Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1877-03-10

dition of our own country to consider our
relations with other lands, we are remind
ed by international complications abroad,
threatening the peace of Europe, that our
traditional rule of non-iEterference in
AFFAIRS OF FOREIGN NATIONS
has proved of great value in past times,
and ought to be strictly observed. The
policy inaugurated by my honorcd pre-
decessor, President Grant, of submitting
to arbitration grave questions in dispute
between ourselves and foreign powers,
points to a new and incomparably the
best iustrumentality for the preservation
of peace and will, as believe, become
the beneficial example of the course to be
persued in similar emergencies by other
nations. If unhappily. questions of dlf-
ference should at any time during the
puriod of my administration arise between
the United States and any foreign govern
ment, it will certainly be my disposition
and my hope to aid in their settlement in
the same peaceful and honorable way,
thus securing to our country the great
blessings of peace and mutual good Off
ces with all the nations of the world.
THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION.
llow-citzens, We have reached the
close of political contest marked with
the excitment which usually attends the
contest between great political parties,
whose members espouse and advocate
with earnest faith their respective creeds.
The circumstances were, perhaps, in no
respects extraordinary. save in the close
ness and the consequent uncertainty OF
the result. For the first time in the his
tory of the country, it has been deemed
best, in view of the peculiar circumstances
of the case, that-the objections and qucs-
tons in dispute, with reference to the
electoral votes, should be referred to the
decision of tribunal appointed for this
purpose. That tribunal, established BY
law for this sole purpose, its members, all
of them, of long established reputation
integrity. and intelligence, and with the
exception of those who are also mem
bers of the Supreme judiciary, chosen
equally from both political parties to the
deliberations, enlightened by the argu-
ments of able counsel, was entitled to the
fullest confidence of the American people
Its decisions have been patiently waited
for, and accepted as legally conclusive by
the general judgement Of the public. For
the present, opinion will widely vary as
to the wisdom of the several conclusions
announcediby that tribunal. This is to
be anticipated in every instance where
matters of dispute are made the subject
of arbitration under the forms of law.
Human judgment is never unerring, and
is rarely regarded as otherwise than wrong
by the unsuccessful party in the contest.
The fact that two great political parties
have, in this way, settled disputes in regard
to which good men differ as 10 the law no
less than as to the proper course to be
pursued in solving the question in contro-
versy, is an occasion for general rejoicing.
Upon one point there is entire unanimity
In public sentiment that the conflicting
claims OF the Presidency must be amicably
and pcaccably adjusted, and that when SO
adjusted the general acquesence Of the
nation ought surely to follow. 1t has
been reserved for a government of the
people where the right of suffrage is uni
versal, to give to the world the first ex-
ample in history Of a great nation in the
midst Of q struggle of opposing parties
for power, hushing its party tumults, to
yield the issue of the contest to adjust
ment according to the forms of law, look
ing for the guidance of that divine hand
by which the destinies Of nations and ill.,
dividuals are shaped. l call upon you,
Senators, Representatives, Judges, fellow
citizens, here and everywhere to unite
with me in an earnest effort to secure to
our country the blessings, not only of
material prosperity, but OF justice, peace
and union; a union depending not upon
the constraint Of force, but upon the low
ing devotion of free people; that all
things may be so ordered upon the best
and firmest foundations, that peace and
happiness, truth and justice. religion and
piety, may be established among US for
all generations.