New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-11-29
4 CdUsE F0R THANKSGIVING.

4 CAUSE FOR THANKSGIpING.
We have not loved President Grant; have
NOT been blind to his faults, nor viewed his
virtues through a magnifying glass. But IL Is
n blessing for which every man in the nation
may well give thanks tomorrow that we nave
in the White House no Buchanan-no weak
and hcsiating casust, to wreck n nations
peace with his empty bubbles. President
Grant is a strong, resolute man, who means
TO have peace in this country, and strict en-
forcement of law, so long as his term OF Once
lasts Rebellion Will not be let alone until 1t
is too strong to be crushed. Treasonabie talk
will not ripen into revolutionary deeds with
out finding all prepared, close at hand, and
not only willing in spirit but strong in flesh,
the Executive power of the United States to
stamp out the first spark OF resistance
70 the constituted authorities For so
much let MS be thankful. President
Grant may commit errors. 1t Is possible
that, even in this emergency, III which he has
thus far borne himself well, he may use his
vast power without just cause. II he does, we
shall not be slow tO censure. But even then
we shall rejoice that the nation was not left,
by a feeble or trcachCrous Executive, to plunge
into the bottomlcss pit of civil strife over "A
disputcd election. Mexican anarchy is the
worst thing possible. In any step not war
rantcd by the sober sense of the nation, even
At this time, the President would soon meet
restraint. But civil war about disputed
Presidency, into which if the Executive were
weak, the mad passions of men might now
precipitate the country, would be an evil with
out remedy, a hopeless, senseless, lawless strug-
gle, destroying the very foundations of self
government.
1t is peculiarly fortunate now that President
Grant and the Republican candidate do not
represent the same element. Their relations
have not been such as To warrant fear that
the President would stain his own name in order
to make that candidate his successor. Indeed,
but few days ago, the Democratic organs
were boasting that Grant would not let
"Iayes be counted i'm Now the same
organs rave at him because he takes care that
| the properly constituted authorities shall not
be coerccd interrupted, or resisted III the dis
| charge of their duties. lie has done, thus far.
lust what the Constitution requires. Ii is not
his duty to ask whether injustice is done by
| the decision of proper tribunal. His part Is
! 10 see that 10 resort To force or unlawful
violence shall be permitted - that every
| lawful decision shall be respected until re-
versed by lawful means. In such rigid enforce
ment of law is our only safety. No matter
what decision may be made in Louisiana, one
Marty or the other will believe it is unjust. If
the first step toward resort to force as a rem
edy for decision deemed unjust il not
swiftly and sternly arrested, anarchy comes
| instantly. Men have n right To criticise, to
argue, and to employ all lawful means TO re-
verse decision they deem wrong. But any
man who appeals from the decision of law
! full tribunal, be it just or unjust, to the re-
volver or rifle, ought to have his ncipient re-
Dellion stamped out by all the power of the
nation.
Hence those who indulge serious apprehcn-
| sions distress themselves without cause. There
can be no beginning of resort TO force, no
matter where or OIL what pretext, without such
rebellion against constituted authority as will
compel the United States to suppress it. 1t
| has not been one of the Presidents faults
that he has been slow to perform that duty.
If the rifle clubs of South Carolina, or the
White Leagues of Louisiana, attempt to settle
any question by force, We nope and believe
that their attempt will be not only suppressed
lent elements at the South have a pretty
clear idea of the President with whom
they now have to deal and we do
not believe tha0 any disturbance will result.
The blatant persons at the North who talk of
resistance and blood inasmuch as they have
been too careful of their precious lives when
there was fighting to be done, and do not
quite understand from experience what il
means to rebel against law might cause some
outbreak but for the fact that they are too
far away Long before they could reach
| Washington. or either Of the Southern States,
their movements would be known and met.
Those of them who have any sense know the
fact 1t would not be possible to move a
hundred armed men from any Northern city,
even no further than to Washington, without
instant discovery and warning. At the call OF
the President any desired force of organized
militia, equipped by State authority, could be
gathered at any point within few hours.
The more thoroughly these things are under
stood. the more certain it is that we shall
have no disturbance and shall not relapse into
anarchy. We have millions of veterans who
are ready to sustain the Government. We
have President who is not lacking in cour-
age or decision. Therefore, all questions at
issue will ba settled, justly we earnestly hope,