Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1877-03-03
DEMOCRACY AND THE COMMITS
-it SION.

When the bill establishing commits
sion to arbitrate upon all disputed point
regarding the Presidential contest, pass
ed both Houses of Congress and becam
law, it was loudly championed by tn
Democratic press rs wise and beneiicen
measure. one which would amicably ad
just all differences between the two polit
ical parties and avoid the terrible tur
moil which so threatened the country
unless some satisfactory plan was adopt
cd. The commission was the pet schem,
OF the Democratic party, and received the
almost unanimous support of that party
in Congress, and they protested to fee
that whatever decision the commission
would arrive at would be cheerfully &C.
quiesced in by both parties, and the
Democratic leaders and press, with but
few exceptions, were loud in their praise
OF the plan. and the great majority oil
the people, though many of them oh.
jected to the plan, believing that the
trainers of the constitution knew what
they were about when that important
instrument was under consideration. and
that the provisions of the same were
sufficient for the occasion, and that law
constituting a commission was entirely
outside of the constitution. yet feeling
, that it would be the means of avoiding
threatened trouble, We're willing to abide
the result, and the belief was general
that it would afford speedy settlement
of the question. So long as the Democ-
racy thought the commission would be
favorable their party they continued to
praise it, for they knew that were the de-
cisions averse to the Republicans, having
agreed to submit the question to the COM
mission, they would faithfully abide the
verdict, but when they failed to decide
the Florida case in accordance with their
wishes 1T began to appear that the De-
mocracy were not sincere IN their pro-
fessions. They commenced at once to
delay the count i'll every manner posi-
BILE, and whatever delays that have oc-
CURED to prevent speedy solution of
the difficulty are attributable solely and
only to the Democrats. This cannot be
denied, and the honest men of all parties
will hold that party responsible for the
delay. The decision ON Florida. as soon
as given, caused a great changel in the
expressions of the Democracy and they
began to heap opprobrium upon the
members of the commission who had
voted in favor of the Republicans, and
which their further decisions increased.
and it is remarkable the degree of Judi
cial talent that has been developed in the
Democratic party among the leaders and
editorial fraternity by these adverse de-
cisions to their hopes, and doubtless the
majority of the commission must feel
bad when they learn OF their decisions
being overrilled by these great legal
minds that heretofore have been allowed
to remain in obscurity for the want of
an opportunity. sfs.a
1t would seem that the Democracy are
determined to oppose an early decision
by every means in their power. They
make the most Insignificant pretense a
means of delay. 1t was certainly TO be
supposed that after Florida, Louisiana
and Oregon had been passed upon and
decided, that there could not possibly be
any great obstacle in the way of con-
GLIDING the count speedily. and yet at
this writing they are Geyising all manner
OF reasons Tor delay. South Carolina
the election in which state had been
thoroughly investigated by special
committee from the House, majority of
which was Democrats, and by that com
mittee unanimously reported as having
legally and fairly elected the Republican
electors, has been objected to and the OBJ
lection sustained by the Democratic ma
Jority in the House and the question
forced upon the commissions, when, ac-
cording TO the investigation and report
of their own committee, there could be
no doubt but that the state had been fair
Iy carried so far as the Presidential
electors were concerned. 1t has been in
timated that the Democracy having found
themselves beaten in the Presidential
contest and being DESTROYS of securing
the control OF so much of the govern
ment as possible, have resolved i'm Sc
curing the control Of the next House,
and knowing that their majority was so
Very small they feared that it might
be entirely lost to them should the or
ganization of the House be delayed until
the usual time of opening and organizing,
they have accordingly determined to de-
lay the counting of the electoral vote and
consume the time Of the House so that it
will be impossible to pass the necessary
appropriation bills for carrying on the
different departments of the government
and thus necessitate the calling of an ex-
ira session at once. by doing this they
they think their chances for controlling
the organization of the House would be
enhanced. They are afraid to wait until
after The election in New Hampshire in
April, for fear it would give the Repub-
licans three additional members. which
would imperl their chances, for now they