The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-01-27
The Electoral Bill saSs-A Rsspisn-
dent Triumph.

OenS Triumph
This wise and healing measure passed
the House of Representatives yesterday by
the splendid majority of 191 yeas to 20
nays--considerably more than two-thirds
majority. 1t had previously passed the
Senate by Al yeas to II nays-also consider
ably more than two-thirds majority. The
bill is therefore safe against even the remote
contingency of an Executive veto-a con-
tingency which was morally impossible
after President Grants repeated DECLARE
tions that he would sign the bill if it should
pass both houses. 1t has passed by such
majorities that it is safe against a veto; but
we have no doubt at all that it was the
Presidents sincere intention to approve it
if it had passed by ever so small
a majority. This is the most mag
nifcent triumph of moderation and
patriotism of which the country can
boast in all it's annals. Our wisest states
men and most venerated jurists have been
predicting for the greater part of a century
that the supreme trial of our institutions
would come whenever the Presidential cleo
ton should turn on few disputed votes.
We have at length reached that great
trial and have gone through it un-
harmed. s'The wave has passed under
the ship" not only without a wreck, but
without severe strain of its timbers. The
vessel has outlived the storm and floats in
smooth waters. The result of this extraor-
binary Presidential election will be as peace
fully accepted and acquiesced in as if
there had been an undisputed majority for
one of the rival candidates. We have new
grounds of confidence in the perpetuity of
our free, popular institutions. To have
preserved them through the dangers Of a
great civil war was an assuring triumph,
but to have averted the danger of another
civil war by the patriotism and wisdom OF
Congress is a browning proof that republic
can government is equal to all the exigencies
of national life. The question who is to be
ou1 Chief Magistrate the ensuing four years
sinks into insignifcance in presence OF this
grand demonstration that the peo-
pie and their representatives are equal
to all emergencies, and that party feeling is
so easily hushed when great peril confronts
the Republic. The passage of this bill by
such overwhelming majorities is one of the
sublimest events in our history, surprising
the wonderful uprising in 1861 by the fact
that fewer men then sacrificed their parti-
san predictions and laid their political
passions on the altar of their country.
Nobody can predict who will be our next
President; but everybody must concede
that whether it be Mr.. Hayes or Mr.. Tilden
both houses of Congress and the whole
country will acknowledge him as the right
full incumbent of the Office. We are certain
to have peace, and there are the best rea-
sons for supposing that we shall have pros
perity. Either candidate will be compelled
by the force of circumstances and the
logic of events to treat the South with
magnanimity, and both are unalterably
committed to sound views of the currency.
Whichever may be declared elected we are
sure of q moderate and conservative Chief
Magistrate, who will feel that we have
passed out of the era of sectional strife and
animosities and have outgrown the fnan-
cial statutes passed for carrying on the war.
Local selfgovernment in the South will not
be interfered with by either, and, all the is
sues of the war being finally buried out OF
sight, the government will be devoted for
the next four years to the rehabilitation Of
commerce and industry and to questions
connected with new epoch in national af.
fairs.
We congratulate Congress on its wise and
sta.csmanlike action in this great conjunc.
ture. We congratulate President Grant
on his noble emancipation from party
preiudices and on the strong moral
support he has given to this bill by his
early declarations that he would promptly
sign it, thus abating party opposition and
facilitating the passage of the bill. We con.
gratulate the joint committee, and especi
oily Senator ConEing, it's most illus
trious member, oil the successful re-
suit Of their patriotic labors. We con
graduate the country on its relic
from formidable danger. And finally w