Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1881-02-03
A Significant Contrast.


In refusing to take advantage Of techni-
oalities for partisan gain is worthy
something more than passing remark.
Upon a strict construction of the stat
utes concerning elections they could
have declared the Republican Candi-
date for Governor elected. 1t was only
necessary to count the votes as re-
turned to deprive Mr.. Plaisted of votes
enough to leave him in q minority
Leaving out Of the question the intent
of the voter, which the Committee were
not bound to consider, the Fusion can
didate did not receive a majority of the
votes, and under the letter Of the law
was not legally elected. The Commit
tee of the Legislature, however, be-
lieved it to be their duty to regard the
spirit rather than the letter of the law,
and, foregoing the partisan advantage
which offered, have reported in favor of
the candidate for Governor for whom q
maiority-Very small, indeed, but still
maiority-of the voters manifestly
meant to cast their votes. 1t may be
said that they deserve no special credit
for doing what was so obviously right,
and that upon the whole it was wise as
a mere matter of party policy to pursue
the course they have, since to have
done otherwise would have exposed
them to adverse criticism, and in the
end worked to the injury of the party.
This must be admitted. The right
thing was the polite thing; and for
simply doing right party which asks
public confidence, and is trusted be-
cause il promises to regard justice and
act honestly, can claim no particular
merit
Let us say, then, that they have done
no more than their plain duty, and this
more as a matter Of policy than con-
science. AspatriOtiC citizens, we are glad
to believe that political honesty is nOtsO
phenomenal that the exercise of it in
single instance entities the party ex-
hibiting it to special favor. AS Re-
publicans, we are not unwilling TO
admit the possibility that the party in
its organized action may be governed
as much by policy as by conscience; for
the party that holds TO belief in the
ultimate honesty and good sense of the
people, and fears TO offend them, is
under such salutary restraint that it
can always safely be trusted. But
between paHties there is choice, and
in view of the action taken by the Re-
publicans the question naturally arises,
What would have been the course OF
their opponents under similar circum-
stancesP Would they have refused to
take advantage OF tochnioalitles to
secure the office OF GoVernOrP Is there
any reason to believe that they would
have been governed in the matter by
q conscientious sense Of right and
Justice, or by the motives of common
honesty that regulate transactions
between individualsP Would they
TO put the action ON the lower plane
would they have had the prudent sagao-
ity, the wise fOrethOught, TO see that,
as a matter of policy, it were better to
resist the temptation 10 sharp practice
and do the square and manly thingP
We are not left TO suspicion or o0niect-
ure for the answer Tho party has a
record in this same State OF Maine just
a year old, that sets at rest all doubt as
to what Lhey would have done under
similar circumstances. There is no
need to recite it, 1t is enough to say
that just year ago the Democrats of
Maine and their allies, the Greenbaek-
ers, were engaged not merely in taking
advantage OF every technicality and in
fOrmality that actually existed, but ia
making techniCalities and mfOrmalities
by fraud and forgery by which to cheat
the voters OF Maine OF their fairly.ex- !
pressed preference at the polls. That |
tells what they would do IL they had
the opportunity. There can be no
question about II In the mind of any in
telligent man,
Now. though no special merit may
attach TO this action of the Republicans,
we submit that il fairly illustrates the
character of the party as cOntrasted |
with that of the Democracy. No matter
whether they acted from conscientious
purpose, or from an enlightened |
partisan selfshness whatever the
motive, they have done the fair and
square thing. Their opponents made
no attempt, from any motive, TO act
honestly or even decently. We put
the action of the Republicans this year
over against that OF the Democrats last
year, and ask honest men TO note
The contrast. And yet the party that
revealed It's character and purpose 80
thoroughly in the infamous Garcelon
conspiracy Of last year had the
eiIrontery TO make a Presidential can
vass Immediately afterward upon the
issue the only one 10 which it Olung
from beginning TO end of the campaign
that the Republican party was dis
honest and It's candidates were not
men Of personal integrity. Was IL at
all 10 DO wondered ut that the last
desperate shift to which they resorted
in that campaign involved the crimes of
forgery, perjury and subornationP
There is here and there, even now, a
Democratic newspaper that has the as
surance 10 say with chuolxIe that
"the old party Is not dead yet" True ,
enough. and more shame TO It, and TO
the men who keep II alive. We agree
with them; It is not dead. But in
Heavens name ought il not TO beP
Here Ii enough Ia one years record
the fag ends Of which are Just now COM
ing out in the shape OF confessions of
forgery, perjury and fraud--tO condemn
anv Marty Ia death that did nat anbaiah |