The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-29
CONSERVdTIVE REPUBLTCdNS IND
THE corr D'ETiT.
MIR. q. W. Curtis aud Hts Gentle Policy Of
Resigunti0n.


Among those Republicans VINO have be-
come anxious, Mir. George William Curtis ~ con-
spicuous. few days ago, at the banquet Of
the New ENGLAND Society, he expressed himself
with tolernbe Clearness against the men en-
gagged In the comp d6tdt, ami he does the s,lno
In Hupcr's Wc,hlH which no conducts. In THIS
publication he speaks against that higher law
according to which everything IL approved by
Republic II fan tics that IA done to keep the
Democratic party out Of powcr and the Reuub
llcan party ~ power ana he IS conndont thAt
hundreds Of thousands of Republicans, who are
radically hostile To the Democratic party, Will
yet not regard II as 40 q ngorous to civil free
dom ana free Institutions as a party which mis-
uses the sacred forms Of law III order to obtain
atemporsry success; such party. he tolls us. IL
certain TO be destroyed by the people rising up
against 1t at the ballot boxes. For the rest, Mr..
Curtis cannot get beyond tho idea that the de-
cision OF the Returning boards must be nnal,
whether rlxnt or wrong; aud he only admits
that N the Republican members OF the inves-
tigatlng con mlttees cannot prove that the
Republicans have lost votes 10y intimidation, 50
many that they have been defeated by that
means, whe without such intimidation they
would nave succeeded, and that on that account
the process OF throwing out votes Is iustinablc,
the Republican party can no longer exist before
puhltc opinion, and must 20 to ruin. $500.
We do not Deed tn assure our readers that this
admission does not stisfy IA. The Republican
members OF the investigating committees must
not only furnish moral proof that the NeDubll
cans could have succeeded. but they must prove,
first Of all. that the Returning Boards have
thrown out votes IN the execution OF legal
authority which IA IN harmony with the state
Constitutions and with the national tonstitu-
tiNu. If they are not able to do TINS. MIR. curtis
can SC lrccly expect the Americ n people to re-
.rd 4 Presidential election rs decided through
the detetminatiOn Of the Returning boards. II
we know that We h We usurpcr IA President,
what sOrt Of consolation Will 1t To To reflect that
al the next election the Rcpdollc n party will
10 10 the deNilr Besides. this consolation Will
lie - no value. necause people like MIR. Curtis
Will As certainly support the Republican party at
the next election IA hey cid at the last election,
Notwithstanding that they swOre high aud LOUD
beforehand that they would not do 1t II the
party should not reform and, nevertheless, the
pariv has not OOly not reformed. but has OOen
more completely delivered TO ITS worst elements
than ever.
As long as Republicans who cannot reconcile
themselves 10 the comp d'ttdt stOp at that. ani
merely prophecy blu results for tue party, they
VIII only he laughed at by the cOnspirdtOrs.
We will take care VI II all they say "iet
Ms have our way this time. and the American
people may dell wish us the next time. II thev
can" II the Conservative Republicans stand
upon the assumption that Il Is impossible to 20
behind the certificates Of the Returning Board
and II they do not meet tue COnspratOrs with
the assertion that.i these c-rtifc ties are proved
to tie fraud ana contrary both TO law anu the
Constitution, there must be power which can
annul this fraud, whether Though Con-
gress or through the court So Tar there Is
no help tor Ms. The resignatiOn win which peo-
PIE like { rtis think that they must sut init To
the cup V,tdt- supDOSinx that this resign q On
Is honest is only explicAble through perfect
political demoralz zion, or per ect imbecility.
| Under all circumstances II Is now the duty OF
the American people TO oppose the conspiracy
10y all constitutional aud legal mein- ana these
means will not Ue exhausted even when the
| President Of the sen te shall have actually had
the au iaciv to declare Hayes elected. nor when
H'yes SHAH have undertaken. on Tue ground Of
this declaration, and IN spite VI the protest of
the House Of Representative to assume the
ONCE o. President. Butw have not yet Z 50
Tar ~ tlis
No have. however, already got 50 far
tn we We ~ longer any reason u
hope from Republicans any action in
/ the form OF opposition to the COuI
d'tu. Men Ike Curtis convince US tn there Is
| nothing more TO Ue expected ON that side. How
far the slIrit OF party can III. he these people
CAPABLE OF incauahie of sup Orting the Demo
| Gratis IN their resistance 10 tue coup dttdt re-
mains &, ue seen.
But the ,outempliLle weakness which the at
titude OF people ike CURTIS exhibits. IL still not
entirely wttnout value A. We have alre DIV OD-
| served. II will have no direc. influence upon the
| coup Ttidt. ami Yet there may be Republicans
| enough WIN can he Influenced 10y the Argument
| that the cOup dtfH viii 10 the ruin of tneii
party: ANA among these curtis NAV DO useful IL
| the Democracy aud to the country; and II the
| Democrats knock loudly 1T the doors Of Com
gfcss they Will rnu there many Republicans VINO
Will NOT content themselves with turtis's resig-
nation. but Will rather aii even Democrats 10
| bringing the coup tflt to naught and prObabi,
| then Mr. Curti. VIII be found IN opposition ~
| his own policy 81 resignation.