The Evening critic., 1884-11-11
THE SITUATION.
The Claims of tbe Two Parti

The Claims of the Two Parties.
Charles Emory Smith, editor OF tho phill-
delphia Press telegraphs his paper from New
YORK tho following concerning tho situations
"NEw YORK, Nov. 1O.-The central facts OF
the situation here are easily stated. 4 brush
aside the cloud OF reports, some delusivo anu
come well SUE tanned, and proceed directly to
the heart OF the matter.
sin the first place the insido Democratic
figures are considerably less than any OF the
Democratic papers have given. The Demo.
cratic managers have dropped their claimed
plurality for Cleveland on the face OF tho re-
turns TO 400 or even less. They are not giving
out these figures. on the contrary they are
btudiously Withholding them; but thoy LEAK
out none tho less. Tho highest ngnre l nave
heard named as their responsible claim Is
69S, but that was before some errors were dis
covered.
plurality on which they LOW stand 10 not more
Than $50: but let them have the benefit OF the
intermediate'ngure.
ain the second place, tho number OF ballots
In New York city alone returned as detective
BLANK Is considerably larger than this
margin. Whom are they forp Gan they DO
counted? suppose they were really intended
for Blaine and suppose they could DO added
decided
at is known that a considerable number OF
Blaine ballots were thrown aside because tho
long name OF one elector was clipped. II ls
believed that others were rejected because OF
an incorrect caption. An examination may
disclose errors on both eides. / do not now
follow tho stories that in several localities
Butler or 81. John ballots were counted for
Cleveland; that In ono place n glaring fraud
10 alleged; that In another the reported vote
materially exceeds the poll list and 80 on.
"Without dwelling on these reports there
are enough ballots in the New YORK city 70.
turns whose character and import are not yet
fully determined TO outnumber oil OF the
small plurality for Cleveland. These unde.
,ermined ballots actually appear in the re-
I'm plurality OF only $50 In 100000 votes,
there is room for honest errors which would
entirely change the result. II means a margin
OF only one in every $500 votes.
"who would accept a plurality OF one In a
vote OF 2,500 for Alderman or Representative
rs conclusive without waiting for tho ofIlcial
canvass? Under such circumstances the Ma
tional Committee would have been towards
and recreants II they had not followed the re-
turns to tho Official canvass. 1t was due to
themselves, their party, their candidate and
their country that they should take all proper
precautions to secure an honest canvass and
fair count.
'Messrs. Jonep, Elkins, Clarkson and other
members OF the National Committee are CIV
Ing themselves up with patriotic spirit to this
duty. No candid and fair-minded man can
go over the ground with them without being
impressed with their sincerity and their sense
OF public responsibility and obligation. They
honestly believe from such facts as they have
gathered that Mr.. Blaine fairly carried New
York.
"whether this can be 30 established as to
count In the official canvass is the question to
be determined. They are faithfully seeking
TO ascertain tue actual result OF the election.
They neither encourage nor tolerate any
wrong on their own side, and they Will not
submit 10 wrong on the other side, II they can
help IT,. II II shall appear that Mr.. Cleveland
has an honest plurality OF q single vote, they
Will readily acquiesce. Tho contest on their
part is to determine the real Will OF the people;
the contest on the part OF the Democratic Com
mittee, as Is already clear from their line OF
operations, Is TO stand on the technicallties.
SIN this contest the Republican managers
labor under the great disadvantage OF having
oil the election machinery in the hands OF
their opponents. In order to succeed they are
compelled to make their case 30 clear and I'M
deniable as to extort acquiescence and appro-
val from their adversaries. This fact itsoIf
while 1t lessons their chances, assures tran
quiliity In any event, and 1t ought to allay all
disquietude and to rebuke the foolish talk OF
disturbance In some quarters"