The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-02-24

are to be accepted by the republicans and
their candidate. This practically ends the
contest; for the Electoral Commission
haoiag ,0aded dHs far through partisan
ifdmy will not hesitate at the Oregon
case The joint session Of the two houses
may as well spare itself the trouble of re-
ferring that case to the Commission. The
bill which created the Commission was
passed by democratic votes; the Commits
sion was organized in accordance with its
provisions; everything that lawfully could
be done TO secure an honest count Of the
votes of the bayonet States has been done.
Now that all hopes have failed, let the
democracy stand by the decision Of Che
tribunal, Infamous as Il is, and let the re-
publieans bear the taH tceigh Of tie odiHm
of propping up their candidate upon this
pinnacle Of fraud. The decision violates
the universal principle of law that fraud
rittdtes eUerythiag-but what Of that it
counts Hayes in. IL revorses the whole
theory and practice Of the Republican
party, and establishes an extreme state
sovereignty that goes further even than
the right ofsecession-but it counts Hayes
10. Itjustities Grant 10 sending the troops
TO control the elections Of the bayonet
States, and authorizes future Presidentsto
do the same in New York or Massachu-
setts-but it counts Hayes in. IL sane
tions the usurpations by which, under the
order Of the drunken Durell, the State Of
Louisiana was overthrown; it justifes the
march Of troops into the Legislature of
that State; it condemns the Senate for re-
fusing to seat the Senator sent on by the
rotten returning board; it makes common
cause with Wells, and Anderson and Cas-
sanave, aud accepts all the uncleanness of
u. Chandlers party management; it soaks
itself in shames of all kinds-but it counts
Hayes in. This has been the aim from
the beginning, and the partisan majority
OF the Commission hare 1dlted ocer eUery
principle Of Justice to reach this end. The
democracy has been unfortunate in its
choice of tribunal; but it is better lar to
fail in an honorable contest than to win by
the arts that will count in Rutherford b.
Hayes.
PHILADELPHIA Tia.es-That the nation
will be shocked at this decision is but the
truth that must more and more terribly
impress itself upon parties and upon ad-
ministrations, as the full measure of its
assault upon the very life Of free institu-
tions becomes irrevocable history. That
the Judgment was reached without inten-
tional peridy to law or justice by the ju-
dicial members of the tribunal we do not
question; but who can estimate the depth
or breadth Of the wound that a government
of law receives by theappalling lesson tha.
it has no tribunal into which the political
spoiler cannot drag his pollution A
State that voted by thousands for Mr..
Tilden; whose electoral vote was faunted
for barter on the streets like the charms
Of her whose steps lead unto death; whose
laws were violated by revolution aud ac.
tual fraud in open day; whose lesser usur-
pations in past contests have been spurned
from the Senate and from the House and
pronounced shame upon civilization;
whose officials from whom the accepted
returns have come, must be strangers at
the door Of the power TO be created by
their crimes, and henceforth wanderers
from the associations Of men--this State
has been made to decide Presidential
contest by return that no judge dared to
even look upon, and by declared com
putation of the vote that even the return
board conceals from the country at the
cost of imprisonment. But it is final, and
it is best that it is So The tribunal was
born in the sore travail Of an imperilcd
Republic, aud though its offspring be de.
formed and prove sharper than serpent's
tooth to its parentage, it was the accepted
law Of the nation, and its Judgment is the
lawful judgment Of the sovereign power
of the country.
Neto York WorH,-"The arguments
held before the commission perhaps have
not been thrown away upon the country
as completely as upon the commission.
For after all the country is the true prin-
cipal in the case; the commission only an
agent accepted on the fattering theory
that it would do precisely what the prin-
cipal expected it to do. The interest Of
the country in the matter is a continuing
interest. As for the democratic party,
since it in good faith accepted this tribu-
nal, we do not see how any bad faith or
incompetency on the part of its accepted
agents can release it from its obligations.
We have little doubt that no calamity
could befall free country worse than the
Inauguration of President under vita
ted title. We have not the slightest doubt
there is one thing much worse for any po-
litical party than an honorable defeat-
and that is dishonorable victory
Philadelphia Eueaiag Telegraph, Rep.
-"The presidential contest ends with the
republicans carrying of the nominal prize
for which the two great parties which di-
vide the nation were contending, but the
substance of victory remains with the dem
ocrats, who, unless they commit some un-
imaginable act of folly, or unless the re-
publicans show more wisdom than they
have been doing for several years past, win
fight the political battles of the future from
position Of advantage which win be worth
more than all the government patronage"
will be to their opponents
Neo York lSml--"The House must not
be caught mapping while the conspirators
who are now striving to impose fraudu-
lent President on the country are plotting
also to steal the organization Of the next
House in order that they may have full
] ,fs 81 At n