The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1855-11-16
From the Pennsylvania.
The Political Reaction Of 1855.

The results of the State elections in 1884
character ever witnessed in our politics. New
er before were such violent and tremendous
changes in public opinion. In the first named
year, BY combination ofall the fanatica isms
and disturbing elements of society, by appeals
10 popular passion and prejudice. the Demo
cratic party Of the country was buried Under
the weight Of such terrible adverse maiortips
that il seemed literally sscrushed out" From
Maine TO Georgia all lis strongholds had been
storme1 and taken, and out of some one hun
cred and forty members Of Congress elect, but
twenty or thirty odd adhered TO lis apparently
desperate fortune
In the South, although no elections had
been held, the indications were about as un-
promising and threatening TO our political
friends. Dark and gloomy as was the political
horizon in 1910, it was blacker and more
threatening in 1883 TO every lover OF wel-rpg-
ulated constitutional liberty. Many of the
friends Of the Union and OF civil and religious
liberty looked agast at the prospect before them
Those fell political diseases, abotioniSm aud
nothingism had taken such deep root in
the public mind that II seemed impossible to
eradicate them in time to preserve the democ-
racy, or even the integrity of this Union
Sanguine and hopeful as we are in temperament,
and almost unbonnded as our confidence in the
Judgment and capacity ofthp people, we must
confess that we shared to some extent these app
prrhensions.
The factions which We're rIoting in triumph
over us we knew to br the most evil and per-
nlclous political organizations that ever reared
their heads in this land, and their leaders Were
the most unscrupulous and infamous. Fortu-
nate II is for the country that the presidential
election did not come in the autumn of 1884;
II il had tanaticism would have triunphed, the
constitution been subverted, and The land pro-
badly drrncbed in the blood ola civil wat.-
The two years which interviewed before that
event have been the salvation of the country.
The public mind has had time to revive from
ITS political dlstemper. The paroxism of pas
SIGN and prejudice which caused tito cut such
absurd political tandrums has passed away,
leaving the patient in more reasonable and
condition. The future historian will
always set down the result Of the election in
1894 to a species of political lunacy which was
prevalent in the land, and which for time
threatened the direst consequences 10 the peace /
Of the country.
The first important ray of light which shot +
lthwart the political sky was The democratic I
triumph in Virginia in May. 1885. That was
he flagship Of the democratic fleet, which had
never yet struck her colorS, and the capture of
which would give the hosts of fanaticism and
-rror complete and final victory. With the
oud vaunt OF anticipated success, they rolled
lown upon her, and prepared to scale her here
ofore invincibIe bulwarks. Clear and shrill
Vas the note of defiance given by her demo-
ratio Crew and their gallant leader, Henry A.
Wise. When the smoke of the contest had
ieared away, the banner of democracy and of
vil and religious liberty was still floating from
be masthead of the old dominion amid thun-
ering cheers, while the hosts of bgotry were
alling back, routed and discomft;ed, toward
be North.