The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-05-20


in that crime more than he was striving to
defend HAYES.
How Are Business Interests Promoted ?
After the last Presidential election. and
when the time for counting and declaring
the votes was approaching, we were told
the country was in great danger We could
not see from what. but the wiseacres de-
clarcd there was danger Of war. Whore the
danger lay no one has ever pointed out
Nobody wanted to fight; nobody thought OF
lighting. There was nothing TO bc gained
on any side by fighting. The common sense
Of the country would not have tolerated a
resort 10 arms. To take up arms would
have been short cut To self-dcstruction for
any one that tried 1t. No one threatened to
fight. though a few inconsidcratc. lppant
noisy persons proclaimed that other people
intended to fight But there was no stage
of tine proceedings there was no day-whcn
a member Of Congress, on the floor Of the
House. could seriously have proposed war
without bringing upon himself storm of
ridiculc from every quarter, as much as If
he had appeared in his scat literally daubcd
with the war paint Of the Indians Nothing
but a pcaccablc solution Of the Presidential
problem was ever contemplated by either
party. GRANT, I'm his cups. may some time
have whispered to a few Of those surround
ing him that he meant To put HAYES in at
the point Of the bayonct II need Ice. but that
was only the voice of whi-key, for no one
would have opposed him 10y force.
However. the cry Of danger was listened
To- In the marts Of business, and the creation
of the Electoral Commission was hailed as
Il measure which, II not quite constitutional,
would have most salutary and bencilccnt
| influence. Whyf Because, it was insisted.
the terrible stagnation and depression Of
business arose entirely from tho unccr-
| taiuty which attached t. the Presidential
| election. Let that once hc settled, no mat
ter how, and. We were assured, the revival
of business was to be instantaneous and
complete.
Well the Commission performed its func-
tions and was dissolved did business re-
vivc; Not at all. 1t then became apparent
that a departure from the old beaten track
Of the Constitution and of the Fathers
would not lead to business prosperity. The
interests Of business could not be promoted
by anything 81 that kind.
Things went on whilc-or rather. so far
rs concerned business. they stood pretty
nearly still for while, when what had
long been charged became pretty clearly
apparent to the whole country that the
Presidential election had been determined
by fraud
Now the same prophets who predicted
prosperity from the creation Of the Electoral
Commission affect to iorcscc disasters Ia
business II the frauds undergo an official
exposure.
We are old-fashioncd in our notions on
this subject. We did not believe the inter
ests of business would he promoted by a de-
parturc from the Constitution; we do not
believe they can bc injured by refusing t.
wink at fraud. On the contrary, We bclicy,
the interests of business can only consist
with adhesion to the Constitution and Will
the strictcst integrity, as well in public a.
in private affairs.
II is responsible duty that the action o
the House in ordering an investigation Of tho
Florida and Louisiana frauds has dryolyco
upon Mr.. RANDALL. II concerns the Speaker
rs we'll as the country. that there shall b. II,
mistakes made in the selections for the com
mittee
At the hour of going 10 press we have ne
ncws Of n hostile meeting between Mr.. Coon
Of Virginia and Mr. CoN1"R of Michigan 4
quarter of a century ago MIR CoNGER would hay,
been invited TO apologize or llght, as a muttor o
course. But the times change. and Congrcs
sona manners change with them.
The constituents of CARTER H. HAHRisoN
LuopoIp MoRsE, and RoorR .. MILLS, VINO di
their worst 10 defeat the investigation OF the
Great Fraud. and who encouraged the Nopuhlt