Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1876-12-01
Be of Good Cheer.


mind of any honest man, DE he Republican O
Democrat, that Samuel j. Tilden has been dc
clared through the ballor-boxes, which ar
the trumpeis OF the people, 10 be their prefer
ence for the presidency, and no rational ma
can be at all skepiicai us 10 the certainty Of hi
inauguration. Never has fact been so clearl
demonstrated, and never has more self-evi
dent proposition been asserted. Why BE
cause the people of this country are not We
ready to bow in humble submission before
throne of GENERALIZATION, constructed by th
remnant Of shattered and disorganized part,
which, with its hand Of usurpaton welding
as its implements force and fraud, deliberately
bsfore tie eyes Of the people, set 10 work &c
demoish their rights and their liberties. The
fundamental principle of our government i:
founded upon popular sovereignty. Upon
this foundation is builded structure, ev-
cry piece Of ils masonry right guar
anteed to the people. 1t has proved sub
stantial home, beating back Me storms which
have been hurled against it. II has proved a
Safeguard aud protection 10 the inmates
clothed with citizenship who have dwelt with
in its limits 1t is their home, and they love
and cherish il as their home. They may be
hold some of its masonry crumbling, some Of
lis material falling 10 the ground beneath the
strokes Of usurpaiion and encroachment; feel
alarmed for the moment, aud settle back into
harm has been accomplished, and that IN good
time the injuries viii be remedieo.
Thus have the people witnessed the downfall
Of many minor rights which were moulded
into their governmental structure, by the en-
croachmenis of Grantism. Bnt when usurpa-
sion directs its powerful strokes at the funda.
mental principle, and the people hear them
ringing upon the foundation stone which Is 10
he shattered and their whole government 10
fall with it into ruins, who can doubt but
will arrest the band Of daring Bsurpation. II
then becomes the stubborn resistance of an
aroused family in defence Of home which
Raves no act of courage or desperation unried
for its salvation. Is not the danger now
threatening, and are not the strokes Of usurpa-
nent? Look for moment at the machinery
in full operation in The three contested States
uron which hangs the destiny of our country
They are now the balances upon which the
country hangs suspended between ruin and
snfety. Has the voice of the people been
thrown upon the side Of safety or run2 The
weight Of any one of them upon the side of
Tlden accomplshes security. Has it been
thrown there? The voice OF its people alone
has the casting of it. II is admitted by the
Republicans that in the bnllot-boxes of Louis
fnna which contain the voice of her citizens
majority OF the votes are for Tiiden vet il is
eontended that the power is vested in three
men called g Returning Board' to throw
out sufficient number Of the ballots to leave
a majority for Hayes, and that from their ac-
rion no appeal can be taken. COULD there be
more direct and papable blow leveled at the
fundamental principle Of popular sovereignty
The people of a Stale meet upon election day
to cast their votes for President Those votes
are deposited in the ballot-box when the
polls are closed they are counted by the judges
Of election, and il is ascerained and certified
TO that there is a majority in the State of eight
thousand for Tilden those boxes are then
sealed and placed into the hands of three men
who finally open them and proceed in judi
eal manner to canvass the returns, taking and
rejecting such evidence as they think proper
in regard TO the fairness of the election, and
eventually cast out ten thousand votes depos-
ited for Tilden, leaving majority Tor his OPP
ponent Previous to The election TINT same
returning board has stood upon trial before
the congressional tribunal, Is found 10 he
composed of designing and Inscriptions poll
licians, aud adjudged to be cour. without a
legal existence under the laws of The country
Where, then, is use Of the voice of the peo-
pie speaking at all ii lis utterances are finally
70 be delivered by three INSCRIPTIONS parti-
sans, who do not hesitate TO change their
yes" into g no." and virtually make their
opinions diametricaly opposite TO their origi-
nal intention and expression. If popular
sovereignty says one thing and the power is
into an entirely different thing, Is i; not a
complete an humiliation of popular sover-
eighty rs If it were not allowed to speak al
all The answer to the question is a simple
oIe, and will be spoken in thunder tones by
The people il Louisiana is declared by that
illegal y returning board" TO have cast its
vote for Hayes. The people of the country
will not submit TO the destruction OF that gov
eminent which is their home and therefore
it is that say TO Democrats, be of good
cheer, for Tilden will certainly be inaugu-
rated.