The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-11-14
Our New York Letter.
The Eiection-Probabiiities In favor Of
Hayes and Wheeler-How the Empire
state was Lost-Dangers of Democratic
Ascendancy.


and Florida But the probabilities inclne
slightly in that direction at this moment. The
Governors of each of those states have an
nounced by telegraph that they have given de-
cisive Republican majorites This ought to be
good authority. At any rate it is the best there
Is. Everybody knows that there is majority
OF Republican votes in all of them The only
question can be, we.e they polled? That point
the canvassers only can determine There does
not seem to be the slightest ground for appre-
hension that any fraud will be practiced in the
counting. 1t is unreasonable to suppose that
such thing would be attempted, when the
scrutiny of the whole country is directed to the
scene.
Some allowance is to be made for the excita-
bility of expectant politicians who have so large
personal stake in the result, but there is really
nothing in the situation to occasion fears of q
disturbance of the public peace A majority of
one has just as much efficacy as a majority of
an hundred. The apparent preponderance of
the popular vote on the Democratic side is men
toned as reason why Tilden ought to be de-
clared elected. Bat any one who will take the
trouble to see how this excess of number is
brought about will at ouce discover that it is
| made the basis of an exceedingly meretricious
claim. There are disfranchised votes enough
| in the Southern states to extingush it entirely
If the suffrage had been un nobstructed the two
parties would probably stand just about as
nearly equal as the electoral college promises
to be. If we extend the comparison to the
quality of the voters the difference will be found
immeasurably to the advantage of the Republi-
cans. The five New England and nine North
western states that have rolled up majorites for
Hayes and Wheeler constitute the very flower
of the population of the Republic They repre-
sent its highest thrift and intelligence The
voice of the honest yeomanry of New York is
stified by the concentrated numerical strength
OF the ignorant masses who inhabit its chief
city. The Democratic msjosity in the metrop-
oils and the islands across the East River is
76 6497!-more than enough to offset and mega
tive the will of the stable and liberty loving cit
izens of the interior. The contrast between the
men who voted for and against the Democratic
candidate for the Presidency in his own state is
enough to make the probability of his defeat
Cause of popular rejoicing
had very little confidence in the ability of
the Republicans to carry this state, after the
registration here was completed. My impress
sion is that the National and State Committees
had grave doubts about the chances all the
while, although of course they were too polite
to dlspirit their friends by acknowledging it.
My theory is that Immediately after the Indi-
ana election, measures were taken to carry the
four Southern states that have within them
large Republican majorites OF these Missis.
sippi failed, not because the votes were not
there but because there were no leaders to
direct tie campaign. Louisiana, South Caro-
lima and Florida were not so unfortunate, and
the orders TO wheel them into the Republican
line seem to have been faithfully and effect
lively executed. 1t was supposed however that
the project would miscarry unless Mississippi
could be secured, as Oregon was not reckoned
upon as certainly for Hayes The gain of that
state made up the exact number of electoral
votes required. The success of the Republi-
| cans in the three states about which there has
been so much agitation for four days was not,
| therefore, by any means accidental, if it has
been achieved. 1t was the consequence Of q
preconceived purpose deliberately projected and
eaborately wrought out. The votes were there
| in superabundarce. The only difficulty was in
getting them deposited in the ballot boxes.
service was assigned insist that it has been con-
cusivey performed. They say that the re-
turns will show if, and they invite respectable
witnesses of either party to inspect the count
Now, all this is so perfectly fair that nobody
has any right to take the slightest exception to
| it. Republican sentiment on the subject is ad
mirably expressed in the terse and appropriate
language of the Presidents order to Gen Sher-
| man. If it shall appear when the canvass IL
completed that Mr.. Tilden has majority in
either Of the three states in dispute hejwill be
1 the next President, and the minority will ac-
quiesce patiently if not willingly, in the newt
l able decision. Meanwhile it is the part of
common sense to wait quietly until the matter
is settled. There is nothing to be gained by
misrepresenting the facts. The country has
been inhamed by fiery mauifestoes aud false
dispatches. A few heated partizans on both
sides have worked themselves up into a state of
frenzy on the subject 1t is high time every
body cooled down and resolved to abide the
issue, whatever it may be, philosophically.
| The country is too great and powerful to suffer
irreparable injury from the temporary asceu-
| dency of any party. The advent of Demo-
cratic President is to be regretted mainly be-
cause it is likely to hinder the return to specie
payment. The financial policy of the Demo-
cratic is delay, inaction, drifting. Nothing
could be more paralyzing to the industries of
the country. Uncertainty as to what is
| to be done is almost as bad as do
ing the wrong thing. The Democracy, wheth-
| er from inexperience or from incapacity
has not exhibited much dexterity in leg
i icia has 10 tha
For that matter, its failure in this regard dates
back to the period when it held prolonged and
undisputed sway. What could have been more
fatuous, for example, than its blind submission
to tue insolent demands of the ''solid South,
during the terms of Pierce and Buchanan?
The repeal of the Missouri compromise, and
the effort to fasten slavery upon Kansas BY the
Lecompton constitution were as indefensble
on the score of expediency as of morality.
There is an irreconcilable antagonism between
Democracy and craftsmanship. 1t is the diff
ference between pulling down and building up.
| II has fallen to the lot of the Republicans to
| repair the damages which its rival has made.
| 1t will be so agaiu. Four years of Tildenism
| would cure the country of its deluson and pre-
| pare the way for the re-estab!ishment of con-
| seryative Republican administration. The ex-
| pertinent would prove a costly and trying one,
no doubt, but nations caunot escape, any more
than individuals the penalties of their own
| indscretlons.
The loss of the Empire State at this junct-
ure is heavy if not, for the time being, fatal
blow to the Republican cause. The disaster
is due to an unwholesome public opinion en-
gendered by the gross decephons which have
been practiced upon the American people. The
c!amorous imputation of corruption which
has been beloved so incessantly against the
administration, hollow and false as it was, ha:
imposed upon great many weak-minded and
credulous souls The party has been grievously