The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1878-06-06
THE QUESTION BEFORE THE
COUNTRY,

Two things have been made per-
fectly evident since the passage of
the Potter resolution. One is that
the action of the House is the begin
ming of an attack upon the title of
the President, and the other that the
attack becomes necessarily the i'm
mediate and paramount question.
This is inevitable, for the movement
is one Of revolution. 1t can settle
nothing, but it can unsettle every
thing. 1t is fatal to every industrial
interest, and to the tranquility and
prosperity Of the country, and offers
nothing whatever but prolonged ex-
element and agitation and possible
civil commotion. Mr.. Potter said
that he meant no attack upon the
Presidential title, but a resolution to
that effect was voted down in the
Democratic causls, and the whole
proceeding is a challenge to the coun-
try. The Democratic House has
raised an issue that for the time su.
persedes every other. The question
of attempting the removal of the
President is made the issue of the
Congressional elections as much as
that of war or peace would be raised
in England by a dissolution of Parli-
ament. The Democratic House hay
ing almost unanimously committed
itself TO beginning a proceeding
which is ridiculous not revolutionary
it is evident that a Democratic sue
cess in the elections would be inter
preted as a popular ratification of the
movement, and the consequence is
evident. 1t is not of the slightest
Importance what personal interest
may be paramount in the matter, and
it is amusing to see the morbid eager
ness with which Mr.. Tilden's hand
is supposed to be revealed by the
course of events. Undoubtedly the
movement has his approval. if it is
not the result of his instigation. But
1t transcends all personal considera-
tons. 1t involves the peaceful ac
quiescence of the county in a consti-
tutional settlement Of a disputed
Presidential election, and it is
therefore a question not for passion,
ate partisan appeal, but for patriotic
union,
The facts can not be too constant
ly recited and remembered. The dis
pute that followed the election of
1876 was irremediable except by e
common understanding between the :
two parties. This seemed to be hope
so infamed was party fury, I'M
til, to the JOY and relief of the coun-
try, the settlement of the question
left to the Electoral Commits
sion. That body did not assume to
the right and wrong of the
but deciding upon general
what, acting with all the
powers of Congress, IL had a right to
do, it awarded the Presidency to Mr..
Congress accepted its decis-
ION, ard Mr.. Hayes, with the assent
Of Congress, was constitionally inau-
gurated. He is thus as much the
constitutional President as any of
his predecessors, and he can be re-
moved only in the way that the Con-
'titution authorizes. No proceedings
If a subsequent Congress, except in
he form of impeachment, could con-
additionally invalidate his title. But
IN investigation aiming to show
that vitiated the election
have no other effect, if success
than to throw doubt upon the
title, If that were the sole object
the result would be q public
excitement and disturbance for no
purpose whatever. If that were not
he object, the only other possible
Intention would be Congressional re-
'usal to recognize a President whose
title was declared by it to be invalid,
and that would be naked revolution.
This is the ultimate significance Of
he action taken by the House, and
lothing is palmer than that it invol-
res the possibility Of immense mis-. !
.hief. The universal feeling of good '
itizens every where is that the ques-
lou of the election of 1876 was hap c
settled by a common agreement, }
nd that Congress should now take :
are that such a dispute shall not
gain arise. Instead Of doing this
lain duty, the House proposes to re
pen that dispute, and does nothing