The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-02-10
SpccuIa1ions as to the Final Result

II
WASHINGTON, February s.-rhe situation
tonight may DE summed up rs follows
There is very perceptible increase OF con.
fidence among Republicans, which has been
strengthened to some extent by the ruling
of the Commission to-day. In fact, there
are but few members OF that party who do not
express their decided conviction that Hayes
will be the next President. tbs to be noted,
however, that among the exceptions are to
be included some Of the. most sagacious OF
the Republican leaders. These latter, and
Governor Morton Is one Of them, say unhes.
itatiDgly that they consider the ruling oil
the Commission rs a great point gained for
the Republicans, but they do not yet look
upon the final result as certainty. The
mass of the Democrats, who Of course are
as unthinking as the mass OF the Republi-
cans, and equally jump to party cOnclu-
sions, are undoubtedly Respondent, though
at the same time they have by no means
abandoned hope. ....,.r. ...,.....4 .s.t.r..
One very essential element which con-
tributes to the Encouragement OF the Dem
ocrats is the fact that one Of the leading
counsel on their side takes gloomy view
Of their prospects; which view, however,
was really entertained by him prior to the
ruling OF the Commission. On the other
hand, one Of the ablest OF the Democratic
members OF the Commission expresses his
opinion that the Democratic easel has a bet
ter prospect than the Republican case. The
same member says that he believes Justice
Bradley will try the case as Judge and not
as partisan. 1t is significant that the en-
tire foundation for Republican confidence
and hope is predicated on the assumption
that Justice Bradley will be partisan and
not an impartial arbiter Of justice. =.
This much may be said as between the
two cases. AS. now known, there are not
likely to be less than a dozen cases OF law
and fact presented for the determination Of
the committee. II the Democrats sustain q
single point their case is won. II the Re-
pubicans do not maintain themselves on
every point their case is lost. II the Re.
publican assumption is correct that the case
Is to be tried and decided on partisan con-
siderations alone, then, Of course, there can
be no question that Hayes will come in. II,
as the people believed, and which belief lay
at the. bottom OF the popular demand for
the passage o. the electoral bill. the title to
the presidency is to be passed upon by the
application OF the. principles Of law and
Justice, which are understood to be the
handspring OF judicial action, then it is in
the last degree indicate and improper for
one party to the contest to be claiming q
verdict in advance.
1t is proper in this connection to suggest
that implicit reliance need not be placed in
accounts purporting, and falsely purport-
ing, TO represent accurately the expressions
Of members of the Commission in secret
session. 1t is gratifying to say that the
members OF the Commission, In the. almost
entire abstinence from speaking even to
their familiar friends Of their confidential
deliberations, have shown that in this inn
portant respect, ut least, they recognize tho
obligation OF their judicial functions
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