The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-12-02
VOICES IN THE AIR.

1t Is true that the electoral system may often
lead to the choice OF a minority President, and
may sometimes be perverted to the purposes of
fraud; but the s stem OF voting directly for can
didates, II free from the former objection, would
we think, be doubly open to the after. However
that may be- the proposed reform ls hardly posi-.
BILE. If the Democratic party should favor this
scheme the Republicans would be certain to op.
pose 1t. The present arrangement is to their ad'
vantage, as the election of 1876 and the recent
Presidential election show. Four years ago, as in
the laGt election, each party carried one half OF
the States, but iu 1876 the Republicans, by steal
ing Louisiana and Florida, secured a majority OF
the number-twenty-one States against the sew.
enteen left to the Democrats. Nevertheless the
latter retained decided majority OF the popular
vote in the Union. Whether Hancock obtained
popular majority in the country at large is still
matter of dispute But If the official figures
should give Garfield a small popular majority 1t
would stsr in no proportion to his electoral ma.
jority.- Buffalo Courier.
Congress is largely resp onsbe for the failure to
realize all the advantages Of the reform which
President Hayes undertook, And this reminds us
Of au incident narrated by the President himself
After he had taken the oath of Office. and was
about to occupy the White House, General Grant,
on taking leave Of him. referred 10 what he had
said in regard to reform of the civil service and
told him that he had had similar ideas on the
subject but the opposition had been too strong
for him, and he leared It would be too strong for
President Hayes, The result shows that Genera
Grant was right Cincinnati Commercial
1t is suggested that the Democratic majority In
the present Congress should pass civil service
reform bill, and put Republicans on record as Op.
posing 1t. But legislation is hardly likely to be
wise when undertaken in order to put party or
person ION record.' The action OF Congress
will be qulckened in the degree that public opin.
ion is aroused, and nothing will awaken that
opinion more surely than the evidence of the
practicability and value of reform which Execu
tive favor can furnish Complete reform requires
the common consent Of all branches OF the Gov.
eminent, but to produce.that consent every body
interested must move, and not wait for somebody
else to move HdrperS Weekly
Every time John Sherman gets after an office
In Ohio, his chilling presence is felt He is no
doubt responsible for the late cold snap, and II
1t is true that no United States Senator can be
elected until after the 4th Of March next, we
might as well Jay in fuel for long and cold win
ter, for there need be no hope OF Sherman with
drawing Seneca Advertiser.
The Ohio Republican newspapers are speaking
of the duty of the people to provide John Sher
man with an Office. He has held Office for nearly
80 years, and made a fortune at the business, and
1t would appear as II by this time he owed some.
thing to the people, instead Of the people being
indt bted to him.-S Paul (Minn) Globe.