Year: 1877

The most significant feature of the political
complication continues to be the confidence
exhibited by the public in the ultimate sense
of justice and the ability and disposition of
the Republicans to settle the whole question
upon the basis of what is right and just.
This confidence is not confined to the Repub-
licans themselves or to men OF Republican
prOclivites who think and act for the most
part independently of party. The Democrats
themselves participate in it. The conversation
of their leading men and managers and the
utterances of their newspapers all go to show
it. What is more, the utter futility of the
efforts that have been made by few mischief
making demagogues to create popular ex-
citement for the purpose of influencing the
action Of Congress has shown very clearly not
only that the people have faith in the honesty
of the Republican Senate on the one hand, but
that they have no confidence whatever on the
other in the professions of the Democracy. This
comes of character Each party is known
by its record. If it is the good fortune OF the
Republican party to have impressed the conn
try, notwithstanding its frequent blunders and
bad leadership, with the feeling that it means
upon the whole to act honestly and not permit
the welfare of the many to be sacrificed to the
interests of the few, it is equally the misfor-
tune of the opposition to have impressed the
people with a sense of its blind seliishness, OF
utter recklessness of consequences in carrying
its points. The country is quiet to-day, not
because of any faith in the disposition of Dir.
Tildens supporters to obey the law and pre-
serve order, but simply because the people
trust the good sense and the honest purposes
of the Senators who did not vote for Mr.. Til
den but who are believed to be more bent on
doing justice than on personal or partisan ag-
grandizement.


The difference in behavior of the representa-
tive men of the two parties has been especially
marked from the commencement of the dis
pute. The law-abiding and Order-lOving dis
position of the Republicans, as has since been
often remarked, was clearly shown in the first
twenty -four hours after the election, when the
Democratic success in New-York seemed, and
was taken to be, decisive of the result. The
contrary disposition Of the Democrats has been
manifested ever since the questions arising in
the disputed States began to be discussed. On
the one hand there has been quiet but fixed
determination to abide the result, whatever it
might be, and patient waiting for the dec
| laration on the other, a great deal OF buster
and threatening, accompanying positive asser-
| ton and prejudgment of the whole case, with


out facts or testimony. Popular faith in the


Justice and fairness of the decision finally to


be reached has been increased by the impair


tial and judicial attitude of many of the Re-


publican Senators during all this time, while


the universal disrust of the clamOrOus claim
ants has been heightened by the boisterous
| language and threats of turbulence with
which they have demanded immediate and
unconditional judgment in their favor. The
effect of all this is apparent now in the some


what changed attitude of the Northern Demo-
cratic leaders and newspapers. The judicial
reserve exercised by Republican Senators has
affected them as well as the general public
| and they are now resting in the assurance that
| the result of the election will be ultimately
determined by the Republican majority IN the
! Senate in whose hands the law to all intents
| leaves it, upon the basis, not of partisanslip,
but of law and justice. This is not only in the
highest sense complimentary TO the Senator's
who have so wisely refrained from committing
themselves upon the question in advance, but
is also evidence in some degree OF the SINGER
ity of those supporters OF Mr.. 1ildeD who in


sist that he has been elected, and are willing
| 10 rest their case before fair tribunal upon
the Law and the facts.


The situation then in Congress we believe
| to be this Every Democratic Congressman
and Senator has committed himself in advance
upon the question, and with more or less
earnestness has taken the position OF an adyo-
cate. while in both Senate and House aIc