The daily union., 1854-10-14
CITY OF WASHINGTON.
SATURDAY. OCTOBER IA, 1864.
Mr.. BELMONT AND HIS cALuMNIAToRs.


shows with how much injustice his asailants have abused
him
THE RATIONALE OF THE LATE ELECTION RESULTS.
The first duty of democrat when such disaster be-
falls his party that which has overwhelmed it in the late
elections Indiana Ohio and Pennsylvania, is to ascer
tain dispassonatey the real which have produced
the result Until this is done he cannot be prepared to
adopt line of policy that will avoid the influences or cor
rect the errors which have contributed to defeat With
nduging in idle and Improbable regrets, or giving
expression TO feelings of astonishment which we do not
feel giving vent angry reproaches OF those VINO nave
triumphed u.s. propose to examine the ae pa'ue
field with view of learning wisdom for future use from
our late isforunes We have seen the democratic hosts
too often defeated overwhelmed in other days to allow
our confidence in the continued ascendency Of democratic
principles to shaken by the results Occasional dis
asers have chastcnng and invgorating influence which
shows itself in the irresistible power with which our party
when thus taught unite uniformly rises from Its crushed
condition and and reesablshes its ascendency
Those combinations which have heretofore riumphed over
democracy have uniformly contained within themselves
the seeds of an early dissolution If we are not msed
now by lights of the past the fruits OF the present VIC
tory of our opponents will turn TO ashes on their
lips Such viii be their disappointment If the democ-
racy themselves and to their principles as they
have always heretofore been under like temporary caam
ties.
looking to the contests in the three States before named
it win be readily conceded that the issue in each was be-
the regular democratic organization single ana uh
aided, side and combination OF wings apotonstS
knownohings and democrats who refused to abide by the
regular nominations the other side. This combination
constituted compact body of opposition which strong
~ ,lnr Hanna ptir nr-
carnations Wings abolitioniss and know-nothings
proper the natural antagonists OF democracy ana al
though the principles of their respective organizations are
apparently dssmar and in respects antagonisc yet
they were all actated by common sentiment Of hostility
to the democratic party and all inclined by the strong de
sire for the spos of victory harmonize and coaesce in
oppostion their enemy. 1t is the mission OF
democracy to maintain warfare with these fac
tons whether they asa the vital principles on when our
institutions rest in single file solid combination The
creeds on WHICH their respective organizations stand are
mere expedens adapting themselves to the popular pas
sions and preiuces of the hour Their strength depends
in every struggle upon the number of recruits they are
able to sedu,e from the democratic ranks, and then upon
their success in harmonzng and fusng their respective
forces and marsiang their united opposition for the
test
The only thing in the late conflicts is in the mafi-
ner of arshang their forces and not in the principles
for which they fought Heretofore the wings the
larger BODY of the opposition and that account the mi
nor elements attracted TO them and under the banner
of whiggery all the combined factions made battle The
trumps thus achieved whig trinmphs and they
so proclaimed notwithstanding the effective aid furnish
ed by their actious allies In the late struggle whggery
occupied background and subordinate position There
was nothing in it TO inspire the masses with enthusiasm
its great leaders whose paeEa voices had often rallied
their devoted followers to the banner of whggery, were
gathered home their fathers; ii was trunk without
head and without heart it was fit only to be used as an
instrument the hands of leaders of other factions whose
creeds appealed like those of the aboitonists and know
nothnes popular peudces and passions These Were
beyond controversy, the active, efficient and legiving
elements in the coalition Whatever of honor attaches to
the victories won by such coalition belongs of right to
them Whiggery contributed its numbers to the result
but without the enthusiasm and energy OF its pow
erul allies it would have been doomed to disaster
Butthe combination fwhiggery abolitionism, and know
nothingism without the aid which il derived from disaf
feced or deuded democrats would have failed to triumph
over the united democracy TIE prominent cause of our
defeat therefore raceabe to failure of democrats to ad
here with fidelity the regular organizations of the party
This is defect in our party which usually manitests itself
racv can alwys win wnen its forces united and ami
mated with determination to succeed The defecons
which follow such triumphs have marked the entire
history of the pas It would be easy to enumerate long
list of wbio leaders who active and camorous
democrats but who soughcd off from their party because
of their failure the high positions to which they
aspred Such enegades seek always to weaken the bonds
of the democratic organization by insidousy assang its
system of nominations and ncpleate sentiments OF inf
dety TO the established usages of the Ey which are not
discovered ami appreciated by true men nntu TIE effects
are developed by results Of the elections The history
OF the past ms well as e Developments of the recent cleo
tions suggest unisaaby the first duty OF all true denl-
ocras That duty calls for the prompt and fearless de-
nuncaton of those traitors who have deliberately sought
TO undermine strength and permanence OF onr party
organization Fidelity the established usages of Sle
party is only second in importance to sound principles
Men who reject usage upon person considerations
must be regarded and treated as traitors TO the par
ty if we expect pcrpetuate our timehonored organ
ization II should be constantly remembered that one
false friend is mere dangerous than ten open enc
mics The sooner such insidous foes exposed and
denounced the better Such elections have Just had
are expose detection those who have been treac
erous whenever wherever discovered they should
a once be consigned to their position in the ranks of
our common enemy.