Year: 1876

sairy Gnmps-The south Carolina situ-


aiion-RandaiI and the speakership.


NEW YORK Dec. 8, 1876.


1t appears to be generally taken for granted
that the Louisiana Returning Board will award
certificates to the Hayes electors This will
give the Republican candidate for President Q
majority of one, If no doubt existed as to the
fairness of the count, that would be the end of
the matter. The Democrats are eager for pow
er but there are enough wise and polite leaders
among them to prevent any revolutionary pro-
ceedings for its attainment, unless the allega-
tions of fraud are sabstantiated in such q way
as to give them case on which they can hope to
stand before the country. Itrequirss no very pro-
found sagacty to comprehend that neither par
ty can take the reins of government with safety
if their right to do so is rendered questionable
by well.founded suspicious of the honesty of the
methods by which it was established. The
Presidency would be barren sceptre indeed to
either incumbent if he were TO hold it without
the sustaining power derivable only from the
moral sense of the nation. Defeat with honor
is infinitely preferable to success with disgrace,
aud the one supreme object among men Of all
parties should certainly be to insist that no cleo
toral vote should be cast in the scale for either
candidate that has the slightest tant of trickery
or legerdemain about it.


Several circumstances have combined to en-.
gender public distrust of the Louisiana board
of canvassers. Its members are all of one par
ty and it has steadfastly refused to give the
minority representation in Its councils by fll-
ing the existing vacancy which makes it incom-
plete. 1t has dalled with the canvass Ia q
most aggravating way, with apparent indiffer-
ence to the anxious suspense with which its
decision has been awaited. There has been a
degree of secrecy if not of mystery about Its de-
iiberations that it is difficult for persons at a
distance to reconcie:with the purpose to beu
to the line of infexible justice, Nevertheless
these things may all be susceptible of satisfac-
tory explanation. Very possibly the induction
of new member was prevented by the sppre-
hension that he might succeed in negotiating
with his colleagues by the use of persuasive ar
guments, to which the politicians of that state
are not popularity supposed to be inkpervious.
The other dubious appearances may all be- ac-
counted for. There have been keen watchers
of the scene of both parties, and until their re-
ports are rendered and carefully compared and
analyzed it will scarcely be possible to form an
intelligent opinion on the subject.


If it turns out that Hayes has carried tho
state without any improper rejection. or sinis-
ter manipulation of the votes-that the return
ing board has scrupulously adhered to the law
In letter and spirit, and the finding is entitled
to the acceptance of the successful party and
the acquiescence of the defeated party, the re-
suit will be so declared and enforced. If on the
other hand it should unfortunately be shown
that ballotsshavelbeen withheldyfrom the Dem
ocratic candidate which really belonged to him,
in such number as to have turned the scale, the
honest Repubicansi in the Senate and the
House will scorn to take advantage of the
wrong. The Republican party has great his-
tory and stainless record. 1t is the grand
est organization of men known to our
continent if not t. the world. Power
fal in numbers and stronger still in the
great moral ideas that constitute its
base, it has done mora to improve and
elevate the ambition Of mankind during the
twenty-one years of its existence, than any 9TH
er agency of civilization. Founded in protest
against the tyranny of caste and the evils of
misgovernment, it has grown purer and sbetter
at every stage of its progress. 1t was never
wortbier Of confidence and support than when it
entered upon its last campaign. 1t had so nearly
eliminated extravagance and corruption from
our'political system that the BURDENS of the war
were rapidly becoming lighter, and the public
credit higher. The government never was ad-
ministered with greater fidelity, ability and
conservatism than it has beeD under the firm
"a DIV do of Ha hsa
shown himself to be resolute without obstinscy,
statesmanlike without pedantry, and honest
Misunderstanding to be monopolist of tnss
negative quality. If the party is to resign tenn


porarily the control of affairs, it can retire like
its honored leader with the conscious pride of
having accomplished grand work, and the
undoubting assurance of the grateful pesns of
posterity.


The time is not opportune for considering too
| curiously thescauses which have brought this
| illustrious party to so serious strait. 1t has
| suffered grievously from the credulity and
| weakgess OF profes sed friends 1t has been
uursed to death by political Sairy Camps and
/ Betsey Prigs who would persist in believing
| that sickness was the chronic condition of all
| parties and that they were created to sit up
II
their intervals Of snuff taking, they have been
| shaking their frowsy heads and whining their
| calculations of mingled pity and invective iu
the ears of the luckless patient Of whom they
| had constituted themselves the attendants
| When their peculiar treatment threatened dis


solution they went round wringing their hands,
piteOusly begging the friends to interpose.
Then itlhad become matter of mo trifiing ef-
| fort to;counteract the mischief the old crones


had done. So we have seen simple minded


folk Ibewailing :in an imbecile and driveling
| sort of way the alleged short comings and COR
| ruptions of the administration, which existed


only in their imaginati0ns, and moaning and


rroaning over the degeneracy of the times in


eyident.unconsciousne that they the mselves


were thesmost pitiable specimens to be found


anywhere of the decadence of manliness ard
| fidelity to principle. The worst enemies Of the


Republic have been the dupes of clamor in the


domnent party who have insulted 1t with


apologetic criticisms and impertinent censor


ship. Some of them doubtless eau lay claim to


sincerity, but this plea must in all such cases be


accompanied with the admission of stupidity.


There is but one danger that confronts the


Republican party now; that is the danger Of


acquiring new lease of power by doubtfU,


title 1t is simply.a misfortune to be beaten


by numbers, or even by fraud. 1t Is on ire


trievable disgrace to win by artifice and schem-