The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-05-28


chemistry for finding disinfecting and
deodorizing agents to neutralize the
offensive gases likely to arise from this
long-buried cadaver of electoral fraud.
This process is commonly called "white-
washing" But in the present instance
their alkalies will need TO be more power
fully detergent than common, more of
the chlorides than of carbonates Con
gressional rosc-water and hartshorn will
not suffice to quench the unseemly
smells.
But let us assume, as many people are
assuming, that this investigating enter
prise, now declared to be nothing more
than voyage of discovery, should result
in disclosing such evidence of fraud as to
warrant the Committee, Or a majority
thereof, to report to Congress that the
incumbency of the Presidential office was
wrongfully changed thereby-what then
must ensue? What indeed can then
ensue but one or the other of these two
things? viz A resolution of Congress de-
claring the incumbency of the Presi-
Dental Office settled and concluded by
the decree of the Electoral Commission
and ratified by the preceding Congress
in favor of Mr., Hayes, and therefore not
to be disturbed,by succeeding Congress;
or, a resolution declaring Mr.. Hayes
title void by reason of the fraud, and Mr..
TiIden to be the duly elected President
of the United States. One is the course
of national peace and quietude, the other
is the course of revolution and all the
tumult that such a revolution implies
Which of these courses would be adopted?
Who can foretell?
Assuming that the Democrats will hold
both branches of Congress by sound
working majority, and of the Senate they
are certain after next March, and having
before them report of their Committee
affirming fraud in the electoral vote,
whereby the Presidential office was
wrongfully conferred on Mr.. Hayes,
would that majority patriotically "seek
peace and ensue it' by refusing to dis
turb the present order of things? On
would they declare the Presidency va.
cant, and inaugurate revolution by in
augurating Mr.. Tilden as the President,
We must remember that it has beer
received and held as law, that as be
tween rival claimants to the office of 6
,, State executive, a lawfully constituted
Legislature may decide as to the incum
y bency, and the National Government
will recognize that incumbent as the ex
ecutive until a new election. This nee
essarily sets aside all judicial action il
the premises. The legislative decision i:
final and supreme. Concede this prerog
ative to Congress as the Legislative power
of the National Government, then as be
tween Hayes and Tilden the Congress
can determine the incumbehcy of tho
, Executive office.
Would that Democratic majority
then, recognize Tilden as the President
= If 50, then Tilden would be inauguratec
by taking the. Constitutional oath. Con
cress would receive his message
= and reject those of Hayes. Con
gress would send enacted bills tt
Tilden for his signature, and the,
. become laws. Congress would confirm
Tilden's nominees for Cabinet and all ex
:, utive offices, and make him Commander
:, in-Chief of the Army and Navy.
- What could Hayes do to resist or pre-
Il vent all this? Nothing. The Suprem
i Court could not aid him, because on tha
i subject the jurisdiction of Congress
supreme. The army and navy he coul
,s not command, because Congress woul
, forbid and withhold both money an
arms. Mr.. Hayes could do nothing bu
% protest and step ignominious]y down an
, out, dismiss his servants, take wife an
=, children and wend his way back to Fr'
r u mont, bearing on his brow, instead Of tn
=, civic laurel, the brand of fraud.
Z Such must be the course Of thing
y should Congress adopt that line of pre-
II cedure, and all work peacefully to the
# necessary results. But who can presum
- that those results could be reached will
~ out a convulsion that would rock tn
70 continent? And yet this road to revc
,s luton and ruin lays broadly open befol
our near future as possibility in our hi
= tory. That highway to a political he
n should be speedily and forever closed b
=, the patriotism of the people. We hay
er heretofore narrowly escaped similar dan
v gers. 1t is not given to men to be a
II, ways so fortunate. Our safety lies wit
n the people, and not with any Congre
ii sional majority.