The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-02-23

THE Philadelphia Ledger, an independ-
ent paper Of The strictest sect and most
uuqucstionable reputation for ability and
fairness, gives expression to its sentiments
in long editorial in regard to the action
of the electoral tribunal which cannot fail
to strike every honest mind as a true pic
ture that is sad indeed to contemplate. We
are only sorry that want of space forbids
the reproduction of the entire article, but
the following extract, which is the conclud-
ing portion of the editorial, will serve to
show the drift of the Ledger's sound reas
oning on this most s;upendous iniquiiy:
"This tribunal was, from the outset.
trusted with the patriotic hopes and hon
orcd with the fullest confidence of three
fourths of the people of the United States.
i'll the be lief that the solemn circumstances
attending the necessity and the act that
brought it into being. would cause all its
members with possibly three exceptions)
TO rise above all party considerations in
the discharge of their momentous duty
In the light Of this antecedent hone and
confidence, and in view of the votes writ
ten on the record of the commission. it is
pitiable To observe that every important
question thus far submitted To the commits
sion has divided the commissioners, eight
to seven, on strict party lines, accordingly
as the decision would help the case Of
Governor Hayes, or hurt the case of Gov
ernor Tilden. 1t was not believed by fair
minded, intelligent men that such divis-
ion could come about. The outside adher.
ents of each party mutually charge this as
n discredit on the opposing members of the
commission The ZealOns Democrats re-
proach the Republican commissioners. and
tie Jealous Republicans retort by pointing
TO the partisan votes of the seven Demo.
Gratis on the commission. This is abou.
what might be expected from that kind of
discussion. But that which will 1.-Two in
history and in the minds of the vast ma
iority of the public is this that the seven
voted to look into the evidence, voted to
; take testimony, and voted to let in light.
/ so as to get at the truth and that the
/ eight voted all the time to turn away from
/ evidence, to shut out the light, and so To
! close the door upon all efforts to find the
! truth. The seven voted in n way to pro-
mote the great object for which the com
mission was created ; the eight voted in a
/ way to make the commission utterly use
less for the principal purpose for which it
/ has any reason for being in existence at all.
4 The senator, the judge, the presidential
asplrant, the party that supposes the ewes
OF the American people can be CLOSED tu
tHiS Niidi dSpoCt oi tic matter is makInO "A
signal and perilous mistake The Ameri.
can people know what is honorable, fair.
manly and just and their ultimate decis-
ions always show that they not only know.
but that they act upon their knowledge.
'Tbe single good influence resultir. o
from the act creating the commission. is
that the process of counting the vote and
arriving at result has been orderly and
in pursuance Of statute law instead Of
turbulent. lawiess and anarchicaI, as it
threatened at one time to be. 1.-THE Dem
ocra's M Congress, who are Jow sore nm
der their disappointment, shall do any
ing as party to indnce factious opposi
ton to the decisions Of the comm ission
they will make n dire mistake. The or
der. and peace, and exemption from fac.
iioas proceedings expected from the con-
stiintioD of the commission sbould no
maintained in good faith, even though the
maJUitv of the commission have aLdicated
their duty"