The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-10-28
Mn. EDITOR !

MR. EDITOR -
Reaction reaction !! reaction II, With what
swelling triumph the Opposition press trumpet their
success; with what hollow and mournul tones it is
echoed from the Wing press. State after State whose
mojorites were squadrons in the ranks of Harrison
and Tyler, are wheeling back with trailing banners
into the enemy's camp Does any one stop to ask
himself why this is 500 Metaphor apart, what
are at work-what secret agency-what magic sway
what political influence to change the mind of whole
people at once2 Did the battle cry of Tippecanoe
catch the fancy, confirm the judgment, and the
votes of 10000 electors in Ohio2 Was it freak OF
the Imagination that changed almost entirely the vote
of firm and unwaverng old Virginia Was it to
show men that some things can be done as well as
Others that induced almost the whole of these U ned
States by vast maortes to elevate Harrison and our
present Chief Magistrate to office, | not, Mr..
Editor, about to nict upon you volume of poetry
political rhapsody but if sobermnded and thinking
men, the light of what political changes have been
and their causes will resolve these questions there
will be little need Of fancy aught but round IN
vanished tale" to show "by what conjuration and
what mighty magic" the present, changes are caused
The questions above propounded, themselves show the
absurdity of the proposition that lingering love of
Van Burenism, latent affection for Sub treasures
have anything to do with the late political lapses-
Where are we to look, then, for the cause7 Let us
recount in plain and brief way, the experience of
only few years past. In 1886, Gen Harrison was
nominated for the Presidency in opposition to Mr..
Van Buren,. For years the old Wing party had been
striving fol power-toing on in the same way-H Hen
ny Clay at the head, the champion the man of all
al, vpbi al an
last he was dropped; Harrison was nominated an
address was sent to him, letters sent to him; his
principles freely expressed widely known everywhere
read. The contest came on, and against the vast pa
tronago of Government and the scarcely subsding
popularity of the Old Hero" Harrison was nearly
elected there were not States enough to elect him.
and therefore the electoral of two or three States
which would otherwise have been cast for him, were
thrown away upon different candidates The pros
pect was bright, the Harrison flag was at the mast
head and at the succeeding State elections five more
States were Wing by respectable majorities. Wha,
then2 The Wing party was in extaces their sue
cess Unprecedented, their star in the ascend
ant; they stopped not to inquire why this was so,
whence their success, whence the addition TO
their numbers if they cared thought il made no
matter all their hopes to be realized; their
favoe men placed again in the front Of battle
throughout the whole Union, Henry Clay stood in
staring capitals at the head of the columns of the Wing
press What followed2 They had disregardsd their
allies they stood upon their strength and in the
merit fall election they found themselves where they
began every man counted, they stood as they had
for years before, dispirited and defeated BY de-
grees, there was found left between the large
letters at the head Of their newspaper columns and
their editorial TO insert subject to the decision
Of National Convention" What a relief from
those staring capitals what capital relief to the eye
Then came the Comprehensive Harrison and Tyler
Whgs took the field; to the Conservatives the right
hand Of fellowship was extended cordially Harrison
and Tyler nomnated-Harrison' views were
again avowcd and published Tylers course had long
been known-his political views were familiar to all
The result is page in hisiory--a lesson oyergrown
and corrupted parties-an from which to date po
litical record-a land mark Of pure Democratic prn
cples. How stands it now 7 Can any sober-mnded
shut his eyes to the truth Is il a matter TO be
concealed The old Clay Wings were determined 10