New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-11-13
TIE PEOPLE III hIGWT!

Our political institutions arc once moro snb-
iscted to ono OF those extraordinary tests from
which 40 government can. clam entire I'M
uunitv and against which it has been Thought
that absolutiSm alone affords n sufficient pro-
lection We are divided INTO two great par
t,es. enGh claiming and doubtless believing
itself to be i'll the mg0riiy Ia some RESPECTS
the situation is without u precedent. Ihc
f.jrg contests which resulted, tho first ia the
election of Jefferson, and the second III that
Of .yoh. Quincy Adams TO the Presidency.
esch by the House of Representatives, Won"
conducted strictly according to constitutional
forms. FOR did any question arise for the solu-
ton of which a sufficient legal authority WAS
wanting. The madness of panty never "Xhlp-
it'd a fierccr phase than upon each oi these
occasions, but both divisions honorably rccog-
njzcd the restraints Of our fundamental law,
and neither thought for moment OF iac-
ioIlcly questioning the event. The point ot
the 1,rosont crisis is in the extreme CloscHCS~
OF the vote by States, and the dOifoOS winch
have been cast over the probable fairness of
tho returns from tArco States. Under Srch
circumstances clamor would bo easy, and Wild
protcStation the most natural Resource. Eat
tie Importance of the matters at lS,Ue and Ia"
iminnrncs OF great public danger seem AZ
once 10 have sObcrcd the popular mind, while
VIZ find the leaders of both parties apparently
cnnrcdiug the utter unimpC.tancO Of mere
| uultical victory in comparison with the an
I 9rchy and all It's terrible consequences which
,ni.ht follow any attempt to seize the govern
lneut in opposition 10 the popular will, how
ever dubiollsly expressed. Tho danger iusti-
I which IagfI
mlrsucd-thc recommendations OF the National
Committees AID tao prompt action OF the DIS
! tnguishcd citizens who have consented to DO
/ whatever thor presence en- do toward socuT-
! ing an honest enumeration OF The Louisiana
! votes.
! Meanwhile, rs Of good import, we call attcu-
| ton with pleasure and pride 70 tho honorable
conduct of tho whole country under these del
! icste and exciting circumstances. The desire
! for an honest decision seems " DO everywhere
the prevailing spirit. We hayo nowhere any
violent action, nor any threats OF 1t. Pro-
! foundly anxious, fully comprehcndlng the cX-
! tent of the difficulty and danger, each with an
! odcanatc consciousness OF how much it haa to
lose or gain by the decision, we find both tnc
| Rrpublicaus and the Democrats conductlng
/ themselves thus far with admirable moderation.
/ The general feeling is all upon the side oil
! law and of order. The universal de-
sire is to stand by the Constitution,
whichever of the candidates may be
President. Gen. Grant says in his letter 20
! Gen. sherman: "No man worthy of the
coffee of President should be willing TO held
ait If counted in or placed there by fraud
Either party can afford to be disappointed
Gin the result. The country cannot afford to
"have the result tainted by the suspicion OF
"illcgal or false returns These are noble words
! ftlv spOkCn. They express briefly but forcloy
the whole moral of the situation; and 1t IS
with pride that we state the conviction that
they will meet with the appreciation OF the
GREAT body of citizens. If this be 50, We were
mover further than to-day from anarchy and
from political failure. 1t will not do
saw hereafter that our democratic gov
eminent is not strong one. On tht
contrary simple as ii is, relying as 1t does
upon mere minimum of physical force, de-
pending as it does for its very existence upon
the naked majesty of the law, there is not III
this hour government i'll Europe which Is
stronger in the divinity which hedges kings
or in the armies which sometimes keep then
upon their thrones long after the divinity has
disappeared. Difficult rs our situation may be
there Is no panic, no fright. no agitation upor
our exchanges, no fear of ruin to perplex the
nation. There is, on the contrary, ample con
fidence that the machinery of the Government
will go on, that all doubts will be removed
and all differences adjusted while each party
little as it may like the policy or conduct Of
its opponent, feels nothing of that deep dis
trust of the other which would regard any dis.
order as preferable to defeat.
We hope and think that few days will