The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-12-14
LET THE REPUBLICAN, PARTY
TAKE A MANI Y POSITION"


Several leading Republican papers have
of late been taking a rational view of the
situation, and giving their party whole
some adnonition and advice.
Among these journals we may name
the New York Herald, N. Y. Evening
Post, N. Y. Nation, Springfield (Mass.) Re-
publican, Chicago Tribune and Boston
Globe, These journals have condemned
the rule of bad and corrupt men, and the
endorsement of these men as party lead
ers. They have. in fact, from time to
time, severely criticised the acts of the
Grant Administration, and condemned,
in severe terms, the use of the military
in elections, and in sustaining the usurp-
ing Carpet-bag State frauds, denominated
State Governments.
The Boston Globe in late article saws,
the vote of South Carolina was obtained
by Rejecting two counties, on the pretext
of such an intimidation of voters that
no fair election could be held /; the Board
Of Canvasserr was composed wholly of
the party to be benefited by the change
produced by throwing out these votes;
three out of the five members were can
didates themselves for election to import
ant State Offices, and their success depen-
ded on their own action in the premises;
the allegations of fraud, it continues,
were 80. imperfeCtly supported by evil
dence that one of the members of the
board, himself an ardent Republican and
the candidate for Secretary of State, was
opposed to rejecting the votes; the Su-
preme Court of the State, which is pure
ly judicial body, and far less concerned
in the result than the Canvassing Board
has decided that these returns ought not
to have been excluded, and the balance
of trustworthy evidence is on the other
side Taking all these things together,
the Globe cannot but conclude that there
is at least very serious doubt whether
the Republican electors were fairly enti-
tied to their certificates in that State. In
Louisiana the Democratic candidates for
electors, it goes on to say, received ma
jority ranging from 5000 to 5000 of the
votes actually cast, and have been count
ed out by the Returning Board, through
the rejection of the entire returns of sew
eral parishes, on the plea that intimida-
ton prior to the election prevented fair
expression ofthe popular will. On this
subject the evidence, the Globe thinks,
is very imperfect and inconclusive, and
there is strong reason for believing that
the action of the Returning Board was
induced by desile for party success,
rather than due regard for the principles
Of right and justice.
The Globe says:
The circumstances give rise to grave
doubts as to whether the Republican
candidates are entitled to the electoral
votes of both South Carolina and Louis
lana, and we do not think the party can
afford to take them with all the suspicion
attaching to them. If it insists upon it
as matt r of right, it will be in danger
of losing the hold which it still has on
the confidence of the people who desire
its success, but value more highly the
principles of political honor and fair
play. And this result is likely to follow
whether it succeeds in h wig the cleo
ton of its candidate in Congress or not,
while the chances are decidedly against
its success. Now it seems to us to be far
the wisest course for the party to ac-
knowledge frankly that there is at least |
serious doubt as to its title to majority
of the electoral votes, and consent that
those of Louisiana, if not those Of South |
Carolina as we'll shall not be counted.-
1t may thereby secure the election of the !
Vice President, though it loses the Pres.
idency, and avoid the responsibility OF
the trouble which might result from in
sisting upon an unjust claim.
Let the Republican party take man
ly position now, and it may secure for it.
self fair prospect for the future.