The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-06
THE sITU1TION IN WAsHINGTON.



WASHINGTON, Jan. 4.-The most variable
stock In wall street IL not more auctuatiug than
are the hopes and fears of both the Democrats
and the Republicans as to the Presidency. The
most serious and least sanruine Of Democratic
Senators freely confess this. Last week. for
instance. under the influence of another
change In Grants talk the louder bluster of
some Of the new confederates tho Hampton
letter TO Hayes the report that the Democratic
committee In South Carolina had conceded the
State to Hayes, and the renewed attempt to steal
the vote of Florida under the counsel Of Lam
d iulet williams, who sent down for that
purpose there was a rise In Democratic fears
and a corresponding fall OF their hopes To-
day change to the contrary Is again to be
noted, largely due TO the favorable reports from
oil parts Of the country as to popul sentiment,
the return Of the committee from South Gro
lima, messages from Louisiana, the fact that
with the peaceablc Inauguration OF Drew In
Florida the electoral vote OF that state Is con-
ceded to belong to 1ilden, and to the general
uneasiness in the Republican camp.
This uneasness l. evident IL IL shown by
Grants open declaration In favor OF a new cleo
ton. 1t is shown by the open threat Of carpet
bag Senators to desert Hayes II he should keep
IN his coquetting with the South. Ii Il shown
bv the complete and irreconcilahlc difference OF
opinion between Mr.. Conkling, and Morton and
Sherman who stil insist upon the original pro-
gramme Of counting In Hayes through the
President Of the senate. 1t is shown by MIR.
Ferry. who, though IA thorough a partisan IA
Morton in most matters. has yet, at last felt
himself constrained to privately disavow that
he ever claimed the power which Morton and
sherman insist he must exercise. II Is shown
by the studied silence OF every prominent Re
publican In the Senate on this question, except
Con<ling, Morton, and Sherman. II Is shown
by the vigorous protest Of so influential an orr n
as Hdipcr's Weekly, and so prominent Repub-
lican as George william Curtis, against MIR.
HAYES as President Of fraud, by fraud and for
fraud. 1t is shown by the want Of harmony
among prominent Republicans, and the lack Of
any method which could be successfully suhsti-
tuted for the original scheme and upon when
the party could be united.
Right mere Is the weakness Of the Republican
position. the defect that will prove fatal Nor
ton was very shrewd when he insisted
that the Vice-President had the sole
right. and the two Houses OF Congress not
the least right to count the electoral vote. This
was the simplest and safest way to IN Ike Nr.
Hayes President. 1t will prove to have been the
only possible way. Once OF of It, the Repubit-
can leaders viii, strive IN win to 1nd path to
the White House through the legal and consti-
tullOntl NllutTntSs III Nultu lut9 ulu-N -''h 10
lost. The Abandonment Of Mr.. Morton's plan
means the loss of the Republican ship. For
there Is absolutely no method, or process, or
plan. or road, or scheme even mentioned by any
prominent Republican by which Mr.. Hayes can
be made President with the least regard for
constitutional forms, or the PLAN letter ana
spirit OF the iaws-without a coup d6idt which
would simply mean the end of the republic.
And this even tine new cOniederates Will not
dare to do-not even Mr. Morton, whose darinI
Is certainly great enough.
The situation, then, may be summed up as
follows:
The Grant. Morton, and sherman Republicans
are as determined as ever to retain power
through Hayes, II it can be done under tue
guise Of law ana the semblance Of right. They
are irving to solldify their plrty. and to create
doubt In the public mind to the legality OF Mr..
Tildtn's election; and then, acting at once as
jud=e, jury, defendant, and most Interested
party In one, they claim the benefit OF that
doubt. besides MIR. Conkliug, several other prom
inent executions. more from self-int, rest than
re al conviction. however, might be mentioned.
There IS goner harmony on any par
ticular method. but nearly general har-
mony In dis,rustinR Hayes in the face Of
the great probability that he Is bound to dis
appoint some of the conflicting selfish elements
which have hitherto united In his behalf. There
| IA also a lurking hope of Grant that new cleo
| tioa may yet secure him the much coveted third
term. DITTO for Blaine in regard to his first term.
| Strong interest Of sir. Ferry to have new cleo
| ton In order to become President himself dur
| ing the interreguum. In one word-self, self,
| self
The Democrats are full Of both hope and fear.
| Hope. on account Of the universal conviction
that they have everything on their side (except-
| ing power aud possessiun) that Is worth having
the laws and Constitution, all the traditions and
precedents OF the past, large popular IN joritv.
aud the great power vested by the Constitution
| IN the House Of Representatives. Hope. on ac-
| count oi their belief that Mr. llldens Inaugural
| ton ,nnot be prevented without monstrous
| nulhacAtion Of the Constitution. Hope, too, on
| account Of the perfect harmony Of the party and
| the most implicit confidence IN the integrity OF
| Mr.. Tilden. Fears, on account Of the desperate
| character OF those who now hold power In and
| about the White House. and VINO have the strong
est motives Tot u surrenderit. Fears, on account
| Of the possibility that men VINO have hitherto
! not shrunk from prostituting the highest power
| and pOlluting the highest trusts OF the nation
| for selfish ends, NAV now not shrink from an
| attempt to subycrt the Government. HOPES in
law, fears OF force and fraud The question is,
| Whose funeral shan II be-thnt of the Repub-
| lie N party or that OF the republicr j. l..