The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-11-07
THE GREATEST VICTORY OF THE YEAR -ReDf1MP.
TioN or TfiE EMPIRE STATE

The letters of our New York correspondents, which
will be found in another part Of the paper this eve
ming are replete with the welcome spirit Of demo-
cratic rejoicing. Although we have the confident
of friends and the reluctant confessions Of
enemies still scarcely persuade ourselves of
the reality Of the astounding revolution in public SEN
timent which has taken place in New York. IL took
three years for the democracy of Ohio to anhilate
an opposition majority of eighty thousand. 1t took
three years for the democracy of Pennsylvania TO
make las the last gubernatorial election shows-a
democratic gain of about seventy-eight thousand.
These were, indeed amazing efforts with amazing re-
suits but in New orkthe great Empire State Of the
Union---the democracy have surpassed what the
whole country has hitherto regarded as the almost
marvellous efforts of their brethren Of Ohio and Penn
sylvana. We have been accustomed to regard ten
fifteen, and twenty thousand majorites pretty
phatic and decisive evidences of popular will but
the victory just achieved by the democracy Of New
York throws all previous figures completely in the
shade for from the returns before us Of the cleo
ton of Tuesday last II would appear that they have
within the short space Of twelve months made a
clear gain ofneary one hundred ho,,sand toies This
great reaction and glorious triumph is thus an
nounced in tho Albany Atlas & Argus of yesterday
mornings issue;
The democrats have carried their State ticket by about
majority the republicans, and by more
than THOUSAND majority over the Americans.
Two years since the Americans carried the State against
the divided democracy by fifty thousand and last
year the republicans succeeded against US by eighty thou
sand.
" In the face of such overwhelming defeats, IL would
1a
with carnesness upon the contest And yet not
only ready to challenge opponents to the field but
conscious of our ability to beat them We did
promise success indulge in any degree of idle
Boosting but had firm faith and VIC did not hest
tate to pledge reputation upon it, that the State could
be carried and that it needed only full democratic vote
TO insure victory.
1.-THE result has fulfilled our expectations in some
respects surpassed them We carry the State electing
the Judge Of appeals and State officers by TO- 900 the
republicans gain Of 30 600 on last year and we take
the legislature out Of the control Of the party that
grossly and wckedy abused Its power In It, and though
do not claim majority In both branches, it is proba
BILE that the presence Of the few Americans elected will be
enough to prevent the republicans from controlling it.
This triumph has been won, it is true upon greatly
diminished vote but it Is not that account less evil
dence Of change in public sentiment Political revou-
tions always accomplished by such gradaons The
electors who in 1856 voted for Fremont and this year
absencd themselves from the polls evidence Of their
change of word and Of mind by this abstention. The
step from passive acquescence in democratic
and active cooperation next year is greater than the
they have already made and they will take it, also,
when the time comes, else the signs which indicate
popular reaction fail.
But the reaction of popular sentiment has not mani
tested itself alone in the significant silence of many of
opponents of last year The hosts that rallied open
y under banner and took active part in the contest
be numbered by tens of thousands and do not
hesitate say that the whole vote of the State had
been larger if the classes who abstaned from partcpa
ton in the contest had been called out and compelled to
choose between perpetuaon of republican management
and the ascendency of the democratic party the majority
for the latter would have been still greater. 7