The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-29

after the election of TILDEN, when every
body else, including HAYES himself, ac-
knowledged thekact.
GRANTS Secretary Of War was Dow CAM
ERoN, worthy successor Of BKLKNAP, who
would stick at nothing 10 keep possession
OF power; and his Secretary Of the Navy was
SEooR robson, who had shown himself
capable OF almost any offence, and had
every reason TO fear the pursuit Of justice
the chatter OF whose loaden heel he could
easily hear in tho approach Of a reform
Administration. These men had hesitated
at no outrage before, and there Is no reason
TO suppose that they would have paused at
this one. Accordingly, MINES says that
when wooDPoRD was called to Washington
and offered the Office OF District Attorney
the talk was not about the legal business OF
the place, nor his duties under tho law,
but about the bombardment OF New York
city, and the kidnapping OF a law-abid-
ing citizen, who was obnoxious because
he had been elected President by majority
OF q quarter OF million of tho people
GRANT said he did not want a lawyer for
District Attorney; he wanted soldier, who
wouhl not consider anything but his orders
The consultation was all about a mill
tary movement upon New York: about
selling Mr.. TILDEN and combining him
In secret and about firing our dwellings
over our heads and shedding our blood in
the streets. SEcoR RoBEsoN was ready and
eager to turn our navy upon us, and the
frontier had been stripped OF troops and
force gathered here sufficient, in the judg-
ment Of the consplrators, TO insure our de-
struction, in case Of any attempt, however
lawful and peaceful, TO assert the title OF
the President chosen by the people.
In view OF this revelation OF the secret
purposes OF the Administration, 1t may be
proper TO consider what might have been
the result had the Democratic party In
Congress stood fearlessly for the right.
Suppose there had been no Electoral Com
mission swindle. Suppose THURMAN, BAY
ARD, and the Democratic minority OF tho
Senate had remained undismayed and firm,
and the House OF Representatives had pro-
ceeded to count tho votes and 10 declare Mr..
TILDEN elected. as he was In fact or TO pro-
nounce the technical failure OF an election
by the Electoral Colleges. In the former case,
Mr.. TILDEN would have had In addition TO
his equitable title legal title which II is
now certain the better portion OF the Re
publican party, including the most distin-
guished Senators, would have respected;
and In the latter, he would have been imme-
diately chosen by the House, according TO
the Constitution. Perhaps GRANT would
have attempted TO prevent his Inauguration
at Washington. That was what tho army
had been brought there for. But what could
he have done Agreat majority OF the people
had voted for Mr.. TILDEN, and still greater
majority were then at his back. Outside
the narrow circle OF the conspirators them
selves few Republicans even pretended TO
believe that HAYES was either honestly or
legally elected. GRANT might have inaugu-
rated his puppet, HAYES. at the point of
the bayonet, or held over" ms the phrase
went, himself In either event Washington
would have been in the military possession
OF n mere usurper, who would have had for
the moment fine buildings and marble col
umns TO look at, but neither actual power
nor revenue. Surrounded by Democratic
territory, the death by starvation OF such
mockery OF n Government would have been
only question OF time.
On the other hand, Mr.. TILDES might
have been peacefully inaugurated here,
where GEORGE WASHINGTON took the oath.
Had GRANT attempted any descent upon
New York, either by sea or land according
to the WooDFoRD programme, the courts OF
the country would soon have disposed OF
him. Had he called Congress 10 Wash
ington, he might possibly have been met by
small majority OF the Senate, but by no
House. Had TnDEN called It TO New York
he would haze been met by great majority
OF the House, and very nearly quorum OF
the Senate, which, as matters then Stood
could have been filled up by appointment
from the States whose Senators had de-
serted TO join the reasonable usurpation
There certainly would have been no fight
The fraudulent and unsubstantial fabric at
Washington would have instantly crumbled
to pieces; the elected and rightful President
would have been promptly installed in the
White House, and we would have been
spared the shame OF Fraud first trium-
plant in American history"
The fatal blunder was the Electoral Com
mission. II received the assent OF a large
majority OF those who should have defended
TO the end the right OF the people to choose
their own ruler. 1t instantly divided the
Democratic party and rendered all further
resistance hopeless. For this few leaders
were responsible, and for all that has fol-
lowed. Mr.. TILDEN was not one OF them.