Year: 1876

depends upon both sides exercising
great and unusual patience and self
restraint. We are in o crisis where dema-
gogues may do infinite mischief; where they
ought, by common consent, to be sent to the
rear and true craftsmanship should come to
the front. But while patriotic self-restralnt
is required of both sides q very peculiar
degree of responsibility rests on the repubii-
can leaders. We think it useful to point
this out to them and the country.


In the first place no greater calamity could
happen to the country than the installation
Of q President about whose election there
could be reasonable doubt in the MINDS OF
reasonable men. Those who opposed him
in the canvass would feel constant and IN
curable sting at what would appear to them
o gross wrong and injustice; OF those who
voted for him the honest and patriotc part
would be tortured with doubts; and an ad-
ministration SO headed and formed could
not have the moral influence without which
the mere physical force of the government is
useless We need not 60 back in history to
the civil disturbances which have been
caused by a belief in the popular
mind that false heir occupied the
throne We have in our own country
a conspicuous example Of tho terrible
evils which gre sure to fall on q community
when considerable and intelligent part OF
it sincerely believes that its ruler was not
legally chosen. We refer to the unhappy
case of Louisiana large and the
most intelligent part of the voters of Lou
isiana have for nearly four years sincerely
believed that Governor Kellogg did not in
the election af 1872 receive a majority of the
votes and that he is not therefore OF
right and lawfully the Governor Of the
State The result has been . continuous
state Of irritation, restlessness, impatience,
growing hatred of what they believe to be
usurpation condition of the public
mind which has inflicted iRcalculable
losses and injuries on the industry and the
society Of the State and which has on two
occasions caused popular uprisings. To
spread similar plague over the whole
Union would be blow SO fatal that we need
not recite its results.


We rejoice to see that President Grant
perceives this clearly. In his order to Gen.
eral Sherman in relation to the placing Of
troops, which we print elsewhere, he uses
words which are most honorable to him and
which accurately express the thoughts of all
patriotic men. He says :-''Should there be
any grounds of suspicion Of fraudulent
counting on either side it should be re-
ported and denounced at once. No man
worthy the Office of President should be will
ing to hold it if counted in or placed there
by any fraud. Either party can afford to be
disappointed in the result but the country
cannot afford to have the result tainted by
the suspicion of illegal or false returns"
. General Grant has done many wise acts,
but this is the wisest act of his life It will
do much to reassure the public of both sides,
and the nation will thank him for his
timely and patriotic words. Indeed, too
much praise cannot be given to the Presi-
dent for the attitude he has now publicly
taken. Whoever may be his successor, Cen
eral Grant will have the satisfaction that
he has done his duty to the country; and
the people will appreciate his bipartisan





terday the conduct which earned him the
praise OF the world when he received
General Lees sword at Appomattox.
ssLet MS have peace" The Presidents
words of yesterday will live in our history,
and, if carried out in his own straightfor-
ward manner, will link his name with those
of Washington and Lincoln.


We call public attention also to the ex-
cellent suggestion of the President that
representative and fair men of both parties
shall 60 to Louisiana, South Carolina and
Florida to satisfy themselves and the men,
bers of their parties that fair count is
made of the votes. We trust both parties
will at once designate several of their
most prominent and public spirited mem~
bers to go to Louisiana, on which State
the result Of the election seems now most
likely to turn. Such men as Mr.. Evarts
Judge Hoar and General Dix on the repub-
lican side, and Mr.. O'Conor, Mr.. Belmont
and Mr.. Groesbeck on the democratic, could
render verdict which the whole country
would accept


There is no reason to fear that we shall
not get out of the present emergency to the
satisfaction of everybody. 1t only requires
that some reputable statesmen of both par
ties shall come forward, and, in q spirit of
amity and fairness, superintend the count
in Louisiana, and unite upon q verdict
which shall answer oil the doubts of the
people. In this matter. however, the repub-
lican leaders ought to make the first adj
vances, and ought, for the sake of their own
good fame and future standing with the
country, to be the most solicitous for o set
tlement which shall satisfy everybody and
all parties. They must not forget, in the
first place. that, as the party in power, they
are chiefly responsible for tho peace and