Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-12-08
THE MAN WHO TACKLED THE COR
DION KNOT.


Cronin, Cronin Of Oregon, is one OF
the men Of the times. When the history
of the exciting events through which We
are passing are written out By an impair.
tisl scribe the world will read With eager
interest the part played by Crouin. He
received q certificate Of election as cleo
tor from Governor Grover, as we'll as the
certificates Of the other two. He held
the whole deck, SO to speak, aud on the
9Th of December, as required by law in
such cases, be assembled in the State
capitol. There was only one of him to
constitute the electoral college, but he
was a host in himself, and held more
certificates than any ether college IN the
State. The two Hayes electors, not hav'
ing any special business there and no
certificates, wouldn't attend worth a
cent; but Cronin held his forces well in
hand, and we are told his crowd
~
took a stroll to get fresh air.
There is no iutimatiou that any
one attempted to tamper vito the cleo
toral college while it was wandering by
the right flank on the campus. The
crowd looked on in silent admiration at
one of the institutions Of the country,
founded By the fathers. They beheld
there the solid party vested with author
ity by the people of a whole sovereign
State, to carry out their expressed will.
There was no blare Of trumpets, no hut.
tering banners, glitter Of bsyonets or
tramp Of cavalry. The simplicity, econ
omy ADD beauty Of true Republicsnism
were there illustrated and %personi6ed as
the electoral college kept step to the pa.
triotic inspirations Of the hour. At the
proper time it faced about and was
marched by Mr.. Cronin at a quick step
back to the capitol aFd called to order.
Mr.. Cronin then arose with great solem-
nifty, and announced the object Of the
meeting. No a~llusion is made to spec
tators or reporters, and the presump.
ton is that none we're present. After
sn exciting ballot, Mr.. Cronin was
elected to preside, which he did. The
first order of business was an election to
fill two vacancies, and with that modera-
ton and magnsnimity which should al
ways distinguish msjorities, the college
elected two Republicans, who cast two
votes for Hayes aud one for Tilden and
adjourned sine die. The Republicans
are mad about something and holding
indignation meetings. This is a pleas
ant intellectual recreation with which no
one will interfere. Let them indignate,
and if Crouin does rot furnish material
TO keep them hot let them turn their
eyes to Louisiana, where eight thousand
Democratic votes we're thrown out. The
Kellogg Board refused to Gil the one
vacancy with a Democrat, and were
afraid to trust another Republican.
Cfonin gave them two to one, and then
beat them at their own game. Whoever
planned the coup d'etat, Cronin executed
it splendidly and will pass into the realms
Of fme. Cronin is one Of the factors in
this great drama that may make or IN.
make a President. Now let tie Repub.
licans howl aud i~nsist, as they have been
doiog, that the electoral vote must be
counted ns seut up by the prof. er au-
thorities, and that Congress cannot 90
back Of the returns. Cfonin is bouud
to cut 8 big figure 10 this thing, and bis
vote may decide the Presidential cleo.
ton.