The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1877-03-29

limited states ana any IoreiSn y.
ment 1t will certainly be my disposition
and nv hone to aid in their settlement IN
the same peaceful and honorable way thus
securing to our country the great bless
;nps of peace and mutual good ofhces
with all nations of the world.
Fellow citizens, we have reached the
close of a political contest marked by
the excitement which usually attends the
contests between great political parties,
whose members espouse and advocate
with earnest faith their respective
creeds. Circumstances were perhaps
in no respect extraordinary save in the
closeness and the consequent uncer-
tainty of the result. For the first time
in the history of the country it has been
deemed best, in view OF the peculiar
circumstances of the case, that the OBJ
iections and questions in dispute with
reference to the counting OF the electo-
raj votes should be referred to the de-
cision of tribunal appointed for this
purpose, that tribunal established by
law for the sole purpose; its members all
of them men of long established reputa-
ton for integrity and intelligence and
with the exception of those who
are members of the supreme jul
dietary, chosen equally from both
political parties. Its deliberations,
enlightened by the research and the
arguments of able counsel. was entitled
to the fullest confidence of the American
people. It's decisions have been patient
iv waited for and accepted as legally con-
elusive by the general judgment of The
public. For the present, opinion will
widely vary as to the wisdom..of the sever
al conclusions announced by the tribunal.
This is to be anticipated in every in
stance where matters of dispute are made
the subject of arbitration under the
forms of law. The human judgment is
never unerring and is rarely regarded as
otherwise than wrong by the unsuccess-
full party in the contest. The fact that
two great political parties have in this
way settled dispute, IN regard to which
good men differ as to the law no less than
as to the proper course to be pursued IN
solving the question in controversy, is
an occasion for general rejoicing. Upon
one point there is entire unanimity 10
public sentimeut-that the conflict
ing claims to the presidency must be
amicably and peacefully adjusted, and
that when so adjusted the general acqui-
escence of the nation ought surely to
follow. 1t has been reserved for gov
eminent of the people where the right of
suffrage is universal, to give to the world
the first example in the history of great
nation in the midst of a struggle of OPP
posing power hushing its party tumults,
to yield the issue eff the contest to ad-
justment according to the forms of law,
looking for the guidance of that divine
hand by which the destinies of nations
and individuals are shaped.
! call upon you, senators, representa-
tives, judges, fellow citizens, here and
everywherc, to unite with NE in an earn
est effort to secure to our country the
blessings not only of material prosperity,
but of justice, peace and union, union
not upon the constraint of
orce, but upon the loving devotion of
| free people; that all things may be
20 ordered and settled upon the best
md surest foundations, and purity may
1e established among lis for all gener-
ltiOus.