New Britain herald., 1916-11-11
FORTY YEARS AGO.

uations ever created in the political
life of the United States arose from
| the presidential elections of 1876,
forty years ago. The tenseness Of the
! returns of this present day election
up until midnight Thursday recalls
those stirring days Of the Rutherford
3. Hayes-SamueI J. Tilden fight.
Tilden, a native of New York, who
had held the highest administrative
offices in the state, was nominated by
the Democratic party. The Republic
can convention nominated Hayes Of
Ohio. Although Democratic major
tiles seemed to carry the entire coun-
try, the existence of three dual state
governments in the South threw Il
shadow of doubt over the outcome.
In Louisiana the official returning
board was under the complete dOnli-
nation Of the Republican governor.
All the votes had to be reviewed by
this board and they declared the Re-
publican presidential electors chosen,
the Governor giving these men their
certificates. The Democratic candi-
date, declaring himself elected,
wrote certificates for the Democratic
presidential electors. Two sets of
votes from Louisiana were therefore
sent to Congress. In Florida and
South Carolina similar situations
were manifest, each state having two
governors and two legislatures, each
faction claiming the elections. In
oregon there was another complica-
ton, Republican elector was re-
jected The situation in the country
was such that if the disputed votes
should all be given to the Republican
electors Rutherford B. Hayes would
be chosen President of the United
States by one vote. If any one of
these votes was lost, the election was
lost to the Republicans
AS the House Of Representative
was Democratic and the Senate Re-
publican, it was impossible for them
to agree on counting the votes. In
January of 1877 an Electoral Com
members to be chosen by the SEN
ate, five by the House, and five to be
members of the Supreme Court. The
Commission as finally made up con-
tanned eight Republicans and seven
Democratic members, and every vote
was upon partisan lines. Every ques-
ton brought up was decided by a
count Of eight to seven. The Ameri-
can people never believed the merits of
the case were rightfully decided. The
minority members and the ma jOrity
mem bers acted alike in their PARTISAN
ship, even members Of the Supreme
Court being disCredited by their
actions. Two days before the estab-
ished inaugural date, Rutherford B.
Hayes was elected President of the
United States and shortly after his
inauguration he ordered the with
draWal Of the Federal troops from
the South, the troops that had been
guarding the Republican governments
OF Louisiana and South Carolina, and
by whose authority Hayes had been
elected PRESIDENT The Democratic
governments then took the places of
the Republican governments in these
states. Their votes, had they been
previously recognized would have
elected Samuel J. Tilden to the presi
j dency.
There is little posi- bility of a mix
up in 1916 such as the one that took
! place in 1876, although the situations
, are somewhat similar. Rutherford
: B. Hayes was q defeated Republican
! candidate for the Presidency, and won
! out in the end because of the manipu-
lation of one electoral vote. He had
nothing to do with the outcome, Of
! course; but he accepted the office and
! occupied it with every degree of hon
| esty and blameless character