The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-11-20
THE GALAXY.
MltlDlDR1[3[3WRWg VIZ
Wednesday, Nov, 20. 1914.
LOOK ALOFT.

Nothing do we so much regret as TO he
obliged this week to herald to our readers the
sad tidings that Henry Clay, the noble pat
riot, the ereat-hearted and illustrious States
man whom of all men living we most ad
miro, and TO whom thousands aud hundreds
of thousands of his countrymen are clinging
with affection as to the last sheet-anchor OF
the glory and prosperity of the republic, has
been defeated in the Presidential canvass.
We did not believe that Henry Clay, who, for
35 years spent in the service of his country,
and every successive year adding fresh laurels
10 the wreath which encircled his brow as a
! friend and advocate of all those benehcent
measures which, until the spoier came were
fast advancing the country 10 the highest PIN
nacle of national prosperity, could have been
distanced by James K.Polk,a political adven-
turer of Tennessee, whose character as apoli-
tician would render even John Tyler re-
spectable. With the whole Wing press
throughout the Union we did entertain the
most settled conviction that Mr.. Clay's cleo
ton was almost certain. But we have been
most egregiously mistaken by the operation
of causes which would create a blush on the
cheek of every honest American citizen
The defeat of Mr.. Clay has been effected by
the basest scheme of calumny OF his private
character, and the foulest frauds, falsehoods,
and misrepresentation ofhis public measures,
ever before witnessed in our political strug-
giles. And yet hinteddown as the noble gu ar
( nv has been by the basest pack of political
bloodhounds ever let loose upon public
man, aspersed as gambler, wine-bibber, a
backleg, and murderer, he will have the
proud consciousness Of knowing that every
where lie has gone ahead of his party.
And even now, when the bitterness Of the
contest has subsidized in the defeat of our noble
leader we have the satisfaction Of hearing
many ofhis opponents express an utter dis
gust at the manner in which the warfare
las been carried on, and even amidst the graf
ulations ofvictory to hear them interminSle
the most serious solicitude that the very
measures which he advocates should not fail
ofsuccess with theirown party. But all this
foul play we could nothave anticipated, nor
could we have expected to have seen him
robbed of the glory of 80 years of strenuous
and able advocacy of the cause ofdomestc i'll
dustry by being put in comparison with }. X.
Polk, who, in nothing has distins uished him
self except in opposition 10 the great PTinci-
ME of Protection which even the Loco party
at tue North pretend to admire. But least oil
all could we have imagined it possible that Mr.
Clay who openly avows his opposition to an
nexation while repugnant to the wishes ofany
considerable portion of the people of this
Union. and as the head Of the Wing party
who for years past in Congress and out
have uniformly breasted against the encroach-
ments of slavery, could have been regarded
even by the most infatuated abolitionist as
much an annexatonist as a man whom the
most ardent friends Of this measure had Sc
lected as their champion, and who openly
/ claims the merit of an immediate annexation
ist. But new element has suddenly been
intermingIed in the recent struggle which
alone will account for the DISASTROUS result
Of the campaign. Native Americans would
have triumphantly elected Mr.. Clay, but
in every State where he has been defeated it
/ has been effected by foreign votes. The
( Boston Courier says that from to 10 thous-
and citizens were made in the State OF New
I York who never voted before the election on
I Thursday last. The New York Express
says the same, and probably in New York
city, Buffalo and st. Lawrence county, and
belsewhere, more foreigners we're made citi-
zens than the majority given for Polk. This
whole foreign influence led forward by loco
demagogues has been arrayed against us.
Add to all this the tremendous efforts ageinst
Wing Protection by British manufacturers and
importers, backed up by millions Of British
gold; and British Free Trade Tracts broad
cast through the land. Romish influence
arrayed on sectarian grounds against the he
retic Frelinghuysen, the enfuriated free trade
and slavery influence Of the South, stimula-
ted into ten fold energy by the holders Of
Texas scrip to the amount Of Tens of Millions,
and all these mighty combinations pressing
down upon the Wings, while deserted by
their natural allies the abolitionists who have
been stimulated by Birney and the leaders in
to the bitterest hostility against us, and who
can marvel that the Wing party have been
| discounted.
But Wings,