Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-03-07
Lessons and Results OF the Great Cam.
paign.

elOuo Wlii OttSI oLt'NAJ LAHo 100" PiNS'N'S"ON'
election with interest. And every either
of this country should most calmly ant
carefully consider what has been at stake
and what are the results Not only the
national constitution, but the genius o
American society, the quality of our civil
ization, is to be studied anew in the light
of this great campaign.
1t is not the least important lesson, es-
pecially for young men and office seekers,
that u mans personal record is his strong
est Or weakest point in leading u political
campaign. The American people are
caring more for character in their candi-
dates for responsible offices. If II man
has not record that will bear invest9a-
ton he will be wise for himself in de-
clining all political preferment. No par
tisanship will win honor. The people of
this nation demand regal character in
high places that they may be proud of the
men who bear rule. 1t is not too much 10
say that Mr.. Hayes owes his success large
y to himself. And now that the election
is declared, the prevailing and increasing
acquiescence and qualification with the re-
suit are chiefly due to the confidence in
The man elected. Even the political oppo-
nents of Mr.. Hayes take their defeat with
no little comfort in the fact that IL man
with clean and honorable record in al,
his private and public life is to move into
the White House.
The stability Of our government has
another demonstration. A national cleo
ton had occurred; the vote was so fur
counted that everybody knew its unparal-
leled closencss; disputes had arisen us to
the proper counting of the votes; the re-
suit was likely to depend upon the method
of counting, or the persons who should
count the votes; an honest difference of
opinion existed us to the constitutional au.
thority in the case; all admitted that the
language If the constitution was not cx-
pIicit; and just at the moment when par
ty feeling was at the highest, in very
crisis-hour Of the republic, wisdom and
craftsmanship and patriotism prevailed to
provide a peaceful and equitable and suits
factory method of determining the result.
The constitution was practically amended,
not only TO meet an emergency but in the
moment of emergency-whos shall now
dare say that the American people are in
capable of self-government? We have re-
paired the bridge while crossing over it.
Another lesson concerns the value of
one vote-the Importance attaching to one
ballot. Henceforth let no man say, MY
vote will make no difference" One vote
elects president. 1t is very doubtful that
any man having an honest reason for his
political preferences has moral liberty to
abstain from voting. 1t often is the case
that man cannot know but his vote will
decide the election.
One of the results of the campaign is to
be Il persuasion in the minds of millions of
our people that they are cheated out of
their rightfuI president. The cry of fraud
bribery, corruption and intimidation has
been heard all through the land Every
paper of both parties has joined in the cry.
Scarcely speech on either side without
charges of great wrong against the other.
And many paper and many speech has
been nothing else but cry of fraud and
political crime. And these charges are
believed among the people. And this
widespread belief is u calamity, whose
proportions may become fearful. Just
here Is to come sometime the scvercst test
of our government by the people. The
safety of the Republic depends upon the
public confidence in the purity and protcc-
ton of the ballot.
And it must have become the conviction
of all intelligent citizens that the cry of
fraud is doing hurt and that any cry of
fraud in casting or counting the votes I'M
dermines the very foundation of things. |
And so there must be felt need that i'm
mediate and etlectual steps be taken to pro-
tect every ballot box and every voter. The
principle that " majoritcs rule ~ must be
maintained No party can afford to strike
down this principle. If this principle
fails all parties will fail also, and the tenn
pie of our liberties be overthrow. There
must be power to protect the voter and his
vote. A majority of ono is as legitimate
rs a majority of one million, but that ma
jority should be put beyond all question.
The law of self-preservation requires every
voter to be honest in his own vote and to
demand honesty in every other ballot The
closeness of this election and the sharp
ness of the fight and the unearthing of
sickening, shameful bribery and attempts
mt bribery and the woefu tales of political
persecution will not be in vain, if by all
these things the wise and good men of the
nation unite in making such laws as will
prevent these things in days to como.
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