The Kanzas news., 1858-09-04
From the St. Louis Democrat, 9Th inst.
The Future of Free Soil in Missouri

inueeo OF the mark, and show little appre-
! Eciation of the elements which 60 to make
up great popular movements. The result
may act as a tonic, not as a paralysis--the
force OF plurality triumphs can only teach
the Opposition its divided weakness and
tits united strength. Let US look at the facts
LOT the ballot-box as they stare US in the
lace, without concealing their import, or
Idoubting their validity What do they show?
First, the striking truth is exhibited, that
Free Soil, IN no locality, aud under no press
lure Of adversity, has receded one sinqle vote
IN the State Of Missouri. Along the bor-
Ider counties, where lately it was death to
utter the word. Emancipationists are re-
turned to the Legislature. In Jefferson
City, where the whole power of the State
Executive was brought to bear against it,
MIR. Gardenhire, though not successful,
wins clear and emphatic gain over the
contest of 1857. One year ago, all the
| Opposition united against the National De-
mocracy, yet the latter carried Cole county
for Mr.. Stewart, by majority of 285 votes.
This year, upon the clear Free Soil issue,
with all the advantages of patronage most
lavlshly used, the National Democracy elect
Mr.. Cordell by a majority of only 257 votes.
See the neighboring counties; many of them
have been closely contested. In some
few ballots constitute the majorities against
us; in others we triumph by large yotes.-
1t Is true that in most cases the issue is not
distinct, and in many are embarrassed by
past antagonisms; but the expression of
public sentiment was made with full kno WI
edge of the direction In which it tended
That boldness may not attach to those thus
| "a may ho tPno fOla fod hrIf ha
seed is there-the tree is growing, the fruit
will ripen. There may not be member
elect to the present general assembly ready
to move in the matter of slavery extinction,
and yet there have been near forty thousand
votes cast this year directly in favor. 1t re-
quires only unity, bravery, appreciation, to
make those forty thousand mount up, in
twelve months time. to eighty thousand.
The voters are intrinsically of that cast OF
thought, and need only to have their senti-
ments eliminated.
Again, in st. Louis, what do we see?
Set aside the question of frauds, and cover
with the mantle of oblivion treasons and
desertions and importations, and in the face
of that is boasted we find that Free Soil has
increased its vote since 1856 by more than
five hundred true adherents. Is that moth
ing? Does it prove nothing? On the
contrary, it shows that the principle, as u
| positive principle, is stronger than men or
candidates. Many have dealt blows at it in
silence and in secresy; the power of organ
ism has been bribed to detract from its sup
port; religion and passion and conserva-
tism have been invoked against it; yet with
all this, it shows manly, fearless, sinewy
growth, and not decay. Free Soil, We as
sert, is stronger in st. Louis to-day than it
was week ago, by thousands of votes
Those who tainted by the wayside, or lin
gered in rear of the battle, will fight hence
forth, upon conlpulsion. The doubters
number near six thousand; and of the doubt
ers, four out of FIVE are Free Soil. And
even as it stands, what does plurality poll
of two or three hundred signify, where
fraud has stalked at large through the city,
and the President of the United States has
anticipated the national revenue to carry
his favorite for Congress? Is it funeral
: knell for Free Soil? No! Brave men do
not surrender thus-the six thousand five
hundred Free Sellers of st. Louis are vic
tory in themselves. Theirs is the future.
To none other can it belong, for they are
progressively are politics hereafter.
Let us add some words for our microscop-
ic friends, who see in every misspelled
word, and every original expression, or &C.
centric action, the cause of our apparent
defeat. Such things are not so. 1t may
be that some Catholics were driven off
from the ticket, or some Protestants made
made to Withhold their suffrage by this cause
ger, another says it was the DemOcrat.-
| fHac ho
desert find in such things the ercuse, not
the reason,- of their desertion, The pTln-
ciple is stronger than men or candidates. Ii
Sectarians have gone against Free Soil, 1t
was upon sectarian c6fnities. If laymen
have transferred themselves to slavery prop
Iagandism, it was for consideration. If
sympathy has seized upon any, it was du-
ring the soistice of politics; when men fan
cied repose grew under the bushes set out
for their delight by the artful eontriyers.-
But the vital Democracy, the essential pro-
testing thought of our people. the radical,
fundamental liberalism that must underlle
every social reformation, has made itself
manifest in shape, with a prestige and
under circumstances that admit Of no re-
treat. AS well talk of reaction against the
daylight, or the spring time, or public in
telligence, or the increase of population, as
reaction against Free Soil In Missouri
Nothing can react against it but slave inn
portation, and that has neither where to
come from nor wherefore to come. The
column of migration that embraces the
movement of the white race from east to
west is upon US. and ii will blaze the path
of civilization with the church, the school,
the farm, the city, until slavery, as sys-
ten, shall be known no more IN the land.
In speaking these things. We know what we
say. Never was the heart Of the Free SOIL
party frmer than it is in this Conjecture
Never did its prophetic men see With surer
vision thu f;nol tr;uunDb of The cause and