The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-12-05

ing. Better thousand times that Tilden
should be President, than that Hayes should
be counted in by any but honest votes. This
is the doctrine of every citizen of the United
States who is worthy OF the name OF Republic
can. Intimidation and terrorism have lost US
the states of Alabama.and Mississippi If the
same causes .have,swept Louisiana into the yor-
tex submission TO the wrong is preferable to the
attempt to rescue her by resort to any mode
of practice that has the remotest SAVIOR of CHI
cane. The Republican party may lose its ascen-
dency; that is recoverable. But it must pre-
serve its honor; that is dearer than its life.
The disturbances prevailing in South Caro-
lima are local rather than national. The con-
troversy relates to the election of state officers
That the electoral vote is for Hayes is not
seriously disputed. The surrender of the state
to Hampton is not thing to be viewed with
complacency by any lover of humanity. The
majority of the people of South Carolina are
negroes. and to 'leave them naked to their
enemies is cruel with a tendency to pusillan-
unity. And yeteverybody deprecates the inter-
position of federal authority for the regulation
of state affairs. The President has gone just
far enough in the direction of preserving the
peace. He has observed nice discrimination
between maintaining order and practcing inter-
ference. Indeed, his whole course with the un-
decided states from the beginning has har-
monized admirably with the spirit of his terse
aud opposite despatch to Gen. Sherman, of
which the pith and marrow was that either
party could afford to be beaten, but neither
could afford to win by frauds How admirably
he meets all the responsibilities of his position
BE speaks with the precision and clearness of a
statesman. he acts with the readiness and
vigor of a soldier.
Congress meets tomorrow and its course
in respect to the Presidential contest
is foreshadowed by the doings of the
caucus of the House. The committees of inves-
tigation contemplated by Mr.. Hewitt's resou-
tion, if carefully constructed will aid in throw
ing light upon the darkness. If the minority
is properly represented there is no great danger
that one-sided and partisan representations
will be suffered to go uncontradicted The
bottom facts are what are wanted. no matter
which party they help or hurt. If such COM
mittee is appointed by the House similar one
will no doubt be raised in the Senate, and if
there is any material difference in the conclu-
sions to which they arrive, the public will have
an opportunity of judging between them.
The selection of Samuel J. Randall of Penn
sylvania for the Speakership is significant
Illustration of Democratic pretences in respect
to REFORM" The worst piece of legislation of
thepast eight years was the retroactive feature
Of the salary bill. Mr.. Randall voted for it
and pocketed the money. He was defeated for
Speaker on this account before the election
BE is chosen to the place the moment the
necessity is over of keeping up appearances
The reform" screech has accomplished its
object and will be heard of no more 10 Demo-
cratic circles except in the way of dersion. A
reform Democrat IS as much rara avis as
Democratic negro or a Republican Irshman.
Neither of the three species is practically known
in American ornithology. YARMOUTH