New-York tribune., 1876-03-14
THE BALLOT IN NEW-HAMPSHIRE.

Doubtless it is "a weapon iirmer set and
"better than the bayOnet;o y and doubtless when
it "falls like snow flakes on the sOd" 1t does
"executc the freeman's will as ightnings do
tho will of God" We are not about TO dis
pute the truth of the late Mr.. Perpont's
beautiful lines to that effect. The senti-
ment of the poem and the flow Of the lines
have commended themselves for whole
generation to the patriotic heart of the aver
age American citizen. The belief is general
that the huttering down Of ballots from the
hard hands of honest citizens, as to-day they
are Auttcring down in NCw-Hampshlre, is not
only impressive as spectacle, but tremendously
suggestive of the majesty Of free institutions and
the grandeur of sclf-gOvcrnment. To-day
they are executing the freeman's Will Ill New
IIampshre. To the rbad and worldly minded
perhaps executing it literally, as hghtnings
| do the will of Cod" by blasting and
destroying the popular belief i'll a pub
lie conscience at any rate executing
it. And it is spectacle of profound
interest. For the State of New-Hamp-
shire itself, of some, though minor interest !;
for whichever way tho election tuins,
in 30 far as the choice of State officers
and Legislature il concerned, 1t does not
seem that there are any issues In
volved whose importance is overshadOwing.
Whichever way it turns, the State will prob
ably be fairly gOverned-as fairly as any
State can be that has annual Overturnings
of this sOrt-and the life and liberty and
property of citizens will not in any event be
jeoparded. 1t is a question which of two
men shall wear the title of Governor, and who
shall be sent 10 Concord to tinker the laws
and be conspicuous for season as members
of the Legislature. This ia Of no great
consequence, but it is the annual ex-
citemenU and sensation, and the people
do enjoy it. Outside of the State 1T Is
important as indicating to the speculative
mind of the average politician the effect upon
the popular sense of recent political events.
From all political centers, and especially from
the pivotal point of our politics, the National
Capitol, eager eyes will be stretched toward
the State TO learn the result. Not that any
body outside the State cares two straws who
is to be Governor, but that everybody is
anxious TO know how the first State leads of
in the Presidential year.
Whichever side WINS or makes gains, it will
be heralded throughout the country as n great
victory, as a forcrunner of the Presidential
election, as q harbinger, as a rebuke, and as
all sorts of things which have loud and hol-
low sound, OF have foam and frOth on the top
of them. They began it indeed last night
when some lonesome precinct in the backwOods
which votes early and casts dozen votes
was triumphantly carried by the Republicans.
So tonight there will be much greater rejoic-
ing and iolifcation by one side or the other
over the great victory. The weapon that
descends like snow flakes on the sod and exc
cutes the freeman's viii will have done its
work. and we shall know of course precisely
what the freeman's will is. That is TO say, We
ought to; but shall wei Upon what
arguments is this verdict to be
rendered. What have been the appeals
| to voters upon which We may suppose
| them TO be making answer in the tiuttering
ballots of tO-day7 OF all the stump speeches
and the newspaper appeals we have but one
report, and that is that neither party has
urged by it's orators and organs It's own claims
upon public confidence upon anything done
that merits it, but that each has insisted upon
the unwOrthlness of its opponent. Never was
choice of ovi s 50 BADLY presented. Each
has denounced the other neither has dared go
20 tho people Oh its own record and Its own
claims to be trusted. Well might the inde-
pendent voter In New Hampshire, il there be
one in the State, after listening TO both sides
In this hot controversy, say with Miltons
lost spirit, "Whichever way | turn Is
"Hcll." The strife has been on either
side to stir up the gorge of the people
against the other. When one has been accused
of misdoing, the answer has been that the
other either had done or would do IL oppoItu-
nifty offered, much worse. Like the Connect