National Republican., 1877-02-08
rHURspAY...;...............rEBRuARY 8. ls7.
SOME EVIL EXAMPLES.

We are sorry TO see on the part of GER
tain leading Democratic journals dis.
position to overawe the Electoral Com.
mission by system Of wild but forcible
intimidation. Processing the best OF faith
in the submission Of the questions involved
to such an arbitration, and asserting that
there is no danger Of any refusal to abide
by the decision made, they still think IL the
conclusion is that there Is no power to 90
behind the action Of the State, and that
the HAYES electors must be recognized as
the true electors, because their choice was
certified by Governor STEARNs, and their
action as such electors was In every way
regular and sufficient, that the members of
the Commission who so hold will fall
under the ban of suspicion, and
their judgment will be regarded
with contempt. Now there Is no
terrorism In this sort of intimidation, but
II Ia only because those journals know too
well that any indulgence in the use of such
q weapon would be disastrous to the party
or paper adopting 1t. 1t is because OF their
consciousness that there Is no way to reach
the fears Of those who constitute the tri.
bunal, If 1t cannot be done through an ap.
prehension on their part that public
opinion will not sanction their judgment.
Regarding this as forlorn hope, the at.
tempt is TO work upon that element of
character, with view Of producing q
result that could not be brought about by
threats of violence in any form. Nor do
those who pursue this course stop to In.
quire by whom the decision they so sum.
marily doom to the general reprob,tion is
to be rendered. They do not wait to see
If the penalty they denounce will not be
inflicted upon some of their staunchest
friends as well as upon their enemies. This
is minor consideration, and 1t Is unheeded,
the object being to prevent an adverse de-
cision If 1t can be done by placing upon
the scales extraneous influences which
shall operate to hold hesitating minds in
restraint until the balance is struck.
Now no one will charge THE REPUBLr.
CAN with being backward in maintaining
party views and interests, and 1t confesses
to as much zeal in party matters as any
one, and even to undue exertions on many
occasions. But notwithstanding our
promptitude and pertinacity in party
service, no one can point out an
instance In which, siice the ap.
proval Of the electoral law, we have
swerved from the most strenuous support
of its provisions and purposes. And hav.
Ing wrought ourselves up to the point of
yielding what we believed to be consti.
tutional right, grounded upon certainty,
for that which in our opinion was uncon-
stitutlonal, and offered nothing but uncer.
tainty, we feel authorized to censure and
condemn such an exhibition OF bad faith
as that to which We have called attention.
But In the nature Of things 1t Is impossible
for all to observe any given rule of action.
There never was rule without an excep.
tion, and there never was a compromise
that could command the full support of all
parties. Still we Lope to see such gen.
eral acquiescence in the decision about to
be rendered as shall bring repose to the
country.
Since the foregoing was written the de-
cision Of the Commission in the Florida
case has been made public; but its pro-
mitigation does not abste the occasion for
therstrictures we have aimed at those who
enter into compacts for selfish ends, which,
failing, or promising failure, they treat as
an abrogation Of the faith which binds
them to submission,