New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-08-24

Alabama elec tion frauds and the outrageous inta-
ton of the returns in South Carolina, and
by Wade HamptOns indiscreet utterances. lt IL an
easy thing for Republican orators TO stir up the
old loyal sentiment OF the North. Alabama has
gwen new exhibition Of the methods the Southern
Democracy resorts to for the purpose of getting
control of the Government; South Carolina has
shown that it is as ready to stuff the returns
as the ballot box for the sake of gaining political
power and Hampton has made public declaration
that Democratic victory will be a victory OF the
principles for which Lee and StOnewall Jackson
fought.
How do the Democrats meet these two strong ar
gumcnts! They are not meeting them at all. The
business question they dodge altogether, and the
Southern question they endeavor to ridicue as a
fresh waving of the I" bloody shirt" They depend
wholly upon a counter attack IN two lines: revival
of the "frand cry of 1877. aud personal abuse OF
General Garfield. They have blundered badly IN
starting their canvass. Their arguments are eliec-
tual only with men who are Democrats naturally
by the structure of their brains and would vote the
Democratic ticket matter who the candidates
were on either side The result of the contest this
year is going to he determined by the votes OF the
element not strongly attached to either party
independent voters III the close States lhls element
Is composed of intelligent, cool-headed meE, VINO
pude themselves on their lack of partisan feeling.
and from stubborn individuality OF character re-
tuse TO submit TO the drill OF either party. II is
folly TO talk to such people about Hayes beng "a
fraudulent President. They know perfectly well
what were The disputed points in the election OF
1876, and the settlement by the Electoral Commis-
sion was regarded by them as sensible ana patriotic
For the Democrats to go back four years 10 den"uhce
Commission which their own party set up appears
l.. h,sa tf.l u
on Garfield have influence upon them, unless
if is TO dispose them to vote for him.
They know Garfield thoroughly. and have Tor
wears looked upon him as of the most independ-
ent high minded and statesmaniikc ~ the Rcpub-
can leaders. When they hear him denounced as a
vulgar rascal they feel their intelligence insulied.
They are disgnsted at the low tone OF the Demo-
cratic canvass. and are every day pushed further
toward the Rcpu 5can liues by the stuh they read
in the Democratic newspapers.
The true policy of the Democrats to make
their nominations and shape their canvass with n
view of gaining this independent vote lying De
tween party lines. They could have done bet
ter than to take Hancock, because the non-partl-
San voter wants a statesman for President, anu Is
not In the least dazzled by the epaulets and military
surroundings OF the commander OF Governor :
Island. But even with Hancock. supported by a
first-cass mau for the Vice Presidency instead OF
the Indiana mortgage-sharper, they would have
had great chance of success If they had started
their canvass on high plane Of dignity and patriot
ism and forced the South to behave itself. They
might have pushed Hancock as the representative
of the Conservative sentiment. which depOres sec
tonalism and desires a closer union. AZ 1t l., theY
have made q bad mess of their canvass. Ihe only
sort of union they have succeeded in making their
ticket typify is that between the balotboX stufers
of the South and the blackguards of the North.
L. V. q.