National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-02-09
The Electoral Count To-Day.

turns certifying the choice OF electors In
the several States, to see them counted
and the result recorded by tellers of their
own appointment, and to hear the de-
claration of the vote by the Nlce-Presl-
dent of the United States. Since the first
count Congress has always provided IN
advance of each count for bringing the
two Houses tegether and for tellers to re-
cord the vote. When there has been no
question as to the validity of any votes,
the concurrent resolution has made no
provision for the exclusion of any.
When there was question as to the
validity of any votes, and the receiving
or rejection of the votes so questioned
did not affect the main result, Congress
has evaded both the question of the
validity and the question as to whether
the Fice-President or the two Houses
should decide upon that. Missouri In
1920, Michigan in 1887, and Georgia
in 1868, were neither counted nor omitted;
but it was simply declared i'll each case
how many votes each candidate had with
and without the disputed vote, and that
in either case the majority of all thevotes
were found to be on the same side. To-
day this same method has been provided
for eyading decision ofthe equestion as to
whether Georgia's vote shall or shall not
be counted. 1t is to be stated that with
those votes Hancock has certain num-
ber, and that without them he has cer-
30: n{lo hut hot atf
case Garfield has a majority, and is
elected. As no decision is thus arrived
at as to whether or not Georgia for
feited her right to a voice in the election
by failing TO vote on the day provided
for by Federal statute, so no decision is
made as to where the Constitution lodges
the power to decide.
If the succession to President Hayes
rested upon the counting or rejection of
the votes of Georgia the country might
be i'll serious danger. The fearful crisis
of 1876 was bridged over by the Elec-
toral Commission. That crisis arose from
dispute as to the validity of votes
enough to control the result. 1t was
found that but few Senators were of the
opinion that the Vice-President had the
power to decide the question. Mr.. Ferry
was only acting President by virtue
of his Office as President pro tenn. of the
Senate by election of that body, and had
he claimed the disputed power he would
have been at once unseated by new
election in the Senate. But after such
warning four years have gone by with
out bringing any settlement of the dam
gcrouS question. Whenever in the fu-
ture two factions shall claim govern
mental control in States enough to
make the disputed votes potential for
the faction that can be sustained,
we split upon the rock of the
succession. OF course, if there are two
pretended State governments, it is of
no use to provide that the State courts
shall decide the contest, for the obvious
reason that each government has courts,
and that the whole question is: Which is
the State? To say that the certificate of
the Governor de ,facto shall be respected
begs the question. The very fact as to
who is the de .tacto Governor On given
day may be i'll dispute, as was the case in
Louisiana many days in 1877 before the
presidential commission had simplifed
matters by pulling out the legs of the
government chosen on the same ticket
with his electors. For the President
to decide between two pretended gov
ernments III a State while Congress
is in session would be called CaSariSm.
For Congress to decide might admit one
side into the House and the other into
the Senate. If the Supreme Court is
mentioned, then the ermine is being be-
draggled.
What then? The problem is one of
such difficulty that it seems to defy solu-
ton. The simple answer may be that
whenever both sides pretend to have pre-
vailed there must be an end to the govern
ment if one side does not retreat and ad-
nit its defeat. If faction is bent on
anarchy rather than peaceful submission
to the result of an election, in vain will
legislative skill avail to quiet its mad cry
or arrest its desperate action. When each
side honestly claims the victory, as most
people agree was the case in 1876, then it
is to be hoped the new occasion will
teach new duties, as was so grandly the
case then.
The people of this country ought to
have some perfect piece of workmanship
devised for their approval or rejection,
which will meet all possible contingen-
cies, or they ought to be educated by Con-
gress, the platform, and the press to real
ization that the fathers of the Republic
did all that their sons can do when they
left to the national good faith, honesty,
and love of order the determination of
the results of presidential elections, and
found no way to muzzle revolution pre-
determined on.