The Feliciana Democrat., 1858-11-06
THE INDICATIONS OF THE PENNSYLVANIA
ELECTION

Although, IN appearance, the result Of the recent
election in Pennsylvania is damaging enough to the
Democratic party, 1t is MOI by any means disastrous
IN reality. The proposition may be paradoxical, bu
1t Is new rlheless true that just at this moment the
triumph Of the Pennsylvania Democracy would have
been infinitely more injurious to the purity than it,
defeat. Apart from the circumstances applicable 10
th- particular case, the political history Of the coun
ry has demonstrated that Democratic ascendency i
little mpcrilcd by temporary reverses The disaster.
OF one year are speedily repaired by the triumphs OF
The Rcxi, and the victorious opposition Of one cam
paS !. beaten, dispersed and frequently annihilated
80 uno'b., brihOcIhilt p"ii>;.->..
orators are in the habit Of explaining this phenomenon
i'll manner sufficiently grateful TO their party vanity
and parisa plcjudccs. These explanations may b.
taken for just what they are worth. and how much
that may be depends on the impartiaty and discrim
ination Of the eypounder. But at all events 1t must
be admitted that the unmpeachable vitality and
recuperatve energy OF the Democratic party only
reasonably he explained on the hypothesis of some
essential sympathy between the general doctrines
OF that party and the popular mind of the country.
and the conviction that all forms of opposition have
hitherto represented some antagonism to the general
theories OF our policy and government So long,
therefore, MS our institutions maintain their present
form II is idle for any party to attempt the perma-
nent snbversion OF the Democracy as organization
representing popular impulses and national aspira-
ticns The hopes OF any opposition must be limited
to transient success for transient purposes, and to vic
tories upon specific aud generally ephemeral issues
Of such nature is the recent triumph of the Opp0si
ton in Pennsylvania. with modification which rem
derS IL lrutess 10 the yctOrs and innocnous TO the
yanquished. The fact is that, in the defeat OF the
Democratic candidates for Congress of course with
few cXcrptions-thc Democracy have lost nothing and
with The election OF the Opposition candidates the
Opposition will gain nothing. The Democratic can.
d dates were radically unsound several fundomen-
tai principles. among which the tariff question is
spCuons, and their presence in Congress, while
rlbntlns to form nominal Democratic majority
would have been serious embarrassment to the Ad.
m.nlslratOn and its supporters. A Democratic dele.
CATION rom Pennsylvania might have some influence
IN modifying the reetrade policy of the Adminisra-
ton and even in mitigating the hostility to the South
to the protective system. Had Pennsylvania adhered
to lc Administration and the Democratic party,
her unreasonable demands might find at least tolera
ton and count cnance. There is room for any such
>entimnt now. Speaking in merely party sense, she
has cntreyiorfeited her claims the Democracy and
in wider sense She has lost her hold the sympa-
thy OF the South. She has deserted both and there
fore has no right to expect iavOrs from either She
has allied herself with the Northern opposition to the
Democracy aud the Black Republican opposition to
the South She must look to her allies for such help
as she needs. But we must say, that the prospect for
obtaining effective assistance from that quarter seems
scarcely bright enough to Justify her recent cxhibi-
lions Of political decentralization. In spite of losses
in the late elections ii Is STILL if not certain Mt least
probable, that the Democratic party will command "A
majority in the next House of Representatives. The
Senate is now, and will continue strongly Democratic
and the Executive veto hangs menacngly in the back
ground over any enactment for the benefit of State
which has deserted The President and his party.
After all the present seems a proptious moment
for developing the freetrade doctrines Ofthe country
Opposition to restriction aud monopoies is, theoreti-
cally, an essential principle of the dominant party
and now that it is rid OF the influence OF Pennsylya
yania politicians there is no reason why an attempt
should not be made for realization of the principle.
We are satisfied that such movement would com,
mand the earnest sympathy and support OF the South
We believe it would find equal favor with the Demo
cratic masses of the North, and we think it would re-
eeve encouragement from the Administration.-[A a.
o. DaM.