The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-05
Voting for Their Own Destruction.

"He was elected to the Office once but did
not take it," This is the reason given by
many stalwart Democrats why SAMUEL j.
TILDEN should not be reelected in 1880.
Why did not Mr.. TILDEN take the Office
Because the Democratic House OF Repre-
sentatives united with the Republican Sen,
ate in the creation OF strange and uncon-
stitutional tribunal TO reverse the verdict Of
the people, and afterward consented to the
completion OF the fraudulent count in ac-
cordance with the decisions Of that tribunal.
Because GRANT. after having used the army
to protect the Returning Boards while en-
gagged In making and certifying false re-
turns Of the popular votes in their respect
i've States, assembled it at Washington to
overawe Congress during the count Of the
electoral votes, and the Democratic party,
terror-stricken by this show Of military
force, surrendered the cause OF the people.
and submitted to the fraudulent Inaugural
tion OF the defeated candidate. That Is why
Mr.. TILDES did not take the Office to which
he was elected. His party betrayed itself,
its candidate and the country in abiect fear
OF the army which, as was well known, the
Republican Administration would not hesi-
The Democratic party is now about to
commit the same error-or shall we rather
call It the same crime They are now a ma
jority in both Houses OF Congress; the
army which terrorized them and defeated
the will OF the people in 1867 Is now COM
pletey in their power. They alone are au-
thorized to make rules and regulations for
its government, and it cannot subsist day
without their consent. They passed Sup
ply bill, In which IL was provided that no
part Of the army should be used in the con-
duct OF elections and that bill being vetoed,
they enacted this same restriction sepa-
rately, and 1t also was vetoed. The Admin
istration rejects the supplies because they
are accompanied by provision essential to
freedom. IL will not have an army which it
cannot use as GRANT used 1t IN 1867, 10
overcome the popular will, or 10 prevent its
true expression at the polls. 1t gives notice
that it wants an army for the very purpose
OF controlling the elections, and wants it for
no other purpose. 1t Is willing to see the
army dlsbanded, or, as DE GoLYER GAR
FIELD puts it, " starved 10 death" unless II
can be maintained as u standing menace TO
the rights and liberties Of the people.
The Democrats understand all this per-
fcctly. They realize, and they have de-
clarcd in every way In which a party
speaks. that the issue is one between self
government and the overthrow of American
institutions by military force, under the
auspices OF Fraudulent President seated
by these very methods Nevertheless, they
have determined TO surrender again as they
did IN 1877, and give Mr. HAYES his army on
his own terms.
Upon whom will they cast the reproach
OF a BETRAYED, perhaps ruined, country,
when their fear and their calamity come
again in 1850? Let Mr.. THURMAN or Mr.
BAYARD, authors OF the Electoral bill, be
nominated. They are understood to favor
this new surrender. and are the proper lead
ers Of the party which proposes to make it,
Let one Of them be elected, as Mr.. TILDEN
was in 1876, and then see how easily and
gracefully he will vault into the Office over
the thck-set array OF bayonets which the
present cowardice Of his party permits to
stand between the polls and the White
IIpuga