Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1877-02-24
oLlVFll. NllgDu s,g,l\C. fEB. u. iE1.
Misplaced Confidence.

Whrn the hll creating the Electo-
ml Commission was under consider
alton. Il received the almost unani-
moua support of the American peo-
pie II was regarded AS bridge
over dangerous chasin, AN cxpcdi-
enl adopted through mutual conces-
SONS aud accepted in perfect faith,
I, was hoped thu, by its means the
Keen edge II party feeling could be
removed aud the settlement OF tho
Presidential question upon a full
showing II facts. calmly presented
and carefully discussed and conHid-
cred, was possible. II was believed
that Tho Commission would receive
oil the evidence. and determine
whether voters had been intimidated
either by armed organizations in
the disputed States or by the troops
sent there under Federal dicta-
ton, oa,ensihly 10 secure peace
aud harmony In tho casting Of
The ballots. II was believed that
enough importance would be ct
tached to the frequent acquisitions
Il the Republican managers for
military all on the eve Of the cleo
,ion, ~ south Carolina, Florida, Mis-
slssip,,i nni l.nuiSiana, Ia have probsd
The corruption which cnsued TO the
ish,nm. I, WAS believed that the let
iets II chandler aud Cameron de-
manding that troops he sent to these
states "hs, arc NJ rois for Hayes and
n'h"irr, ani IT Fitzpatrick for money
a. carr, Indiana, would Mt least have
justified SOME effor. hy tho Commits
sion "a discover II intimidation and
bribery could not he traced In their
iu,t,icnrs io Tho Republican party.
n was reasonable ,o eSpec, the boast
made b tofr rl'sSion that tho recon-
s,rucilun machinery Of returning
hoarl- would he employed 10 count
out NJ fil,len N party necessity"
required u, IN the south, would have
iml'sllcd the majority II the Com
mission H. manifest nj least an APP
psarauce II fairness, unless u was
found that thorough investigation
would ha,o required that justice be
done
I. vas confidently expected by the
people. fof many reasons, that the
eour~e ~ the returning boards would
be- carefully scrutinixcd and such
ac,ion only receive sanction IN was
hased upon Law aud justice. The
aet itself Indicates that this was con-
,empls,s,l by It's trainers The SOC
eud section directs that In cases
where there WAS more than one cir
,laeais from any state. and objcc-
ton !. made ~ provided by the act,
ali such certificates. votes and pa
per~ accompanying the same. togsth-
srwi,h such objections, shall be forth
with sab,aittei to the Commission,
witch shall proceed 10 consider the
same with the came powers, II any,
now possessed by the two houses,
acting separated, or together" II
empowered the Commission Ito take
Into View such petitions. dispositions
snd ether papers. u any. IN shall by
the Constitution aud now existing
law be compe,snt and pertinent In
such consideration, "
Had this NO, been the generally
received opinion, who would have
favored the electoral billS Wherein
would have been The justification for
either branch u Congress. 10 hsvs
waived i,s right. under Tho Constitu-
ton. and virtually placed the decision
al The whole question with the Judi
eisry. ~, was not 10 receive and con-
slider oil questions Of law and equity.
which should arise from The begin
ming to tho end Of tho controversy
The Commission. created for sped
ae purpose not contemplated By We
Constitution. possessed powsr-ii
they hal any al all-which was
practically unlimited Ia In scope and
character. and they hal neither prss-
llent 10 hinder nor technical rules
10 emharrass OF delay their action.
II was believed that this view We
held by every member Of the Com
mission. OF the bill creating II would
a.xas kaxa eAaaiwnsl a stow1a n~u>n-