Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-02-26
PROGRESS OF TIE COUNT.

PROGRESS OF TIE COUNT.
The Democrats placed themselves
in the right position before the
country in one respect, which Is
significant of the fairness and con-
sistency with which they have ac-
Quilted themselves throughout this
trying and exciting ordeal. In the
final proceeding in the Oregon case
on the 23d, they did not even claim
that Oronin's vote should be counted
for Tilden, but mainly rested their
cause on the ground that Watts was
ineligible at the time of his election
and that the votes cast for him
were lost, thus creating a vacancy
in the electoral college. This was
moderate, reasonable and just, and
entitled to consideration, which it
did not receive at the hands of the
eight partisans. The course of the
Democrats throughout will COM
mend itself to all fair-minded men.
They have voted in accordance
with the facts and the
law, and at no time periured or
stultifed themselves by partisan
ship. This corresponds with the
action of the house committee
which visited South Carolina and
had the candor to admit that Hayc;
carried that State by a small ma
jority. 1t is vet in the power of the
house to prevent the completion o.
the count this week. Such tactics
do not seem to be in much favor
We cannot afford to mar the har.
mony of a long and consistent
course by initiating Republican du.
plicity and tricksry. The real
remedy lies in an appeal to the good
sense and intelligence of the coun-
try to rebuke the h%igh-handed out
rage committed in a legal and semi
Judicial guise. The house decided
on Saturday to meet the senate to-
day and continue the count. An
objection was entered to q Pennsyl.
Tania elector on the ground that he
was a centennial commissioner, and
therefore not eligible. This viii
not amount to anything practically
Pennsylvania will be counted fol
Hayes to-day. After this there are
eight States to count: Rhode Island,
South Clrolina, Tennessee, Texas
Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia
and Wisconsin. The Democrat
can object to each State, and OIL
doing SO the houses would, undo
the electoral bill, have to separat,
until the next day. The last da.
that a count can be made will b.
next Saturday. The eight State
vet to count would outcount til
seven days in which the work ha
to be done. Should diliatory pre-
ceedings be adopted the Democrat
could easily prevent the completio
Of the count, and thus prevent tn
Inauguration Of Hayes, unless it
done in an informal manner at I'll
point of the bayonet. 1t is har
to relinquish a victory fairly wor
but we deprecate and dread the e,
element of another election, Il
political disturbances, local an
general, that would ensue, and fe
that the Democratic party is in
measure committed to abide by Il
action of a majority Of the commi
sion. The same returning boar
would be in existence, the arm
would be scattered in t
South as before, the count
unsettled more than ever, a
all our material interests wor
suffer terribly. 1t is doubt
whether the Democrats would
soon make the same great effort
carry the election that they did !
fall. We hold high, unassailaI
ground now, and should not aba
don it or throw our strength av
in fruitleSs endeayorS, yet if tn
ever was a time when a resort t
little strategy would appear juEL
able, it is in this case. 1t is ]
altogether a one-sided question.
LEGISLATIVE WORK.
MI lo~o;,1ot,ro he, h.. =