The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1878-05-19
the POTTER RESOLUTION

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under this impression since, There
has been a natural aud almost uneon'
trolable itching ever since to reopen
the matter, Notwithstanding the action
of tho electoral commission not that
the result so far M Hayes Is coeeerned,
should be affected, but TO administer an
rebuko 10 the reckless men
who thus dare TO lay violent hands upon
the decision Of the people NJ the ballot
box, Taking the confessions OF McLln
and Others upon their face, there can
now be no reason 10 doubt but that the
suspicion of the country relative 10 the
preparation Of the fraud, alluded TO
above IL well founded, When, upon u
careful examination, this suspicion
grows into an absolute certainty, twill
remain TO be seen II II does not yitato
the title by which Mr., Hayes adminisN
ters the government of this great mas
ton; or If the simple diction OF the
electoral commission will DO sufficient
to render tho people acquicsccnt under
II wrong 10 grave AZ this, II still re-
mains an open question rs to whether
thopolcy OF carrying the decision should
il be against him, TO the extent of unseatN
ing tho chief beneficiary and of undoing
all his official work, is correct one or
not, remains to be determined
by actual test, Reasoning from
n common experience in life, we
are impeled to the uttoranco of the
sentiment that the sooner fraud is un'
oarthed and the right restored, the
better for all. We are not to reason
as to whether its pursuit will be u
pleasant or an agreeable employment
or whether the beneficiary is clever
man or not The receiver il commonly
rated as bad rs tho thief and is always
in common law, forced to share the
punishment. Now if this investiga,
ton unearths fraud sufficient in law
to vitiato Mr.. Hayes title, the country
will not be satisfied to have him re,
main. If he does, bolstered by the
weight Of the republican strength of
the country and its military force, his
usefulness as president will have passed
away, and we have no faith that the
country will submit to carry dead tins
Der in the shape of II fgurehead presi-
dent until the 18th of March, 1881, nor
should it, even If we are compelled to
have n struggle over the matter,
IT on the other hand the committees
establish clearly the right of Mr..
Hayes to hold, and the fairness of
the election in those two states, all dis,
quiet regarding the title will have
been allayod, and good purpose will
have been subserved. What the
country needs most is the opportunity
which quiet and order presents to rid
itself Of the prostraton occasioned by II
long and exhaustive internecine
war. Whatever tends TO assure or
disturb this quiet is of overlapping
Importance to people of every class and
shade of political opinion, VIII the
proposed investigation ultimately pro-
duce this comfortable sense of security ?
That is the great question to be determ-
ined before it is made. Just now the
country is apprchensive OF another outs
break of communism in tho shape of
labor troubles, such as burst 30 disas
trously upon the country last summer,
These communists would hail the dis
orders of q contest over this decision rs
a god-send to them, Indeed, it would
furnish them the opportunity which
they have long been painting tor Can
we afford to give it to them Or can we
afford, on the other hand, to fix pre-
cedent like this for the future guidance
of the country? LISA difficult situations
and nothing but the clearest-headed
and stoutest -hearted patriotism can
steer the country safely from among
the dangerous breakers into which it
has drilted by reason of the shameless
frauds and criminal weakness alike of
the partlzans of the two great leaders Of
the opposing parties to the last presi.
dental struggle. Much stress should
be laid upon the policy of the one now,
and much also upon the question as to
whether the country should tamely
submit to known and commonly ac-
cepted fraud. We, in common with
all other lovers of American liberty,
shall watch the progress of this matter
with painful solicitude.