The New York herald., 1876-12-09
ENGLISH VIEWS OP THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY.
WHAT THE ENGLISH PAPERS SAT- OF QUE
PRESIDENTIAL MUDDLE.
From the London Times. Nov. "a

PRESIDENTIAL MUDDLB.
From the London Times Nov. "a
The people Of the United States deserve all our
sympatLy and all our respect during their present
trial. The laid upon their patience aud modera
ton is but everybody in every party sxcepta
few unscrupuous and dscreded politicians, has REQ
ognzed the necessity of practising these painful vir
tues. The constitution has more failed TO funl
its promises which, when enacted for the benefit
OF scanty backward population upon the Atlantic
seaboard, not accommodated to the realities OF
politics. and which since the Union has extended over
half have become plainly impossible OF full.
hlment No constitution that the ingenuity OF man
competent construct coald DO made comprehensive
enough to the infinite variety OF problems that
in the pol tlcal lie OF great AID free nation
But the American people have deliberately cut them.
selves OF from the only practical remedy this lm-
itation- The statesmen who framed the constitution
preserve the independence OF the Executive
the judicial the legislative powers In tho federal
government and their work In It's principles
has been left Untouched by later amendments. Il II,
indeed projected by popular sentiment Of reverence
which is almost akin superstition. The result b
that nowhere in the constitution OF the United
States is there that instant ndisputable and uncon-
ditionaI omnipo,ence which we attribute to Par.
lament, and which cuts the Knot Of every ensxs
oD,issts quickly aud safely. The uncertainty into
which the result OF tho Presidential election has been
plunged by the unfortunate fact that either candidate
IL successful Will his to the votes Of
doubtful aud suspected Sou sconsntuencies has
raised host OF ana appealed TO crowd
oi unreguiatcd passions The last and most danger
appeal has not yet produced any serious conse-
quenccs, the contested questions likely TO
main unanswered, and tell how tar the TEN.
per OF excited people will submit TO constraiuo
unsupported by clear legality. hitherto the leaders
both sides the chicf organs oil public opinion,
aud, indeed the general voice OF the nation, have
unanimously insisted on the necessity OF cooinesa
order and patience, and, with some very insignificant
EXCEPTIONS crisis has been complicated by
formidable disturbances than those familiar In owl
election campaigns. 1t would be 4 mistake however
10 imagine that The difficulty has vanished The dan
ger has been it is true, removed iurhcr from us u
point of time lesscned only by the probability
tina. before tho next critical point is reached the good
of tho American people may supply remedy
unprovded by the authors OF the constitution.
Those who appeal the people OF the United States
for the maintenance OF order are careful TO point
out that Il the returning boards q south
Mr. Hayes majority unfairly there Is still
time to protest Tho Presidential electors VIII
fortnight hence in their respective States and
Will certainly, though not necessarily give their votos
for the PARTY tickets" to which they are pledged.
But these votes to be counted IN the month Of
February by the President OF the senate in the
encc the houses OF Congress. The constitution
the counting, but, as We showed the other day. the
right reject all any votes from any State has been
long ago claimed. aud was enforced when General
Grant reelected four years ago. The republicans
now contend that the House OF Representatives has
ceased to have the power in 1873 that the
President OF the Senate will be justified in acting
upon his responsibility and in counting
whatever votes he chooses. In ordinary circum.
stances President OF the Senate would be Vice
Presuen the United States, but since the death OF
Vice President Wilson the Office has been filed by Mr.
Ferry. Of Michigan, OF course strong republican.
That Mr. Ferry will refuse receive democratic votes
from Lousisna Florida should there be doubtful
return either of those States is quito possible,
that he Will disregard any objections takon by the
House Of Representatives to these or other votes,
are spoken Of certainties BY republican
partisans. Yet, should Mr.. Hayes be thus placed
in power, he would assurcdly fall under tho severe
ccnsure which General Grant has passed by antcpa.
the mapracticcs now charged against his own
party:"No worthy the office OF President should
be willing hold 1t If counted I'M placed thero BY
any fraud Either party afford to be disappointed
in the result but the country afford to have the
result tainted by the Suspicion Of illegal false
returnsn No doubt the republicans have
democrats would be too wise, even were they
not too weak. to resist violently the overwhelming
force that would sustain Mr.. Hayes inauguration.
But republican administration SO placed in power
would be discredited abroad and weakened by d.
visions at home. These dangers would not be alto
gether avoided by the OF Mr. Tlden should he
recover Of Florida retain that Of Louisiana
but it cannot be denied that they would be greatly
diminished democratic government, however mar.
the electoral vote in It's favor, would now have
all the siren 9Th derived from the support Of clear
majority of he citizeng O the Union.