Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1876-11-15
Counting Hayes In.

now be that Samuel J. Tilden may b
declared elected anA duly inauguratc,
as President.
He is already proved 10 have ON
hundred and eighty-ionr undisputed
unques'ioned electoral votes. Their
is every reason to believe that Florid;
has given him -four more. though thi
is contradicted by ardent and passion
ate Republican politicians and office
holders interested in. their own re-
election. Louisiana also has, in all
probability, cone for him, giving hin
ei9h, more electors. rs she cave hi,
party Il majority four years AGO. and
has continued to do at every subsc
qucnt election: and this is only dis
pute" by Kellogg and his Returning
Board, and in their assertions no one
can place the least confidence. In
South Carolina. too, it is claimed BY
the Democrats, with every probability
in their favor, that Mr. Tildcn has n
small majority. And this claim will
be maintained TO the end by thu Dem
ocrats, aud will be admitted md be
licycd bv Il very considerable and the
most intelligent portion Of the Re
publican party.
in this situation it is proposed to
declare through the final canvnsSing
authorities OF the several states, NIL OF
these authorities being Republican,
and most of them proved to he UNI
worthy Of the least respect, that none
or these States has voted for Tildcn,
but that every one If them has voted
for Hayes; and this.is to he declared
without regard to the character of the
returns made by the returning officers
Of the different parishes aud counties.
On such a declaration, thus tainted
with the belief that it is fraudulent,
and thus despiscd by the imm>nse
majority Of the public, it is proposed
TO count in Mr.. Hayes, and inaugur-
ate him as President. while he will
have only y majority ct one il the
electoral colleges. and will have
against him the vast majorly-say
300.O00-ot the individual voters
who nave given their sutfrage> in
favor ot Mr.. Tildeu
SURPRISING it is determined that Mr..
Hayes shall be counted in after this
STYLE, the first obstacle tc BE encount
cred will he the determined resistance
eff the House of Representatives,
which, by every legal exercise OF It's
power. will strcnuousIy cndeavor to
leteat what Is regarded ~ an unparal-
elcd wrong. investigating commit
cps will ut once be sent down to the
disputed states, and the whole pro-
,eedinas Of the election and Of the
canvass will be thoroughly explored
rom the Democratic standpoint :
While. on the other side, the Senate
will send down Republican commit.
ees. These committees vii! report,
md the public excitement will be in
,reased and inhame,l Then in Feb
aary, will come the final opening and
counting Of the electoral votes by the
wo Houses. and the contest over the
disputed states will there be renewed
md still further emhlltered and how
{ will end no one can iOrcsCe. But
turing all this time and tins agitation,
What becomes OF the business interests
# the country? Whose property is
lot diminished in value 10y the uncel-
ainty and the fear! What enterprise
5 there lh:t will not be stopped
What employment tor labor that will
e continued? What capitalist that
,ill Get income from his capital?
What jaborer that can earn anything
y his work
Nevertheless, if the scheme is car
led through, and if, amid all the
oubt. conflict. and alarm, Hayes is
reclaimed President, we have no
oubt that such result. if accomp-
shed with the forms OF law, will be
TO by all parties. There
ill be no Mexican outbreak, no at
.mpted instruction, no matter how
reat the wrong done TO the convic-
ons and to the conscience Of a great !
OF the people, no matter
ow enormous the damage Inflicted
pom business and property.
But in what kind OF attitude will
lie Republican party stand before the .
ountry, having secured the Prcsiden- ,
, amid such circumstances and by :
lch means? How can it expect to