Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1884-07-31
THE impndence of the average Demo

The impudence Of the average Demo
crat is monumental Here he is still
bowling about the Electoral Commission
of eight years ago, and treating it as
though it was Republican scheme, es-
pecially devised to cheat his party out OF
the Presidency. The truth is the Repub-
licans were opposed to it. The great body
of the Republicans Of both the Senate
and the House voted against the meas
ure. The Boards authorized by law of
the vari0 IS States had already canyasSed
the vote, and declared the result in their
respective States. The certificates of
these lawfully constituted Boards of
CanVassers- same machinery that
afterward certified for Garfield or for
Hancock, and that will this year certify
for whoever may carry their respective
States-gave the office to Hayes. The So
called Democrats were not satisfied with
the lawful and altogether regular pro-
ceeding of Boards authorized by law to
canvass and ascertain and declare the
votes of the States. simply because the
declaration was against them. They
very we'll knew that the Old Command
er in the executive chair assured the
seating of his lawfully elected predecess-
OF. With him there would be no big
Cling, as with Mr.. Buchanan, when the
same party undertook in another way t.
resist the Inauguration of a Republican
President Thereupon sundry Democrats
of the Senate and of the House, after
much consultation and scheming. got up
the Electoral Commission juggle. Sena-
tor Thurman was a conspicuous and in
fluential advocate of the juggle. Now
he isdenouneing it in unmeasured terms,
and howling fraud at the top of his
voice.
The plan was to provide for five mem
bers from the House, five from the Sem
ate, and FIVE from the Supreme Court
bench. The House was controlled by the
Democrats. That would insure three
members. 1t was exp. cted that the Sen
ate would choose three Republicans and
two Democrats. The scheme provided
that the Justices presiding in certain cir
cuits-Ciifford, Strong, Miller, and Field
should be of the Commission, and that
they should choose the fifth member |
from the court Clifford and Field were |
partisan Democrats, and with the three |
Democrats to be provided by the House |
and two fri IN the Senate the Commissions
woulu stand seven 10 seven, with one to |
lie chosen. 1t was expected by those |
who originated this scheme for another |
chance at the Presidency that Justice
Davis would be chosen the fifteenth |
Next to Clifford he was the
senior Justice. He was not then in acr
cord with the Republicans, and the
Thurmans and Bayards and Hewitts who /
got up this scheme expected him to act |
with their friends on the Commission.
But in January he was chosen to the
Senate from Illinois. at once resigned
his place upon the bench, and Justice
Bradley was chosen the fifteenth mem
Der.
The Electoral Commission was alto-
yether Democratic bantling. The par
" had been beaten at the ballot boxes,
and as in 1851, was un willing to abide the
result, and when commission provided
by themselves, composed of men of high
character, found against them, they set
lp the cry of fraud. The men they i'm
peach are Justices Strong, Miller, and
Bradley, Senators Edmunds, Morton, and
and Representatives Gar
field and Hoar. Clifford, Field, Thurman,
Bayard. Payne. (who recently, bought a
seat in the Ssnate.) Hanlon. and Abbott,
Of course. are upright and immaculate
men.
After that danger was passed, Republi-
,ans undertook by legislation to provide
against like peril. but were resisted at
syery step by the Democrats. The South
made solid by the pistol and the club and
he bull-whip, popular elections a farce
md mockery throughout large part
If that country. it is not desired by the
Democrats that any investigation shall
be made of the manner of conducting
aloof inpc dauyn thpro