Year: 1877

The Joint Committee OF the Senate
md House Of Representatives have sub
mitted plan for counting the Electoral
votes, which, we think, will meet with
Congressional favor. By its provisions
all disputed questions growing out Of the
count are to be referred to a Commission
to be composed Of FIVE Senators, five Rep
resentatIves, and five justices Of the Su-
preme Court. While the ruling Of this
Commission is not final but subject to
Congressional revision, we think there is
little doubt Of its adoption.


1t is not necessary for us to say that
the plan agreed upon does not meet with
the favor OF The extremists of either par
ty. Nothing in the nature of a compro-
mise can be acceptable to such. But ex.
tremists are not just the class of men
needed now, and while as a rule, all
compromises should be avoided and right
never be made 10 yield to expediency.
the present situation Is one which calls
for the exercise Of every principle Of for
bearance. 1t is only yielding for a time
certain rights upon each side which are
disputed by the other. 1t speaks well
for the patriotism OF those Senators and
Representatives of whom the present
committee is composed, that it has, with
such unanimity, agreed upon the plan
submitted. Doubtless its members re-
allied that there was no hope Of quiet
solution Of the question except through
their action, and this knowledge made
itself felt in their deliberations.


The fact that party has been thus far
lost sight of in the desire for the pub
lie good, leads us to the hope that the
Commission provided for in the bill will
enter upon the subject in the same spirit.
The eyes Of the nation are fixed upon
them, in the hope that a wise, prudent
and patriotic judgment may enable them
to solve the vexed questions in a man
ner which will leave the impression that
substantial justice has been done and the
true choice of the people determined -
And 1t must be borne in mind, that in
this matter the Republicans are surrend-
ering for the sake of peaceable solution,
the strong vantage ground they occupy.
With the Democrats, any change from
the present situation promises for their
n1Vuut0np and vyn fhar.fnr. Il
der at their readiness to accept the plan.
The Republicans, however, believe that
Hayes has a majority Of the Electoral
votes, and that the power 30 open and
declare the vote rests with the President
of the Senate. And were they disposed
to press their partisan advantages there
is no question out Mr.. Hayes would be
declared elected. But the country can
better stand four years of Democratic
rule under Mr.. Tiden with a Republ-
can Senate to hold him in check, than it
can President whose right to rule is
disputed by any considerable number of
people.


We are aware that many Of the lead


ngs ones of our own party will oppose
the compromise bill recommended by the
committee. They feel convinced that
Hayes mas been lawfully and honestly
elected, and to them anything in the ma
ture OF compromise is q surrender ofthe
Republican party TO the bull-dozing
Democracy. To them it seems coward.y
TO yield because the lower House is con
trolled by their political opponents, and
threatens to make trouble unless it can
have its own way. That Is the way it
looks to US, but what the country wants
Is peace, and the opportunity to discuss
the mode of future elections and draw
from the experience Of this one, lessons
by which such complications us have now
besct US may beavoided.