The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-18
The WAY To DO II.

The Way To DO II.
We are in receipt of numerous letters
urging the holding of public meetings TO
consider and act upon the Presidential
question. We have also given some ac-
count of meeting of prominent aud
wealthy business men held ut the house
of MIR. WILLIAM f.. DoDGr on Friday even
ill., last, To consider what steps II might
become them to take, rs class, 60 bring TO
m end the present staguatlon of business
that il consequent upon the uncertainty
and doubt that now hang over the future
political condition OF our country. No
measure was decided upon by these gentle
men, but il appears that they are TO meet
again, aud that probably they will pre-
pare aud adopt an address to the two
Houses Of Congress.
We perfectly approve Of their deter
mination not TO act in the interest Of
either political party. We have but one
advice to offer to them. and TO all other
bodies Of men who may undertake TO act,
either in public or semi-publc meetings,
either by petition. address, or in any other
manner, in this very grave condition Of
our country.
As friends Of GOV. TLpEV, believing
that ho has been elected President, If there
is to be an honest and constitutional
course taken in counting the electoral
votes. we have no occasion 10 do anything
more than 20 demand that strict justice be
done Wcdlscomtcnauchal l threats aud all
iutimation- Of villa, Will happen If justice
j. not done.
The peace OF the country will not ne DIS
lurbed, although its sense OF security and
IL. confidence IN tue stability OF our ill
stitutiou. Will be greatly shocked. IL Gov.
HAYES j. to be made President 10y any I'M
fair means There are jus. two points that
ought TO be insisted upon In an the efforts
that are made t. reach the r plblicnus in
Congress on whom rests the whole re-
rponsibllity for what may he done. These
points are all that il is necessary 10 urge,
aud IN urging them men OF Ill parties can
unite. Republicans can ugge them with
out acting or being accused of acting in the
Interest Of the Democratic party. Demo-
Gratis can insist upon them, because they
comprehend al that Democrats ask or can
claim.
First-It should be demanded that the
long-cs,ablshed method of counting the
electoral votes, bv the two Houses them
selves acting in the presence Of each other,
through their tellers snail be preserved,
ms the only safe, fair, and constitutional
method Of procedure. All honest men, OF
whatever party, should unite in condemn
ing the idea that the President of the
Senate can assume to discharge u function
which the Constitution has not committed
10 that single officer thereby putting il
into the power OF one man TO count and to
reject just such votes as he secs ~.
Secondly-It should be demanded that
whenever the Returning Board OF any
State has by fraudulcn ~ changing the
majortics OF the popular vote, awarded q
certificate of election to n set Of election:
who did not recciye majority, but only
q minority of all the votes east in the
State, the votes Of those electors for Prcsi-
dent and NIce-Prcsidcnt shall not be
counted. All honest men, OF whateve.
party, should unite in protesting against
the idea that the popular votes tor Prcsi-
dental electors may be fal-ined changed
and st ut naught by returning officers
fraudulcntly rejecting returns which thoJ
were bound to include in the count bS
which the popular will was TO be ascer
tanned.
If public opinion is made up, rs we arr
confident it must be, if it is not already, OF
these two points, aud 1t reaches the Re
pubncans in Congress in the emphatic anG
decided manner in which IT should be OK
pressed we shall pass through this crisi
with our political institutions uharmed
They vii, Ne all the stronger for the peril
through which they have passed; for /
will then appear how well the people I'M
de!stand them, and how determined the
are that they shall not be perverted by an
set of mcn whatevcr for any prrpos
whatever. by fraud and falsohood. Their
~ no majority IN the senate thai Will ven
ture TO take any course thai VIII scat GOV
HAYES in the Presidential chair when tn
whole nation is convinced that ont Of III
lSt,clDctolal votes necessary to a choice
large number Of the Republican electoi
owe thor title to the deliberate frauds
Returning Boards in states that have NJ
known what honest government and III
right official conduct are for many year
We say, therefore, 10 the commcrc
gentlemen who are considering their dlt
IN this cr is, that all we ak of them, an
all thu they can dc, is TO make it ccrtai
10 the utmost Of their power, that ju-tic
honesty, and truth in this matter shall pr
vail. Whom they have SO expressed their q
termination us ana important body of bus
mes mon. and have brought public opiIio
10 thc pDiut of Insisting on the two thin.
mat Wc h'rc specified as tho cesouti
mean, OF acc0mpl shiug Justice aul pr