Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-11-10
Eaarastrr fntel!:sencer.
WEDNESDAY EVENING, NOV. 10, 1880.
Let the Law Rule.

Democratic state committee of New
York. writes to the public to declare that
no meeting has been held by the state
committee, or its executive committee,
since the election, and that therefore no
action has been taken relative to con-
test of the vote of New York. He con-
ceiyes that the only ground for such con-
test is that certain Republican electoral
tickets might be rejected on which the
word ''e!ectors'' has been twice printed.
This he believes should not be done
''To change the result in any other way,''
he says, more than 10000 separate
eases of fraudulent or corrupt voting
would have TO be proved-an evident i'm
possibility. 1t certainly cannot be ex-
pcctcd that the present state board of
canvassers will declare otherwise than is
shown by the face of the returns, and my
view of Democratic doctrine leads me to
hold that Congress cannot go behind the
seal Of the state to investigate fraud at
the polls in the choice OF presidential
electors. This being so, it seems to me
that all talk assuming to possess an Off
cial character about having the electoral
vote Of this state cast for Hancock is
calculated TO bring ridicule and reproach
upon the Democratic party and would
tend, if Importance were given to it, to
would Justify even a slight departure
from established laws and forms to count
in Gen. Hancock in a spirit Of revenge
for the frauds of 1876 would, in my judg-
meiIt, go far to make the bad precedent
of that year {. rule for the future and
would take a long step toward Mexican
izing our government
Mr.. Apgar seems to us to talk both
sense and nonsense. lie is evidently 4
man of excellent intentions and inclined
to be very hOncSt-tOwardS his political
cncL.lcS; bat not able to take an entire
ly just view OF his honest duty to his
political friends. lie wants to do what
is right. but unfortunately thinks he can
best do it 10y giving up his rights.
Tic meek command of the scripture,
which directs that when the enemy
Smitcs you or one cheek, the whole body
should he surrendered to him to kick, is
one that suits very well Mr. Apgar'S
temperament. 1t is a very common
temperament almost rs common us
the other kind which takes 10 thought
of Justice to lis Zoe and is sedulous only
to take care OF number one and dOn't
care how il does it. The Republican
party has men of :..iS latter kind to lead
it. and seems to prosper thereby. Wedo
not like the kind and do not want any
of them ii the head OF our organization.
We want 10 have Il chance to respect
ourselves: AL desire NJ periurerS and
thieves. either for presidential candidates
or ut the head of our organization.
But neither do we want men of Mr.. Ap-
gar's kind. They will do very we'll to
make political speeches, but they are not
the kind to rely on for political acts.
They have not the needed elasticity and
strength of min,!. They go to pieces tco
quickly.
Here is Mr.. Apslr for instance, one of
the New \ urli state committee, e,prOclaim-
ing that his committee has not met since
the election to consider the serious allc-
CATIONS OF fraud committed in the state
by the Republicans. That is nothing
certainly to be proud of. The state or
sa,.ix;;: ion ;!rcly owe it to the Demo-
cratic: voters to meet together and deter
nli,e whether there IS any substance in
the charge. Nj. Arsar does not SEEM
ingiy care to have it meet. He has made
up his mind that nothing should be done.
He does not know whether any fraud has
been perletrated or not. but lie does not
want to undertake the labor of attempt
ing to prove 20 ,00G fraudulent votes, and
he believes that the Republican returning
board of The state would not he per-
sualcl 10y any proof that would be pre-
scented to il and he does not believe
that Congress has the power to reverse
the finding OF the properly constituted
authorities of the slate.
Our Judgment agrees with that Of
Mr.. Apgar in many of his conclusions.
We agree that the state authorities will
most likely certify the election OF the
Garfield electors no matter what case
may he made against them. And we are
inclined to agree that Congress cannot
upset the states verdict SO rendered.
But yet it does not follow that the peO-
pie should not be made to know how Re-
publican power has been unjustly used to
seat Republican president who has not
honestly been elected. Mr.. Apgar's COM
mittee hasa dut. tOperfOrm in discovering
the fraud of the election, if it has been
carried by fraud, which is entirely indie
pendent Of any question as to whether
the wrong that is proven will be righted.
The wrong must be shown. 1t is weak
ness and folly to declare it without seek
ing to prove ii. But when it is proved
the responsibility is put upon the Re-
publican party of proiiting by it, if it is
in its power under the law to still seize
this profit when the iniquity of it is
demonstrated.
We believe in acting under the law
and in strict observance of it, always.
But We believe in using all the powers
given us 10y it in self-defense, and not in
yielding to what may seem to be the in
evitable without the most vigorous and
effective protest we can make, whether