Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-11-20
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Hayes, and thus secure lor MIN an ap'
parent majority of oae electoral vote,
business men, capitalists, working men
and politicians ask. What next2 Will
Hayes be inaugurated2 Will here be any
d~isturbance2 No one can tell what may
happen, but a few rational specu'
lations appear to be in order when
the public mind is SO disturbed and
the anxiety 50 great. We regard
it as A foregons conclusion that Hayes
will be declared elected, although Tilden
has received E large majority OF the
popular vote, and, as we believe, Is Gu
titled at least to the vote Of Florida and
Louisiana, which would give him 1876
electoral votes. Four times in our his
tory it has occurred that q President has
taken his seat who had not received a
majority Of the popular vote. The first
instance occurred in 1924, when An
drew Jackson was a candidate. He had
plurality over his competitors, but not
majority, as required By law. he was
d.fea.ed when the case went before the
House OF Ri representatives, but at the next
election be carried the country by storm.
In 1913 General Zachary Taylor was a
minority candidate but received a major
ity of the electoral vote. In 1855 James
Buchanan was a minority candidate,
measured by the popular vote, yet he be-
came President; and the more recent case
of Abraham Lincoln, who had three com
uetitors in 1850, is fresh 10 the public
mind. He received $50 electoral votes in
1861 against lib for ell his competitors.
Uader oar Constitution it is possible Tor
q minority candidate to reesiye a msjor-
itv of the electoral votes. This is q de-
feet in our system which calls for
reform, and since it has attracted
the attention Of the whole people
will no doubt be remedied in due
time. 1t is not this so much of which
We have to complain. " Ia the usnrpa'
ton of power and the manipulation OF
tina corrupt machinery of carpetbag
State governments whereby the will OF
The MAJ ority, fairly expressed, is set at
naught-that leads thoughtful men 10
dsspair o. the perpetuity Of republican
institutions. Whatever may be the re-
anil there is every season to believe that
no serious shock or eisN eOmmotion will
grow out Of the pressl:t state Of affairs.
Ia the first place the Soath IS laW'ao'd'
ing. and although deeply interested will
be a passive aud unmoved spectator o.
the great events iust before US. Having
done their duty as c~itizens end patriots
they will let results take care Of them
selves. 10 the North the boudhoiilng
element will exercise a conservative IN
aisuce. Capital will discourage any
n,vement injurious to the commerce
and business interests Of the country.
Mr.. Tilden's trends may insist that he
was elected, but he has nc army, no
government or powerful organization
TO back his pretensions, even It be
we're to appear ct Washington on
the 4th Of March to demand insugarl.
ton. All this excitement will ssssids.
It is going dlBu, aud the public pulse Il
cooler to-day lsau It Wa5 a F,Sk ego
The talk Of war aud revolution il q.
uonsense-:he hySterieal ciefysscsnec
of vlgrant politicians whose o~ccgqsUor
is gone when the public mind is tranquil
The greatest commotion ia ALREADY
passed. Business men. laboring neo
farmers, all classes, will realize hat ;hi
inauguration Of Hayes, although q bitter
disappointment to the hopes of man!
long, weary years Of misrule, does no
ruin the country or give US o worse COZ
ernment thaa we now endure. TIL
people OF the PROSTATE States wi
see that all is not lost, They will tax
new hope and courage az in the dsr
days Of the past. EdJrts will be made /
the of" years to elect better men
the Legislatures, who may succeed j
abolishing or recognizing the State mi
chiuery whereby such great wrou2s haV
been Inflicted. The sun will rise as b
fore, the dews will descend, the rains "
fall on the Just aud the unjust, and Il
corn will grow If we but hoe it. AL
culture, business aud commetea sill
on as before, and every man who app,
cis,es the opportunities Of life can fI
cause for encouragement and lncentv
for well directed energy. We have not
ing further to do with this President
election except to take note Of SD
ceeding events. Capital may be shy {
awhile and the arteries Of trade uervot
but this will pass away. The people
the South went into one war ielyil
upon help that never anne They ha
learned now to rely upon themselves a
to live within themselves. Let not t
lesson be forgotten. They can produ
nearly everything to eat, wear and 1
at home. Let this be the policy Of
future, and if the natisn is to chan
its form Of government, perhaps we "
stsud il as we'll as our Northern Eeii
borg snd lose none Of the rights we n
have. Hayes, il inuugurated, will
in under the ssap Of popular eOpdem'