New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-11-19
~ LNOTIRY NEEDED.

| The late election will prove to be one OF those
that settle nothing; it unsettles much. 1t Is
! time to have officially established the truth
about elections in the Southern States. III
| there is in every one of these States an honest
majority on a full and free election, and with
fair count, against the Republican party, it is
tine this should be known. If, on the other
hand, there is ground for the prevailing belief
that self govcrnment does not exist III reality III
several southern States, 1t is time to have that
fact known, and to consider what the Constitu-
tion means when it declares that Congress shall
guarantee to every State republican form OF
government. 1t is not worth while TO consider
what remedies are at command until the facts
have been placed before the country in Official
forW.
This is not a question with which the people
of other States have no right to NEEDLE. Either
nv self-government or III defiance of laws OF the
United States, there are elected at the South
153 electors. The addition of As makes
President for the whole country. Either 10y
self government or in defiance of laws of the
United States. there are elected at the South
121 Representatives. These, with AZ from
Northern districts, make laws and originate all
Tariff and other revenue bills for the whole
those industries which exist 10y virtue of Federal
legislation. Either by self-govcrnment or in
defiance of laws of the United States, there are
chosen at the South 6 Legislatures, by which
% Senators are appointed. These, with the
Senators from three Northern states, have
mower. with the Vice President, to make treaties
for the whole country, and to confirm or reject
all amendments, and TO pass or reject all laws.
In the Senate lust thirty-eight members were
elected as Democrats or Readjustcrs, thlrty-two
from the South and six from New Jersey Ohio,
Indiana Nevada. California and Oregon. But
the two Rcadiusers have acted with the kepuO-
ncon marty. and have made manly fight for
full and free elections With them the Repub
licans have majority. But tins very yehr So
called elections held in Alabama. Florida,
Georgia Louisiana. North and South Carolina,
have resulted ~ choosing Legislatures by which
{ slx Democratic Senators will be elected. The
nonpr have II lat 10 know whether these men
have clear titles tu make laws fui ne ALL us have
the six Democrats from Northcfn States. II is
the ,luiy Of The senate to know. before II admita
these men ~ seats, whether they represent the
trr, expressed viii of the people. of, as many
honestly aud lfmly believe only an organized
oonapilac, to detl United States laws aud a.
defeat aclI- governments
The senate has another reason to Investigate
the matter, ny the same elections have been
chosen fort eight electors Ia these six States
the precise number which, with 1913 from the
Solid south, were needed from the North to
elect "a President and ice-presidcnt. The
iorty-cight Northern Democrats have been
fairly chosen at honest elections and on fair
count: but the country has a right to know
whether the forty EIGHT at the South were also
chosen honestly. In other Southern States 1O5
more were chosen, and in some Of them, es-
pccially in Mississippi Tennessee and Virginia,
having twenty-seven electors, it Is also be-
lieved that the sO-called elections have not
represented the free will of the people. These
seventy-tive votes more than balance the sixty
six Hhich were fairly obtained for Cleveland in
Northern States. The people have a right to
know whether the seventy -five were honestly
and fairly chosen by free vote of the whole
people.
Let it be distinctly understood we do not
affirm that the Senate ought To resist the count
inc of the votes Of these States, pc nding an in
yestigation which will require much time The
| evidence usually accepted that CieyeIanu aud
| Hendricks have the votes OF the rOliu South
will probably be prese t l. There should be
mn DELAY or factious resistance without .DrOof to
| sustain it, pending an inquiry which 'pnnOt by
that time be completed. Moreover, that in
| duiry ought to be an honest search for truth, TO
remove false ideas from the public mind, II the