The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-09-27
8. Tho Game OF Brsr. %


II our adyersaries call the spontaneous exutatIou
OF the Democrats Boosting, they would call it mode
ration if they could see the intelligence received in
this city from all parts of the Union, giving the
assurance of a complete and commanding ma jority
for Pierce and King in November.
Union of Saturday.
The Democrats are not novices in the art of
staggering. They have great faith in bragga-
docio as an effective instrument in political
warfare, and are not restrained from using it by
superfiuous modesty. If they have a chance
of victory in any direction, it is magnified until
it assumes colossal proportions; and where they
have no chance, they console themselves tor
the deficiency by few touches of wholesale
exultation. There never has been an election
in which this Spontaneous" enthusiasm has
not been manifested by tho managers Of the
party. The manufacture of it is part of their
vocation, and we may calculate upon its pre-
sentation from time to time with as much pre-
cision as an astronomer can predict the occur
renee Of an eclipse.
The passage we have taken from the Union
of Saturday is one of thousand that might be
selected from current comments In the PIERCE
journals. They are all of the same stripe ex-
actly. They leave no Notwithstanding to the
Democratic view-of the election of PIERCE
and KING. There is no uncertainty as to the
result, they say; and from now until Novem-
Der the game will be altogether in their hands!
If these oracles now prophesied for the first
time we might suspect that they meant all
they said. But they have been tried many
times, and have been pronounced false pro-
phets. They have shown themselves unable
to read the horoscope Alright, when the horizon
has been not whit more murky than it is at
this moment; and we must therefore be
permitted to set down their present boast
ings at point considerably below par. They
are the tricks of desperate gamesters, and are
designed 10 mpart an idea of confidence which
has no real existence.
As the Union just now plays the part of
prophet, we may without IMPROPERLY examine
the value Of its professions to that character.
We will turn, with this view, to the prognosti-
cations OF the same journal during the pro-
gress Of the campaign Of lS4S, and we shall
thus ascertain TO what extent it is entitled to
respect and credence when it assumes the pro-
vince Of the seer. Here are a few scraps from
its articles on the CAss and TAYLOR contest:
From the Union, October 20, ls4s.
Victory 10 certain, for the Democracy
aroused. Each man is buckling his armor for
the desperate conflict.
From the Union, October 81, 1S4S.
The Old Keystone is reused. She is animate
by pride and patriotism. = She is perfect,
ly safe.
From the Union, October "a 1913.
We put down the vote Of Pennsylvania, there
fore, as objectionable A thousand Giro umstances
confirm it. Z" Who can despair? -
Our prospects, indeed, are Frightening every day
in Tennessee.
From the Union, October %, ls4s.
Fillmore will kill Taylor stone dead in Florida.
The State is safe for Case and Butler by sew
eral hundreds majority. We speak by the card.
From the Union, October 20, ls4S.
InINorth Carolina all looks well.
From he Union, Noprmbsr l, lS4S.
We dismiss all doubts and fears to the winds
We fear not the result.
From the Union, November ., ls4s.
At all times and at all hours, NOR ming and even
ing early and late, our little sanctum in the Union
buildings has been our citadel and our camping
ground We take all the consequences of
defeat if il shall come upon US. II cannot be an
ticipated We have no fears.
This was the style in which the Union
wrote in those days. Let US turn to the popu-
lar vote, and ascertain how far its specific boast
ings were justified by the result: