The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-09-06
TIVE PRESIDENTIAL TITLE.
Work Of the Electoral Commits
sion Reviewed.
Democratic Charges Of fraud
Refuted.
Extract from the Speech Of Hon. Stan
ley Matthews, at Athens, Ohio.


large Noissues SO mighty, so difficult, sofraught
with veal or woe, have ever been conducted to
more successful and prosperous results than
those with which it has been charged Born of
the sentiment which looked upon negro slavery
as q reproach to our name, blol upon our in
situations, and burden to our prosperity, it
organized itself to protect the constitution
against it's encroachments. Its advent topower
as political party was resisted by war against
the integrity of the Union. BY war it main
tanned the indestructibility of the Union, and
awoke in the hearts of the people the vivid con-
seriousness that we are a nation, one and indivis-
ible. 1t overthrow the institution Of American
slavery, as the sole cause of sectional divisions,
the one standing threat against our peace, and
converted 100000 Of slaves into freemen /;
and, for their self-protection and the means of
their political education, incorporated them
into the body polite as citizens, upon the
broad ground of the equality Of freomen, as
such, before the law. 1t has restored to their
proper relations in the Union the reconstructed
States, equal in all respects with their sister
States, sharing in just proportions the burdens
and benefits of sef-governmeut. Ithas recon-
ciled the principles of the Declaration Of indie
pendence with the Federal constitution, and in
this Fundamental law has adjusted the true
theory of the rights of men, the autonomy of
the States, and the authority of the nation.
The same justice which it has introduced into
the relations of its members and constituents
at homo it has practiced in its intercourse with
the community of nations, and established on
firm and lasting footing our peace abroad,
securing the respect and goodwill of all the
world
Struggling under the load of a colossal debt,
we have strengthened our public credit by
conscientious and punctilious observance of
good faith in our dealings with our creditors,
and have introduced among ourselves a ma
tional money which, when placed upon per-
manent basis and adjusted with the gold and
silver standards Of the world, is destined to
realize the dreams of political economists of a
perfect currency. We have addressed our
selves with diligence and earnestness to the
Improvement of the machinery Of civil admin
istraton and the publication of party politics,
opening the way more perfectly for the original
and Independent action of the people i'll their
primary assemblies, in shaping the political
conduct of public affairs, so that through
pure civIl service, we may realize the ideal of a
Government of the people, by the people, for
the people.
The Republican party having settled the
great questions of secession, of the civil war; of
emancipation, Of equal suffrage and citizen
ship, of nationality, Of reconstruction Of State
self-government, of the public debt and credit,
laid the foundations of the national currency
of the future, begun the great work of civil
reform, moves ON, without fear, to the other
and perhaps greater questions now arising for
debate and decision.
The instances in our political history have
been rare indeed in which there was any ques-
ton as to the integrity of @ Presidential cleo
ton. And yet our own experience is not with
out its warnings as it has not been without its
perils and its trials.
In the very beginning Of the century-in 1900
the Presidency became the subject of an in
trigue by which Burr, having received, on the
same ticket with Jefferson, an equal number of
electoral votes, without designation Of either,
as the consti utiOn then stood, to the Offices of
President and Vice President, sought to defeat
the known preference of the electoral body.
The election devolved on the House of Repre-
sentatiyes, which was so evenly divided as to
put the result into great doubt. Nothing but
the firm and lear-sighted patriotism Of Alex
ander Hamilton averted the danger, whose
magnitude none so well as he comprehended.
He paid the penalty of this eminent public
service Win MS lll6, lOI IL IL IOb
this was the mortal Otfense which, four years
later, he expiated on the bloody field of Hobo
ken.
Afterward, in 1924 the Presidential choice
devolved again on the House of Representa-
tives. Jackson had received the highest num-
Der Of electoral votes but was defeated by q
coalition between Adams and Clay. Adams be-
came President and Clay Secretary of State
The result was regarded by Gen. Jackson and
his friends as a proof of the " bargain intrigue
and corruption which, in 1928, was the staple
accusation against the party of Adams and
Clay, and which pursued them for many years
after. The sober Judgment of even cOntempo-
rary history exonerated these distinguished
men from the charge Of dishonorable intrigue ;
but the Jackson Democracy asserted and be-
heved it, quite as honestly, to say the least as
the Iilden-Adams Democracy of to-day imputes
alleged wrong to President Hayes. The good
name of public man is the property of the
commonwealth. He who ISLANDERS it defames
himself, and impeaches his own credibility
In 1851 the Democratic party rent asunder
the Union rather than peaceably submit to the
Inauguration of Republican President There
was no question as to the fact or rightfuiness
of his election; but it was made the pretext and
signal for disruption. The Democratic party
had taught itself to believe that it was the ex-
elusive depository of some divine right to rule;
and the election of Mr.. Lincoln, though consti-
tutional in itself, rudely shocked the party ira
dition of infallibility He was treated as an
intruder and GIeSpasser, whom twas lawful to
eject and expel. There was not then, as now,
the same solicitude that the public viii, as ex-
pressed through constitutional forms, should
be accepted and obeyed, and it is to be hoped
that some part of the concern now manifested
by the Democratic party in that behalf is dicta-
ted by remorse on account of the attempt here
tofore made In its name to defeat the adverse
choice of the people. Neither should it be for
gotten in this connection that it was the license
OF rude and maleyolent speech, born of the
NAL ce OF party disappointment, that Matched
its wicked progeny IN the brain Of Wilkes
Booth, and introduced for the first time in our
politics the example of assassination as an in
strument of party success f
The Islander of the Presidential title would
seem to be altogether inconsequential. and vet
it seems to be INDUCED in with gravity by an
tiquated Democrats, who mistake themselves
for SAINTS when they are merely mumrnles and
spot the columns of fy-blown newspapers in
paragraphs pointed with malice, which they
confound with wit. The authority and dignity
4 of tine PRESIDENTIAL office are battered ILL.,