The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-11-12
Wait and See.

There are many evidences that judicious
men in either party mean to keep cool and
wait for the official declaration of The result,
as the Republican National Committee has
asked the people TO do. Mr.. George Bliss
in sharp letter to the New York Herald
which had undertaken TO Iebuke him for
consentiDg to serve as counsel for the Re-
publican party in watching the canvass of
votes in New York County says. "Yol are
entitled to your opinion. l and others are
entitled to ours. l choose te hold mine in
allegiance until the properly selected tribu-
nais settle the question. You do not pursue
that conservative course.'' And he reminds
that journal that neither it nor ex-eerpora-
ton counsel Whitney, nor the Democratic
committee has been selected by any proper
tribunal to decide whether Cleveland or
Blaine is elected. The Democratic party, or
large number Of persons in it have chosen
to consider settled matter which in fact is
in doubt, and to celebrate their hoped-for
success as if it had been definitely ascer-
tanned. That is their affair; but, none the
less, we hold to the opinion that it was an
unwarranted and mischievous proceeding,
and almost on par with celebrating vie
tory before the election has been held. The
thing for every good citizen to do under
present circumstances is what Mr., Bliss says
he shall do, hold his personal opinion sin
allegiance until the properly selected tribu-
nails settle the question:
Senator John Sherman of Ohio takes the
same ground, according to despatch else
where printed. He thinks ''the situation 10
as dangerous as the result is close and
doubtful and that it is the duty of every
law abiding citizen to be ''on his good be-
havier," to practice forbearance, and 10 re-
frain from anything which tends TO provoke
partisan temper. So far is he from vaunt-
ing or claiming success in the face of the
conditions known that he said he would not
raise his flag any more while the matter is
so doubtful. That is not because Senator
Sherman is Democrat, or mugwump. or
coward, or unfaithful to the Republican
cause or its candidates; but because he de-
sires to set an example to his fellow citizens
"a Ola POI iOo VA tAC DCdltuS dL bO CIlU~
ical time, all men should assume, aa atti-
tude not of defiant pariizanship but of good
citizenship waiting with respect and defer
ence for the lawful determination of dis
puted election, doing nothing to infame
popular excitement and nothing to make it
harder for those who may be disappointed to
submit peacefully and with no unnecessary
modification.
This election has passed beyond the stage
where opinions about the merits Of the par
ties, and enthusiasm for leaders have any
thing to do with the settlement of the yet
disputed issue. The elimination of errors
and frauds IN making returns of the vote, If
any have occurred, is judicial process. The
county and State canvassing boards are the
bodies who exercise this judicial function in
the first instance, and afterwards, it it comes
to that, the courts will be invoked. The in
terests of the Democratic party are to be
watched and guarded by a numerous and
able body of counsel. Are they not trusted
by Democrats? If they are, why all this
fury of popular demonstration? Is it hoped
to sway the judges from giving Judgment
according to the truth? We hope not. The
interests Of the Republican party are also to
be watched and guarded by an able body of
legal counsellors. We believe that they will
be able to do all that can rightly be done to
secure to Mr.. Blaine all the votes to which
he is lawfully entitled. If the Republicans
should hold meetings as the Democrats have
done, and resolve that our candidates are
elected anyway, it would not help them at
all.
We must wait and see. And perhaps we
shall have to wait many days before the fioal
result is reached. The patience of all
will be sorely tried, perhaps; and there is no
better counsel to take to heart at this time
with a resolution to abide by it, than that of
Senator Sherman. every man should be
on his good behavior, keep in good humor
and keep down excitement. This may be
done without abating one jot of hopefulness
that our candidates have been chosen, or an
atom of determination that if chosen they
shall be inaugRrated.