The New York herald., 1876-12-20
The Political Situation.

The Political situatfon.
Within the last few days perceptible
progress has been made toward that candid
temper of mind through which alone it is
possible to reach satisfactory solution of
the present complication. We believe that
more depends on the tone and spirit in
which the questions are approached than
upon sagacity and acumen in the discussion.
1t requires no extraordinary talent to
deal with such subjects as are now
in dispute. To canvass and count
the votes given in nm election is simple
operation, successfully performed every
year in every State by men of the most ordi-
nary faculties. Election laws are never
complex. They are always framed to be
administered not by lawyers and jurists but
by such plain citizens of moderate education
as are chosen inspectors in average election
precincts. All that is needed for ascertain
ing who has been elected President is
honesty and fairness in those ap-
pointed to make the investigation. If
the returns from any State are incorrect it
is not because its election officers and can
vassing board were incompetent, but be-
cause they were dishonest. fair-minded
committee, seeking only for truth and re-
solved to accept the undistorted truth, no
matter which party it may help or harm,
can ascertain by diligent inquiry who really
had the majority in any disputed State.
But the investigation must not be con-
Quoted for the purpose of finding evidence
to support foregone conclusion, for in
that case it will be so warped and colored
by the bias Of the committees rs to be Of no
value.
We rejoice in the improved public temper
which is the hopeful feature of the changing
situation. We have had enough of confident
assertions. The positive and absolute as
sumptions that Mr.. Tilden is elected and
that Mr.. Hayes is elected, put forth with
such an air of dogged assurance by their re-
spective partisans, prove nothing, and tend
to beget stubborn tenacity which will
make it difficult for the defeated
party to yield, however clearly the facts
may be against it. 1t is folly for either party
bya provoking rivalry in boasting to push its
cannot accept the result with good grace
when bluff assertions are upset by evidence.
Each party desires the frank submission of
the other when the final result is reached,
and the more confident each is Of success
the more careful it should be not to set the
other an example of staggering obstinacy
and unyielding persistence. The first step
toward an honest and peaceful result is an
acknowledgment by both parties that they
may possibly be mistaken, and willingness
to hold their judgment in suspense during
the progress of the investigations.
On the mere face of the certificates the
republican party has succeeded, but if
some of these certificates can be proved
to show false result no honorable re-
publican Senator or Representative will
maintain that they must nevertheless
be counted. They are not to be rejected on
mere suspicion or unsupported charges but
il it shall be proved to the satisfaction of
impartial men that some of the certificates
are fraudulent no honest man will ask that
they be received. The new facts which have
been disclosed relating to the canvass in
Florida and Louisiana create we'll founded
doubts as to whether the republicans carried
either of those States. These doubts do not
justify anybody in jumping to the
conclusion that Florida or Louisiana
belongs to Tilden. The most that
the present state Of the evidence requires is
that the republicans abate the dogmatic
positiveness of their claims, admit the ne
cessity of ON exhaustive re-examination, and
express o willingness to accept any result
which final survey of the facts may war
rant. If the republicans will assume this
reasonable attitude and the democrats will
refrain during the investigation from MAX
ing any claims or statements broader than
the facts, we may expect q result which the
public judgment and conscience will
indorse.