West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1884-10-17

conscience your country, and your God"
The Democracy aud the Electoral Com.
mission.
The Chicago hatcr Or-an finds il
necessary To review the Electoral Com
mission business and To conclude that
the bill creating the Commi,s on was
largely Democratic measure, because
IL received Democratic votes, and that
therefore the Democratic party is
eStoppcd from complaining about tho
result. This is mere evasion of the
real point at issue. IL has never been
denied that the bill received Democratic
support, or that certain prominent
Democrats advocated its PASSAGE. The
charges of fraud and corruption made
by the Democracy were and are directed
not against the passage of the bill. but
against the action of the Commission
after il was organized The facts are
very simple. An unprecedented omrr.
gcncy had arisen Tilden had been
elected by large popular ma ority and
also by n majority of votes in the Elcc.
tDral College, but the Republicans had
control of the Government, the EX-
ecutive and all other departments. and n
determined conspiracy was formed TO
set at naught the result OF the election
and To prevent the Inauguration
OF the peoples choice The leaders of
the Democracy were well aware of All
this; they fully understood tha con
dition OF affairs existed dangerous To
the peace of the country; business in
forests were alarmed and Il strong
pressure was cNcrtcd i'm favor of some
mode OF amicablc adjustment In this
position of the matter the Electoral
Commission bill was devised and was
oiierodQS q fair aud honorable mode of
settling the difficulty. II really pro-
posed board of arbitration, before
which all the points touching tho re-
turns from the contested States were TO
be submtted-the decision reached to
be hnaL lt was n method wholly un
sanctioned by the Constitution and en-
tircly novel in character. But on the
face OF 1T, supposing the members TO be
truthful. honorable and patriotic men.
1T seemed to present u reasonably fair
plan for examining and dccidinO the
points involved. II wac not regarded
with favor 10y the Democratic party
generally, but II was accepted by some
of the Democratic Representatives ana
Senators and accepted i'm the belief and
expectation that nothing but GOOD faith
and honor would control the action of
the Commission. 1t seemed TO I've then
the only proposition which offered a
prospect of avoiding 20 menacng condi.
tiOn OF affairs and alaying the public
excitement. The Commission consisted
OF fifteen members. divided politically
into eight Republicans and seven Dem.
Gratis live Representatives. five Scna
tors and five members of the Supreme
Court. What the action OF the BODY
was when organized IL is unnecessary
TO review. IL is enough TO say that the
eight Republicans voted rs panisans.
irrespective of all other considerations
Appointed as court TO hear the case
and decide ON its merits, they refused
TO hcar the evidence or 10 canvass the
merits. Appointed specially 70 examine
the points, which could not be fully
developed before Congress. respecting
the contested returns, they ignored
and refused 10 discharge this special
and solemn duty They voted rs The
puppets Of the political con-pirators
behind them, regardless Of the honor
Of the Senate and House Of Rcprcscnta-
tive Of the United States. of the fame
and reputation Of the highest court in
the land. They voted rs blind political
tools, operated by the daring and rock
less hands of political wire pullrrs aud
intrigucrs. They put Mr. Hayes IN the
PresdencY-a weak, vain man. who
mad not the courage or patriotism to
decline an honor coming through so
polluted channel; and so congum-
mated National disgrace that will al
ways disiigurc our history and bo a re-
proach 10 American manhood
To talk about The Electoral Commits
sion as n Democratic measure Is there
fore utterly false and misleading. With
rare maguanimity and sclf-restraint
the democratic party consented.
Through some of It's leaders. to refer the
disputed returns to p board for invcsG-
CATION the board refuses 10 inve stigatc.
but decides according 90 the parGalitics
OF a majority Of its members. This is
the case in nutshell this Is the fraud.
the trayesty Of Justice that can never
bc forgotten, that continually forces it-
self on the memory Of the people, q4
an illustration OF Radical poliIcs. and
a- warning Of The possibilities of part
Izanship. even among the members Of
our higher tribunals. The whole
business has wrought incalculable evil
by weakening public respect for the
forms Of law and actions of udgcs H.
hangs round fle neck Of the Republican
party to-day like q milestone. drargin,
no To- destruction. 81. IOUis RrDubItr05l
.
In Michigan, whore John a
Logan has ucoI making c1mpa.pn
speeches thcy cl-sc the schools when
ever hc hcsycs in sight The rhooI
au'horitIo- ore in error in a.sumiuV
from Logan amazing iguorancc that
hc is oppo- % to schools Hc is fhc au-
thor in ccd OF quite am Educational
tilL