The Portland daily press., 1884-11-07
The Duty of Good Citizens.

Of course such condition as that now
existing gives rise in the minds of the sus-
picious to fears that there may have been, or
may be, some illegitimate manipulation of
of the results. But in view of the greas ex-
element and peril to our institutions that
would result from any discovered attempt to
win by fraud. he must be reckless as well
desperate person who without trustworthy
knowledge or conclusive evidence sets afioat
charges Of wrong-doing and INDUCES in in
fammatory appeals and suggestions with
the purpose of leading the people to believe
that the claims of partisan committee men
are more worthy of confidence than the au-
thentic returns.
The attitude which every good citizen
should maintain at this time is that of
patience and resolute purpose, to avoid
yielding to passionate excitement. Thou
sands of those who hope for personal
advantage and profit by the triumph of their
party, and thousands who have staked
more money than they can afford TO lose on
the issue off the election are strongly tempted
to try to affect the result by loud assertions,
brag and violence. They are apt to be
swayed by their prejudices and their inter
ests, and for the time being to abandon Iea-
son and judgment. The Democratic COM
mittees began sending out from New York
to the papers of that party positive assertions
that New York had been carried by the Dem
ocrats long before they had full information,
AMI some of these papers with more credul-
ity than discretion published these guesses
as If they we're authentic and conclusive, aud
on the strength of this proclaimed to their
readers that Cleveland was certainly elected.
When the returns coming in began to
make these hasty and uusubstantiaI claims
doubtful, and it appeared that the State of
New York, outside of the two chief cities,
was likely TO give majority for Blaine that
would wipe out the city majorities against
him, these same papers straightway began
to shout "fraud," as if the returns collected
by the news CATERERS OF the Associated Press
and reported, SO far as appears, with accura
CT and fairness, were less reliable than the
estimates made by interested partisans, on
the basis of very incomplete information.
Not specific instance of an incorrect re-
turn by which Cleveland's interests have
suffered has yet been pointed out, and there
is absolutely no justification whatever for
any suggestion that the returns have been
manipulated or misrepresented'
The object of every patriotic citizen, an
object much more important than the cleo
tion of his candidate, should be the preser
walton of public order; and every instance of
conduct tending to violence or to distrust of
the legitimate means of determining the re-
suit of the election ought to be formed upon,
and resisted. New York is not Southern
State. The election machinery is not framed
to accomplish fraud. The actual result will
be truly declared inEigood time. When
II is declared Republicans and Democrats
alike must accept and abide by it. The on
ly alternative is anarchy. Whatever reports
party committees may receive from parti-
sans, they are not official. The pretence
that the official returns have been received
In Albany already is false. By law the
county eanvassing boards who transmit the
Official returns to the Secretary of State do
not meet until next Tuesday. Let us have
patience, and above all let US maintain the
honor and security of Republican forms of
government, and a temper which is as desir-
Gus to do justice to others as to have justice
done to Us.