The Portland daily press., 1877-02-20
Our New York Letter.
The Electoral COmmissien.- State sover-
eignty.-How the Decision Is Received.
The Oregon Disclssures.-A Reformer
VINO doesn't Reform.-The Course of the
Observation-Disclosures Hayes and his
Policy.

Democrats.-President Huvea and nj.
Policy.
NEW YORK, Feb. 18, 1877
John Randolphs saying that "a majority of
one is sufficient for all practical purposes" is
brought to memory by the decision of the
Electoral Commission. 1t is a pity that the
vote should have been so close, but that appears
to be the fault of the minority who didn't rise
above party on single occasion And vet the
rulings of the Commission have generally CON-
formed to the Democratic theories in respect to
state Sovereignty. In refusing to go behind
the returns, the tribunal has simply adhered to
tne doctrine that the federal authorities have
no right to interfere with the prerogative of
each member of the copfederacy to choose its
own electors. In the heat of the excitement
these palpable inconsistencies have not at
tracted much attention but when the passions
and disappontnents of the hour shall have
subsded they will be.considered and discussed
1t will then be made manifest that the seven
Democratic Commissioners ignored a funda-
mental article of their own creed in voting as
they did on the question of admitting the re-
turns from Florida and Louisiana.
Outside of the immediate circle Of Mr.. Til
den's personal friends and adherents the con-
cusions reached do not evoke any very severe
animadversions in New York. The revelations
concerning the Oregon dispatches completely
quenche6 the ardor OF the more conscientious
Democrats leading lawyer expressed in a
half-ioking whole earnest sentence the feelings
of good many Of his party associates, when
he said yesterday in conversation. "It would
have done US no good to have had T,ldeU de-
clared elected, we should have been obnz. d to
impeach and convict him so soon afterwsrdsp'
There has been reaction of public srnument
towards the Democratic candidate for the
Presidency since the November election aad
rapidly growing distrust of the sincerity of his
professions of reform" And surely there
never was so small crop from so large plant.
The only thing especially commendable in his
administration of State affairs was the reduc-
ton of the debt, and that was simply a
sequence of the frugality of his Republican
predecessor. The "cansl frauds" have been
necessarily talked about but no example has
been made Of any principal or accomplce IN
them. The whole performance seems to have
been suspended as soon as it had served its
political purpose. "Reformers" cannot always
keep themselves afieat on mere promises. The
Tilden campaign was maintained by enormous
issues of that deceptive currency, and II is
lucky thing for the standard bearer that he has
escaped the liability of being called upon to
redeem it. The fact is, the very word reform
has through the prodigality with which il has
been used. become the synonym of chlcanery
aud imposture. 1t has been employed as a
cloak for so many feats of political legerdemain
that ingenious men regard it with as great dis
favor as Sir Peter Teazle did the sentiments
of Joseph Surface. 1t was reserved however
for the leader of the Democratic party in the
Centennial year of the Republic to burlesque
the word until it had quite lost its original
Specification. When the medern Hercules
shouldered his broom and started out to sweep
away the "corruptions'' of the Republican
administration the acme of travesty was
reached. Nothing more farcical had ever been
undertaken in scenic or real life. That the
managers could have kept from laughing
while the extravaganza was being acted
is creditsble to their aptitude in stage business.
The effect is heightened by the fact that the
principal part was assigned to a New York city
Democrat. He, above all other men had had
opportunities to evince his esgerness for "re-
form" within his own party. Whether he
ever attempted anything in that direction pre-
vious to the terrible denouemlent of 1871 is an
open question; but If he did he certainly ac-
complished nothing, and having failed to ef-
feet reform" in his own political household
when he was the head of tha organization in
the State, he was the last person that should
have been selected to exercise his reformatory
tala oil he ba hol
was transparent sham, and will be so re-
garded whenever people get time to think
about IT.
1t is still matter of speculation whether the
Democrats will submit with what grace they
may to the decree of tribunal which is largely
of their own choice. Viewing the case from
party standpoint merely, it is better perhaps
| that they should endeavor to defeat the popular
will by the interpositon of frivolous delays and
"fllibustering' tactics. Such performances
could scarcely fail to bring upon them the ex-
| ecrations OF the country. From every business
| quarter, the cry comes mp loud and strong,
| "let the question be settledp' The impatence
| for a final and pacific solution of the dispute
will not brook further procrastination beyond
what is necessary for proper Observance of
the Republic are suffering greatly on account
of the uncertainty in which the Presidential
question has been enveloped for nearly four
months. The politicians who are personally
interested in the result, are of no earthly ac-
| count in comparison with the masses who earn
their own living By honest industry. There IS ss
| great disproportion in their numbers as tnere
| is in their claims to consideration. IL com
monty believed that when the pohucal stua-
| tion is tranquized, revival of busu, IS, aud
as corollary, of prosperit; will follow. This is
| what the people have been waiting for long
and anxiously. 1t is of infinitely more conse-
/ quence to them than the success or defeat OF
| any candidate or party. The Democrats will
make a woful mistake If they do not heed this
sentiment They could not adopt a policy
more certain TO bring odium upon them. The
Republicans have shown from the beginning
a spirit of conciliatiou, which entities them 10
high need of praise. They have refused to
avail themselves of technical advantages and
have yielded everything for the sake of peace.
1t only needs show of resistance on the part
of the Democrats to the Inauguration OF the
rlghtful President, to satisfy all reasonable cit
izens that as party they are anarchical revo-
lutonary and devoid of common sense.
The bearing of Gov. Hayes throughout this
whole controversy has been such as to entitle
him to the profound respect Of his couutrymen.
He will enter upon his high Office with pres
tige enhanced by the dignity and equanimity
with which he has waited for the verdict.
Judging by his conduct since his nomination,
it is fair to presume that he will prove a wise,
polite and upright Chief Magistrate. Fortune
seems to have marked him as one of her espec-
ial favorites. All his political campaigns have
been close and hotly contested, yet always sue.
cesstul The last one surpssses each OF the
| preceding in the obstnacy with which it was
tough and the narrowness by which 1t was
won. 1t furnishes fresh illustration OF the
Importance of single vote. As if it were moi
enough to have pulled through by a bare ma.
jority Of the Electoral College, his title is con.
firmed by the odd vote in the Washington com.
mission. Truly it must be said of Gen. Hayes
that he is a lucky map.