The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-23
The situation at washington.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22.-Al the indica-
tlons here warrant the belief that the
most violent opposition to tho Electoral
Commission will come from the extremists
on the Republican side Mr.. MORTON pre-
pared his leading followers in advance to
demonstrate against the bill rs soon as it
was reported, though, in substance, it en-
bodies one Of the features Of his own propo-
sition which passed the Senate at the last
session, and was recalled from the House ON
the motion Of Mr.. TnuRNAs.
The cause of this intense hostility to any
form Of compromise, by which the party
lines might be broken, is 50 plain that he
who runs may read. While the two Houses
stood confronting cach other with opposing
majoritcs, and directed alone by partisan
policy, Mr.. MORTON was substantially mas
ter OF the situation, and could dictate his
own terms. He could coerce those who
really differed from his audacous plans by
the discipline of the caucus. Now his sceptro
Is broken, and, in the angry divisions which
are likely to follow, 1t remains to be seen how
large and respectable following he can
rally.
Mr.. CoSKLINd and Mr.. EDMuNDs, two OF
the ablest Republican leaders, and whose
standing before the country is, in many re-
spects, superior TO that of Mr.. MORTON, will
be compelled to defend the new scheme with
every resource they can command, and to
meet its antagonist on any ground he may
choose now or hereafter. schism is pretty
certain from this controversy, and the strug-
gle must terminate in the complete defeat Of
one or the other faction. Mr.. MORTON is
struggling TO preserve his ascendancy as the
q - tl...,.
years hence TO the nomination for President
To second his ambition it is necessary that
the party should be maintained in power at
any cost, and he is OF those who believe that
tho end justiiles the means.
Another ground Of opposition to the bill is
that fair count by an impartial and up
right tribunal like that proposed must inev-
itably drag to light the frauds, chica 10, for
geries, and vilainy Of the Returning i'oards,
upon which Christian statesmen Of the order
Of MORTON and SHERMAN have rested their
whole case. They have maintained the in
fallbility Of these boards; attempted 10
whitewash their bad characters; excused
their bareiaced violations Of law; and with
effrontery, held that even If all the charges
against them were true. still Congress was
bound to accept whatever returns they made,
and had no power TO investigate their pro-
ceedings.
Mr.. MORTON knows that the conduct Of
these boards will not bear the test of honest
scrutiny, that their cheating processes must
be exposed, and that the true returns will
insure Mr.. TMDEN's election Hence. he has
Set his face against any mode Of count, any
compromise or any arbitration, which will
take the mask from the face Of this rascal
ity, and let the truth stand out in full view.
When that shall be done, Mr.. MORTON, Mr..
SHERMAN, and others like them, will share
the fate Of WELLS, ANDERSON, and their con-
federates in public estimation, and be re-
garded as accOmplices in their crimes.
Whatever opposition may be developed on
the Democratic side will have different mo-
tives to guide it. In the Senate it will be
quite small, and in the House not imposing.
The underlying cause of objection is the be-
lief that Mr.. TILDEN was fairly elected, and
ought not to be put on the same plano with
Mr.. HAYES, his defeated rival While this
feeling Is strong, it will doubtless yield to
the outside pressure, especially If the vio-
lent wing Of the Republicans should pursue
the policy dictated by Mr.. MORTON There
Is a class Of Democrats who are strict con-
structonlsts, that disapprove any dcpar-
ture from the old road Of the Constitution,
and will mako no concession for the sake OF
expediency.
One Of the first objections urged against
the bill ON the Democratic side, was that it
does not specify particularly the range Of
testimony 10 bc considered by the commits
sion, and might exclude tho Investigations
ordered by the House. This point Is now
yielded upon examination as being inbound
ed, because the second section expressly pro-
vidcs that the commission have the same
power as " the two Houses acting separately
or together in this respect. The only limi-
tation il, that the testimony shall, "by the
Constitution and now existing law, be- COM
petent and pertinent in such consideration"
The Onc'holdcrs and the ollicoseekors
have a good deal 10 do with this dispute. The
patriots who are ill., want 10 stay in their
comfortable places and oppose any plan
which may throw them out. On the other
hand, the patriots who are out in the
cold and want to get in, dislike any plan
which may by possibility keep thom hungry.
The great body of the people, who only seek
good government peace and n return of
prosperity care nothing for either class OF
these contestants and are very likely TO
have their own way if the loud voice with
which they are now speaking continues TO
thunder at the doors of Congress. j. l.. IL.