Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-03-04
NUMBER 40

in cipher, known to the national committee
ne would not want them to go to that BODY.
bis only fear would be, not that the dispatches
would fall into the hands of those who could
not read them, but into the hands of those who
could.
1t had been urged in Tildens behelf that as
soon as he became aware of these negotiations
he promptly suppressed them. and they were
asked to draw the inference that he was guilt
less OF all. Had these transactions ceased
Wnen Hardy Solomons went home, had Pei
ton been discharged from his plenary superin
tendence of Tilden's affairs, there might have
been some show of reason for this plea, but
Pelton remained in full control the Florida
negotlatlons went on, the attempted bribing in
oregon followed, all under the guidance of the
resident nephew.
After recitinP the duties of the returninp
board, the report goes on to criticise the con-
duct OF the Florida board. Threats of per-
sonal Violence 1t states, were made against a
member of the returning board by Democrats.
and he was followed by armed men at night to
MS mouse from sessions OF the canvassers, and
a distinguished representative of the Demo-
cratic party endeavored to influence his action
by an offer of money.
The Tilden electors in Florida in attendance.
including those who threatened assassination.
with the aid of private detectives who in con-
sultatlon with the majority OF the committee,
have been hunting for testimony. No one has
been found to testify to fact bearing against
the honesty and fairness of the Republican
members of the board of State canvassers of
Florida.
The attack on Gen. Noyes is denounced as
unWarranted, there being no evidence that he
had any questionable comm unication with anv
State canvassers as to the result of the Florida
election, Adopting the rule contended for by
the majority report, that the canvassinp board
conld only canvass county returns by the ag-
gregate vote appearing upon their face
Tor the respective candidates, the Hayes
electors had 40 majority. Following the rule
laid down by the supreme court they had 200
majority. Purging the county returns of
fraud, according to the decision anu advice of
majority. wv
With regard to Louisiana affairs the report
devotes the most attention to the Sherman LET
ter. The majority report, it states. fails to re-
port explicitly whether the testimony sus-
tanned the charge that such letter as Ander-
sons and Weber's had been written. They.
the minority, emphatically declare that it does
not, and. that the palpable perfumes of both
witnesses named justify a feeling Of deep
disgust that they should be treated as capable
OF creating serious attack upon the character
OF man who has borne high character in the
most responsible service of the CONN
try for five and twenty wears.
AS to Presidential elections, the matter of
choosing is by the constitution so exclusively
w SS"oo AoSisldtiou tnaI We see 10
method Of federal interference. The PROPOSE
ton OF the majority, therefore, that the cleo
ton OF electors should be passed upon by the
highest court of each State is impracticable
because federal legislation cannot deal with the
subject. We can imagine it would have been
satisfactory to the author of some of the cipher
dispatches to have that court determine who
We're the Presidential electors in South Caro-
lima, but in view of their testimony we
cannot join in a report that
the cause of honest elections
would necessarily be furthered by such
change. The change needed is in the spirit and
temper of the community, the cultivation of
respect OF law and right, the recognition by
the strong of the rights of the weak, and when
progress is made in this direction we shall wit
ness equal progress. toward purity at elections,
and not till then.