The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-10-13
THE LESSON OF THE DAY.

exhibit results peculiarly animating to the
friends of Republican principles. In the old
contests between the Wings and Democrats,
the Wings would now and then make a very
desperate effort, and, when aided by fortuitous
circumstances, would sometimes succeed. They
did so in the elections of 1910 and l848, and
partially in other years. But this singular re-
suit always marked their triumphs: The Demo
cratic party never failed to recover the ground
they had lost at the very first election after
ward, when parties and individuals resumed
their normal relations. The great feature of
the Democratic party was always its recupera-
tive power. It was this that encouraged its
masses and prevented its leaders from ever be-
ing disheartened. Thus the election that went
overwhelmingly against the Democrats in 1910,
came round very favorably in 184l. Their
conspicuous defeat in ls4s was healed by their
successes of le49, and was followed by the still
more signal triumphs of 1852. In the years
following those of great effort and excitement
on the part Of the Wings, it will be invariably
found, We think, that the Democratic party al
ways recovered its losses. Such, we are quite
sure, would be the testimony of the Old Wing
politicians all over the country.
In the contests between the Republican par
ty and the Democratic organization in the free
States, we are now witnessing just the opposite
results; and it is these to which we allude, when
we say they are peculiarly animating to the
friends of Republcanism. Take for example
two States in New acknowledgements and
Maine-one an Old Wing State, and the other
an old Democratic State. In both, at previous
epochs, after great efforts and great Wing sue
cesses, the very next canvass, unmarked by
such efforts, would exhibit the old Democratic
party bearing down with fresh battalions, fullyre
cruiting its ranks and recovering the ground it
had lost. In what may be called the off years,
or those marked by no important election,
this was always pre-eminently the case. The
Old Wing party always held Vermont But
after great effort, as in some hot Congressional
strife, or in a Presidential election, the first
quiet year would display the Democratic party
easily rallying and rising unawares into a most
dangerous equality with the Wings. And a
new and vigorous canvass was always necessa-
~ to shake off the alarming proximity of this
always active and elastic foe. In Maine, the
Wings never succeeded but in two instances in
twenty years, and they were quickly dislodged
in each case, after one years service. Ivy the
indomitable Democracy. The slightest abate-
ment Of lively and all-pervading enthuuasm
always saw the Wings pushed from their seats,
aa s 4sfs cspposfte 1essoH x Is De
months election in these two States. Last year
the Congressional elections were held in each.
and brought out full vote. The Republicans
triumphed handsomely in both This year, the
election being held merely for State officers,
much less interest was felt, and smaller vote
was cast. But mark. The Democratic organ
ization (still called failed to exhibit its old
peculiarly and power. 1t displayed no vigor
and recuperative power, but only feebleness It's
vote was much smaller relatively than that of
the Republicans The old gravitating tendency
toward the polls, heretofore so manifest in Dem
ocratic ranks, this year was only exhibited by
the Republican party.
Now, here is most significant fact We
see party hitherto rallying successfully after
every disaster, and apparently growing stronger
alter every successive defeat, now waverine and
broken. We see its ranks demoralized. its
prestige broken, its ancient power and spirit
extinguished. The inference is irresistible
Some great cause is at work to produce the
great change We say that cause is to be found
in the apostacy of the party to the Fundamental
idea on which it was originally based, and to
which it has heretofore adhered, in theory at
least. We impute the result to the desertion
by that party of its ancient cherished idea in
regard to human rights. 1t has shifted its
ground from being the friend of humanity to
being its foe. 1t has abdicated its champion.
ship of the rights of man, and has enlisted in
the ignoble task Of extenuating and defending
his wrongs. Abandoning its high principles
ana ITS lofty purposes, the party has become
but the counterfeit presentment of its former
SELL 1t Is but the mummied carcass of an ex-
istence once instinct and glowing with exuber.
ent vital forces, of which it is now utterly beref
The conviction among its remaining members.
as well az everywhere else, is, that all this Is
true; that the party is no longer what it was
that it has turned traitor to its old princinles
a
Democratic. Thus tagging under the load of
Its own hypocrisy, feeling its false position, it
fails to find either disposition or ability to raj
ly under the pressure of defeat The results
referred to are therefore to be set down as the
expression of great fact, and that fact is the
diseased and dying condition of the Democrat
ic organization in the free States.
But while the Democratic party is dying, the
Democratic idea survives 1t finds a faithful
representative in the Republican party, which
is now the only political organization in the
country which defends the broad doctrines of
the Declaration of Independence. That party,
as 1t has inherited the ideas of the Democratic
organization, so we may confidently anticipate
it viii, in the future, be heir to new series of
political triumphs ike those which so long
marked the career of its predecessor. The
transmigration being complete, the results must
correspond. The harmony of the facts with
our conclusion, in the cases pointed out. is per
feet.
A 1ExAN PUFF.-The following from Tex
an newspaper furnishes specimen of putting
which Will be new to our readers:
" NegrOes.-Messrs McMurrv & W;,s,eod
have opened market in Galveston. an ;pst;.
tuition that our State has long felt the want of
and We think Its conveniences both to the buver
and seller will be such that it will be a perma.
nent affair." See their advertisement"
ARREST OF THE FILIBUsTERs.-Nelc Orleans.
/ Oct The filibusfers have ali heen arrestad