New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-12-11
DENOCHATIC RtfOEMS.

1t was to be expected that Democratic re-
" form in Florida would be equal to the
task of dcprivIng Mr.. Bisbee of the seat in
Congress to which he was elected in the Sec
Oud District. So Indifferent to public opinion
have the Democrats become, however, that
they jublantly telegraph TO their Northern
organs, In the Second District, thanks to
" the vote Of Brevard, Hull is elected by sixty
"eight over Bsbee." The County of Brevard
has earned the thanks of Democratic " re-
" formers and balOt-bOX suffers more than
once But we are pasSionately informed that
it Is nobody's business at the North to inquire
whether the member from Breyard was elected
or traudu!ently returned. Possibly his vote
may elect a Speaker of the House OF
Representatives possibly it may turn the
scale in the final action of the House
upon most important measures OF Ma
tiOnal finance or taxation, or domestic or
foreign relations possibly the vote of Flor
ida, if east for a Democratic candidate for the
Presidency in 1850, may complete the twenty
States needed to elect him, although, had
Brcvard been honestly and legally returned.
the vote of Florida would have been divided
so that a Republican would be chosen. But
the North has no business to care whether
there is swinding in elections at the South OF
not, and il is supreme impcTtincnce for us to
make any inquiry.
Such is the tone of Democratic comment.
1t is well that there is so much frankness on
the subject. The people of the North will
come In season to understand the situation,
and will act accordingly The result of
their observations can be fOret0ld with
great certainty. The Southern people may as
well hear it now, and take it to heart, as TO
| hear 1t in the returns of the election of 1880
! Animosity born of the war has ceased to con-
| troll at the North that il true. But hostility
to being governed by swindling is not extinct
| The people of the North are very willing that
those who rebclled at the South should enjoy
the right of suffrage and of representation,
and all the influence in the Government to
which their numbers entitle them. But they
are not willing that those who rebelled against
| the Union should grasp control. of it by fraud
| They are not willing that the mastery in the
House of Representatives. or in the Electoral
Colleges, should be secured by massacres in
| Louisiana, or baliOt-bOx stuliing in South
Carolina, OF pcljured returns in Florida.
1t is not easy, we know, to ascertain the
facts officially and with certainty, if Democrats
in Congress unite to suppress inquiry and to
shield crime but such faction on their part
will be surely regarded at the North as con-
elusive proof that there are crimes and frauds
to be concealed. If there were no crimes,
there would be no objection to a perfectly
thorough and impartial investigation. On the
contrary, the most searching inquiry would be
welcomed.
In proportion as Democrats IN Congress
prevent such inquiry, either by refusing in
vestigation altogether, or by putting it into
the hands of partisans and conducting it
unfairly, the people Of the North will
decide that there were frauds and crimes
of such magnitude that Democrats do
not dare to have them exposed. They will
conclude that defeaCed rebels and their par
tsan allies are trying to grasp by fraud and
crime control of the Government which they
tried to destroy. When that conviction be-
comes rooted in the Northern mind, az it will
be If Democrats prevent full and fair inquiry
there Will be a Solid North. What that means
the South viii learn when it listens to the
returns in 1880. A word to tho wise is sufli-
cient, but mauy warnings TO Southern Dem
| OcTats have not yet suiiiced