Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-11-04
THE ELECTION.

The telegraphic dispatches which will be
found in our columns this morning, leave no
room for doubt to the result of the Presidential
election. The Democracy are victorious, and
Franklin Pierce of N. Hampshire will be the next
President of these United States. We had ar
dently hoped to witness issue of the great civil
conflict in which we have been engaged, more
suspicious for the true honor and interests OF the
country, but being deyout believers in that home
ly axiom of philosophy which teaches the folly OF
crying about split milk, we shall indulge in no la
mentations over our defeat. Four years of mis-
rule are doubtless in store for US, but what are
four years in the life of great nation The
Wings it is true, are delivered up to the Philis-
tines for season, but the locks in which their
power resides. will grow ere the expiration OF
Mr.. Perce's olympiad, aud enable them, like
tho strong man in the Holy Writ, to snap the
cords with which they are now bound.
We forbear for the present to enter into any ex-
PLANTATION OF the causes that have led to the over
throw OF the Wing party in this election. These
causes win doubtless develope themselves more
plat My, and the secret influences that have been
at work, will be brought more papably to light
when the smoke of the conflict shall have cleared
away. As soon as we enabled to take COM
plete survey of the field, we propose to advert to
this subject.
The election of Franklin Pierce over Winfield
Scott like that of James X. Polk over Henry
Clay is the triumph of gni6cance over talent,
merit and ilustrious public services. Neither
Gods nor Men, says Horace, tolerate mediocrity
in poetry. But it would seem that just tho oppo-
site rule prevails in politics. and that the absence
of any striking trait of intellect shining merit is
the sur est passport to popular favor. The
breath of calumny blasts the honorable ambition
Of thaeasshes, saai.ass. and energy raise above
their fellows, and no candidate for public heaor'
is so strong as he whom obscuriy alone has shield
ed from assault through life.
The elevation of General Pierce to the chief
executive post of this great Republic, is an ex-
pertinent in regard towhich those who nomina-
ted him, must needs feel solicitous, if they care
for any thing beyond nero party triumph and
the possessoe ofthe spoils of office. His COM
potency to grappe with the difficulties and res
possibilities of the station to which he will be
called is a question about which they cannot but
entertain doubts and misgivings. fine possesses
the qualities of a wise and enlightened statesman,
his past career at least furnishes no evidence of
the fact. He was taken on trust by his party at
Baltimore, and he has now been taken on trust by
the American people. We shall not undertake
to PREJUDICE the new administration but at the
same TIME we feel bound to say that we anticipate
mischief, not SO much in its management of our
domestic as OF our foreign relations We believe
that the young America faction, with Judge
Douglas at its head, will be in the ascendant, and
that the intervention and flibustering policy of
that rampant demagogue will be the policy of
Gen. Pierce's administration. We look for war,
and shall be agreeably disappointed if we are not
involved in one in less than two years from the
fourth Of next March.