The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1858-11-30
Light w. DAPINean.

Illinois and elsewhere, are highly exultant over
the vote OF Saline county ut the recent election
which came oil in Illinois. They say that the
vote IA that county stood 1895 Democratic and
not one Republican. in other words, that the
county went unanimously for negro Dsmocra-
cy. Really elated with that single fact, they
SO on in an ecstscy ofjoy, and pronounce scores
OF panegyris over that county, which, though
in free State, has hitherto stood untarnished
by the fanaticism OF Rspublieanism. They
would fan make US believe that Saline county,
situated near the Southern extremity Of the
State, 10 indeed the very paradise of the world
the beauty spot Of our C0untry;-and the enthu-
siasm Of some has carried their admiration to
such degree as to express . desire to remove
their residence to that land of unbreksn Do
mocracy. 1t is indeed a remarkable fact that
in State nominally free, an election should
have been holden and not single vote given
for that party which 10 prs-emnently the party
Of freedom aud not satisfied with the ample
fact, We have pushed our inquiries and sndeav-
ored il possible to ascertain the cause of 50 re-
markabls fact. We wore curious to know
what were some of the psculiaritiss and charac-
teristiss Of County where Democracy pure
and unmixed had absolute sway. A the best
authority within our reach, We turned to the
census statistics o! 1850, taken under the gu
pervision and by the authority Of the General
Government, aud Of course reliable 50 far a.
freedom from any party bias. By the census
tables OF 1850, We find that this boosted Demo-
cratic county Of Saline had white population
Of 8, 495, and Of that number, by the same au-
thority, 736 persons upwards OF 20 years Of age
were unable TO read or write. That is, one per
son out Of every eight in Saline county, inciud-
ing the entire population, men, women and
children, are unable to read and write. Il is
net unfair estimate for the argument, to
say, that one half Of the entire population of
Saline county, or Of any other county, is under
20 years OF age; and il this be true, then enc
out Of every four persona over 20 years Of age
in that county is unabls to read and write!-
With such q record Of tact, it 10 no wonder to
Us that Democracy is absolute there. The prob-
lem is solved; the cause Of the strong Demo
cratic vote at the late election is fully explained
What . delightful paradise Saline county
must be, If ignorance Is 6iiss where every foursa
mau you meet must give his mark 10 his note
Of hand-whers every fourth deed sent up for
record, must be executed by the mark of the
grantors,-whers every fourth man 10 unable to
read the very ballot he 10 about to deposit
What delightful county Saline must, be for
residence! We hope some Of our very demo-
cratic friends who have been signing for resi-.
dencs there may be gratified.
We looked again, and find that Of all the
counties of Illinois, that which, at the late cleo
ton, was the strongest Republcan-we mean
that which gave the largest relative Republican
vote, is Winns5ago, which lies At the extreme
north of she State aud borders on Wisconsin.
The Republican vete Of that county stood 2,9ls,
while the Democratic vote was only 453, max
ing nearly seven Republican votes to one Dem
ocfatie. We turn again to the census statistics
and find according TO the same authority that in
1850 out Of . population of ITS (more than