Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1880-11-13
..C REMAINING STEPS TO
THE PRESIDENCY.

when the results of the PRESIDENTIAL
election were being received, Democrats
% we'll as Republicans, were glad 10 be-
I i that il was so decisive as to admit
81 no further dispute or contest.
" We should sincerely deprecate any
,;snosition or determination to refuse
ocnuiescence in that decision now, un-
iasi warranted ny clear and convincing
Evidences that such dispute is demanded
;ntbe interest of Justice and law. Neither
The country nor the Democratic party
conld afford to have so disturbing and
distracting an issue raised for any other
or less substantial reasons.
The conclusions, however, as to the
result, have teen very much modified
and GARrIELDs majorities very much
diminished since the receipt OF the In
itial returns. The whole situation IS now
,ersely put by the New York Times
in the following paragraph:
clad New York given the o';oo0 ma
iOrity for Hancock which was the lc',SC
mat any Democrat would admit 10 De
nossihle and had Kings given even the
pennocr,tir medium of 5000, the Rerub-
H. majority in the State of 23,OOO
I'D have been replaced by a Democrat
~ majority of 5000. In point of fact
lad New York City done rs well rs all
Democrats and many Republicans expect
r1 IL would do, the State would have gone
Democratic by small majority, and
Gen. Hancock would have been the next
President of the United States"
With this patent fact appearing now
New York City alone has apparently
decided the election in favor of the Re
publican candidate, and that the Demo
cratic majority in that city has fallen be
low the expectations of both Republl-
cans aud Democrats, while no satis!ac-
tory explanation of such result Is
furnished; together with the further
fact that the validity Of the returns
from that city is questioned 10y the most
eminent politicians of the State, on
grounds which seem to be well support
cd, looks as il there might he serious
and valid reason tor believing that the
election is not yet decisive.
1t, for example, it can be conclusively
shown tina; the Republicans used mark
ed ballots for Presidential electors,
which, according to law of New York
passed 10y q Republican Legislature
only last winter, are illegal; or, If il can
be shown, 10 Governor DuEsIEnIEE al
,eges, that there were fully 10000 Illegal
votes cast for the Republican ticket, and
that the vote will exceed the census OF
the voting population by that much or
more; OF, it any one OF the other facts
which the investigating committee Is
hunting down, shall be established, 1t
would make such case as would in the
interest OF free aud fair election JUST
ty dissent on the part of the people o!
New York and the whole country.
II is too early, at least. to declare
General GARFIELD the duly elected
President of the United States. All men
will agree that he may not reach that
position Xccpt through the prescribed
course of the Constitution and laws OF
the laud. The electoral vote has not yet
been cast for him. 1t may not be. Its
not bound to lie. y majority OF the
electors may or may not choose to vote
as major,ty of the States indicate.
They may agree to substitute GRANT for
GARFIELD, c: TiLDEN for HANCOCK. 1t
for example, tie Southern States should
anree with CoNKLlNG and CAMERON TO
throw their l3S votes for GRANT III
consideration that CoNKING and CAaI-
ERoN should throw i'll New York and
Pennsylvania for GRANT, who will say
that CoNKLING and CAMERON would not
be Glad to do it-I they couid
These things show the possibilities Of
the situation, If not the probabilities
they show that the presidential question
is not yet unalcrabIy fixed and final,
but We have faith enough in She good
sense-the sense of right and Justice OF
the Democratic party; TO believe that
il will make no contest except upon
the most substantial and lndispulable
grounds. JFheeIing Register.