, that, if the DEM
ocrats are right in the assertion they
make in regard to the matter, the vote OF
| Louisiana ought TO be counted for Til
| den.
The Democrats may say, that the ques-
ton is already decided; that the returns
from the several voting places OF the state
| prove the state to be for Tilden, and that
only the military despotism of the admin.
istration could have prevented that re-
suit from being announced. The Repub-
licans may reply, that the majority of the
| voters OF the state are clearly in favor OF
Hayes, and that only the bulldozing des-
| potism of the Democrats could
| have prevented them from expressing
their preference at the polls. ''But you
have got no right to go behind the re-
turns, and inquire whether intimidation
was practiced by Democrats at the differ
ent polling places the face of the returns
must control in the first in
stance. and then let the legality
Of the election be tested in
the courts" say the Democrats. The
Republicans retort: ~ OH have no right,
according to your own doctrine, 10 90
the president of the senate, and ascertain
whether the returning board acted lille
gally or dishonesty the face of the re-
turns, as sent up from the state, must
control in the first instance, and ther
let the future take care OF itself"
So, after all, we come out of the sam,
hole into which we entered. If the Dem
ocrats can 60 behind the returns from thu
state, why may not the Republicans 20
behind the returns from the parishes:
We therefore come down to the bed
rock question: "Are the majority OF thu
voters Of Louisiana Hayes o.
Tilden men," This is tn,
question that congress mus
decide. We hope it has enough wisdom t.
decide it in manner satisfactory to tn,
people. II the investigation of the com
mittee now In Louisiana shall furnish
evidence amounting to proof that Their
was a fair and tree election in that state
there will be, we shall continue to be
lieye until facts crowd out the belief
enough honest Republicans in the senat
to give the state to Mr.. Tilden or els
throw out its vote. II, on the Othe
hand, the investigation should show tina
the Democrats carried the state by bull
doing despotism, there will be enOug
honest and patriotic Democrats, W
,. shall continue to believe until we knOy
the contrary, to stand by the declaratio