The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-08
sh.n Thor. n. . R.m.ays

stance before, and It's disgusting reveiation
of new details, emphasizesa duty which was
already sufficiently plain and urgent.
There was not needed any new inquiry or
any further uncovering of disgraceful facts
to convince the country that our loose
method of ascertaining the result of Presi-
Dental election will no longer do. Its
inadequacy was fully demonstrated when
Congress adopted the makeshift of an Elec-
toral Commission. That mode of extrication
will never be tried again. The purely
technical ground on which the decision
turned. the general conviction that It the
evidence Of fraud had not been excluded
by the astute and convenient aliunde; the
belief of all democrats and some republic
cans that one pair of candidates was elected
and a different pair inaugurated, and
though last, not least-the recent thick
ening proofs of perjury, forgery and villany
which keep the question alive for years
after it should have been closed, make it i'm
possible that recourse should ever
again be had to any such makeshift
as an Electoral Commission. But
it is mono the less true that the
Electoral Commission saved the country
from a new civil war-a civil war that would
have been fraught with deeper horror
than that which was waged between the
North and the South. The war of the re-
bellion had the usual mitigations of for
eign war between contumacious nations.
But civil war growing out of disputed
Presidential election would extend into
every county in the United States, arraying
neighbor against neighbor and brother
against brother. and making mans foes
those of his own household when they
happened to differ in politics.
1t is our confident belief that the Electo-
raj Commission was q wise makeshift, al
though a makeshift that can never be
adopted a second time. 1t succeeded be-
cause both political parties pledged their
honor to accept the result, and honor is yet
word of force with the majority of our
public men. No great praise is due to the
republicans, who carried off the prize (; but
it is our firm belief that if the Electoral
Commission had decided against them they
would have kept their pledge. The sub
mission of the democrats was conspicuous
act Of public virtue 1t was never questioned
that they had large majority of the popular
vote, and facts warranted their belief that
it was by fraud and forgery that they were
deprived of a majority of the electoral votes.
Their unfiinching adherence to the pledge
they had given to abide by the decision of
the Electoral Commission, unless both
houses Of Congress should concur in reject
ing it, was, therefore, creditable exhibition
of fidelity to an engagement. We do not
believe that the trusted leaders of the
democratic party will consent to tarnish
their honor and violate their pledge at this
late day. Even Mr.. Tilden does not
openly encourage such breach of plighted
faith, and the other recognized democratic
leaders, including his associate on the
ticket, have steadily repudiated any such
intention.
But although the democrats will not vio-
late the compact which they made it is
certain that neither they nor any party
will get caught in such bargain again.
But the same difficulties are liable to arise
in every close Presidential election, and
the public men of neither party can be ex-
cused if they do not unite to make some
adequate provision for such emergencies.
The loose and bungling methods which
have heretofore obtained in counting the
electoral votes must be replaced by pre-
else and well guarded legislation on that
subject. If no other good should result
from the present nauseous investigation we
hope it will so arouse the public mind to
the necessity of better methods as to COM
pei Congress to pass wise and careful
law for the final settlement Of controverted
questions within brief period after the
day appointed for the choice of Presidential
electors. No graver duty rests upon Con-
gress. Although it is too late for anything
to be done in this session we trust that
so important subject will not be neglected
next winter.
We favor simple legislation, and not an
amendment OF the constitution. We are
far enough from disputing that better
system than the present might be intro
duced by amending the constitution if
the States would ratify good amendment
But it is morally certain that the requisite
three-fourths of the States would not ratify
a reasonable plan. There is, indeed, very
little chance that the requisite two-thirds of
both Houses could be brought to agree upon
any plan to be submitted to the States. 1t is
idle and preposteroust to fritter away the time
which remains before another Presidential
election in abortive attempts to amend the
constitution. 1t is doubtful whether an
amendment could be agreed on by two
thirds OF Congress, and certain that it
would not be ratified by three-fourths of
the State Legislatures. But it is entirely
feasible to pass law by simple majority
Of Congress establishing precise regulations
for the counting of the electoral votes, and