Year: 1877

The ballots for the Electoral College |
were cast on the seventh of November |
When it was announced and generally |
accepted that the majority of these were |
for the Democratic candidate, there was
a feeling of relief IN all parts of the eoun-
try. The previous campaign had been |
one of intense excitement, and the mass |
was over. Nor was there among the
rank and file of the Republican party
any bitter feeling in regard to the result.
Those who had the least confidence in
Mr.. Tilden felt that parties were SO near
ly balanced in the country, there was
nothing to fear from the new Admins
tratien. Our Office was thronged with
prominent Republicans who openly
auowed their satisfaction. They were
glad to see the corrupt leaders and wire
pullers of their party severely rebuked.
They were tired iof apologising for and
defending men and practices of evil re-
pute. They had the Senate as check
upon any tendenay to legislation that
would unsettle their cherished traditions,
ana they seemed to feel quite willing
that the responsibilities of government
should rest for awhile on the shoulders
of the present opposition. ,s.
1t was, indeed, as far as the best hui
man judgments could determine, the
dawning of an area of good feeling.
Business was quick to catch the inspiring
tone, and there was common purpose
everywhere to enter at once upon new
enterprises, so be justified by the general
return of confidence. A few extreme
partisans were angry and chafng, but
we never saw q heated political contest
which was followed by SO little acrimo-
nious feeling, the defeated party every
where manifesting unusual good nature
even in the presence OF the exultant vic
tors. Had Oregon, OF some other small
State not now included, been counted in
with the Democratic majority at that
moment, SO as to leave no available open
ing to dispute the sesult, we honestly be-
heve the country would have entered
almost Immediately upon new career
of material prosperity. The people were
ready for 1t, and nothing but a revival
of confidence was needed to effect
it.


pended on the returns from States where
the vote could be disputed, the contest
began in earnest. The dreary interval of
three months need not be desert bed; there
has been doubt, alarm, uncertainty, and
further sinking into the abyss of des-
pondency. At one time not few were
apprehensive that the contest between
the two parties for the succession would
lead-through the intolerance of one or





armed strife, at least to a long and fierce
struggle, with two candidates and their
supporting adherents, each claiming to
be the rightful head of the Government.
To avoid such disaster both factions
united in the appointment of tribunal
to which the questions at issue should be
submitted. Whatever may be said of the
method of treatment by the umpire thus
created, the fact itself that both parties
agreed to abide by its decision is one of
the most important in the entire history
of republican institutions. This sublime
spectacle has Justly excited the admira-
| ton of all the friends of government
by the people throughout the world,


1t is useless to deny that there is deep
course pursued by the tribunal to whom
| these grave questions were submitted.
If the members of this body have con-
sented to full and careful examination
| of the evidence offered, and then, even
| by party vote, decided that the proofs
| were in favor of the fair election of the
Republican candidate by the people, there
| would have been no bitter murmuring at


the result. Their Judgment might have


been questioned, and they might have


been accused of partisan blindness but
the fact that they weighed the testimony
and professed to render the verdict in
each case as the proofs seemed to warrant


would have bound all honorable men to


accept their decision as expressing their
own conviction of the truth.


| But there has been no trial of the case,


no examination of evidence, nothing to
show that single member of the tribu-
| nal gave moments thought to the
question uppermost in the minds of all
condid people. Was the vote of Florida
really for the Hayes or the Tilden Elec-
tors? The tribunal would not inquire
/ Uno fhn tnf Of In nosA rif -


the people of Louisiana illegally and
fraudulently set aside by the notorious
Returning Board? The tribunal refused


to consider this important inquiry! The
Board thus created to decide question


of fact between rival claimants met the
difficulty without solving it, and simply


decided that Mr.. Hayes should profit by


the returns favorable to him, and be held


to have been duly elected


| All parties are bound by this decision


because they have agreed in good faith


to accept the award of the tribunal We


take it for granted therefore that there
will be no opposition in any form to the


Inauguration of Mr.. Hayes, who is
| thus returned as the successful candidate.
And he ought not only to be accepted,


but also to be generously treated. A


very considerable majority of the eight


millions of electors feel that they have


been fraudulently deprived of the Presi


dent Of their choice. The position Of


the new Chief Magistrate, if he accepts


the Office thus obtained, will therefore


be exceedingly trying, and no true friend


of the country will Increase his embar
T. ments by making an unseemly or fac
titious Opposition to the new Admins
tration. Our own rule has always beer
to commend, where we can without a


violation of conscience, every act of those


who are in authority; and at any rate tc


treat them with that consideration and
respect which is due to the office who


ever may be Che incumbent, or however
he may have obtained it.


We can hardly hope for such a return


Of business prosperity as would havefol
lowed an era of good feeling; but the un


certainty being over, there must be a Ia


vorable reaction, and all should do wha


they can to promote and foster reviva
of trade and increased activity in all in
dustrial pursuits. The bitterness OF die
: appointment will be softened little BY
} little with each passing hour, and the
sense of wrong itself in the party now
: smarting under defeat will give place a