Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1880-04-01

to have himself inaugurated by force,
and in defiance of constitutional regu-
lations, provided only that he thinks
himself fairly elected, or chooses to as
sumo that he is elected, which in prac-
tice would amount to the same thing.
For the ascertainment of the true re-
suit Of Presidential election belongs
by the Constitution to The two Houses
of Congress, and not to the rival cam
didates or their respective friends.-
But the Republican party is assured
that here is a candidate who is strong
man enough to "see that he has his
right" Independently of the legally
constituted trib Lnal for the determine
ton of the result. If he ''is elected"
he will take the office. If he believes
himself to be elected he will take the
office. If his supporters claim that he
is elected he will take the Office. One
of these "ifs" is as good as another; for
if Gen. Grant once starts out to obtain
his rights" by any other sort of pro-
cedure than that established by the
Constitution, it is his own real or pre-
tended opinion concerning the result of
the ballotingsthat must finally deter
mine his course. In such case it would
merely be necessary for him to assume
that the two branches of Congress are
conspiring to cheat him; and an all
sufficient basis Of operations might be
afforded by a manifesto like that tele-
graphed over the country by the late
Zachariah Chandler, on the day after
the last Presidential election: Hayes
has 185 electoral votes, and is elected"
On the strength of this announcement
the Republican leaders proceeded to in
augurate Hayes, not by force, but
through fraud.
In connection with these prophecies,
or threats, there comes the very impor-
tant question, How does Gen. Grant
propose to "get his rights" if the count
10y Congress runs against him? If he
puts himself in the field as candidate
for Inauguration, after it has been de-
cided by competent authority that as a
candidate for election he failed, he can
take the office only by fraud or by force.
a successful repetition of the trick of
1876 b not probable. A seizure of the
Presidency by fvrce of arms is revolu-
tion-treason. Is that what the mouth
pieces of the third term mean to threat
Ell when they say that Gen. Grant is
strong man enough to get his rights?
Do they intend to notify the country
that the third term candidate will
march upon Washington at the head
of ali army and seize the Government
by military force? We do not know
what else they can mean.
The Chicago Inter- Ocean, one of the
most outspoken newspaper organs of
the third-term plan, has been Ipore ex-
plicit on this point than its fellows. A
few days ago it informed it's readers
that i'm case Gen. Grant should be elect
ed and not seated, he would find HIM
self atthe head of an army of five hun
dred thousand men.
We have before us a set of private
circulars issued from a place in this
city styled 1.-The Headquarters of the
Union Veterans Union" This asso-
ciation appears to be a revival of the
organization of old soldiers formerly
known as the Boys in Blue. The cir
culars suggest the formation. in all
parts of the North, of local organiza-
tions dependent upon the headquarters
in New York; they call upon all veter-
ans of the Union army and navy to
unite i'm 1880 for "the preservation of
what was gained for humanity by
their sacrifices in 1S6l-66;" and they
furnish bylaws for the local clubs, forms
of rolls for the enlistment of members,
and so forth.
These circulars are signed by one
Drake De Kay, who calls himself "Sec-
retary of the Union Veterans Nation
al Committee" Under other circum-
stances this name at the foot of such
documents would excite no attention,
except what might be attracted by the
accompanying appeal to members of
the Union to buy badges and medals of
certain firm at one dollar a badge
But the following note, conspicuously
printed in the circulars, shows that the
organization is something more than
the enterprise of die sinker:
"CoL. DRAKE DE KAY, Secretary National
Veterans Committee
"DEAR SIR: accept with great pleasure the
! position of Chairman Of the Union Veterans
National Com nittee, and expires. the hope
that in my absence from the country the
Association may complete its organization.
..''On my return from abroad it will afford
me great pleasure to meet the Veterans, and
to express to them in person my thanks for
this mark Of their esteem.
"With great respect, your obedient servant,
| ~. 8. GRANT.
PHILADELPHIA, May 16. 1877"
The schem9 OF bylaws furnished
. e