Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1859-10-21
THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL.
WILMINGTON, N. c., MONDAY, OCT. II. 1859.



The Game of Brag-Its Tendency to Deceive.
It is somewhat amusing to contrast the results Of
ectoneerng contests after these results have become
known with the anticpations previously INDUCED IN by
ardent partizans Sometimes indeed, these antlclpa-
lions are only INDUCED upon paper or tor effect and have
little place in the real feelings or opinions OF those CIV
inc them utterance The game of brag, however, has
this popularity, that if long INDUCED in it leads to de-
ceive the person or persons ndugng in it, even more
than it does the public None of free from
weaknesses of this kind We are all liable to deceive
ourselves and therefore to deceive Others without in
many cases. any improper motive whatever.
This brag game has two phases. The one leads to the
exaggeraton of the strength of the Dragging party
the other to the depreciation of that of the party OPP
posed A specimen of this last phase IS shown IN the
frequent prophecies of the run destruction, dsoganl
cation and defeat of the Democratic party Any time
for years that has been predicted Latery has taken
even more decided form The ruin of the Democratic
party is proclaimed thing already done-ts death
is deliberately announced It so announced pend
ing the elections in Georgia and other Southern States
with how much warrant in fact let the results OF these
elections show. These proclamations OF Democratic
death and ruin are pretty well understood by this tlme
and need not be farther referred to.
But there is a species or kind of Dragging in which
no harm is meant where, the contrary the only de-
ception arises from our own warmth of feeling and
confidence in our cause. We may thus be lued into
false security and be lead to neglect the essential
to success This to some extent the case in this
State during the past summer We felt too confident
confidence bred feeling of security, and the result is
before
We are now rapidly approaching the time when Or
ganized and efficient means must be adopted by any
party that aspres to State National control When,
in fact all the appliances of honorable political warfare
ought to be resorted by the Democratic party, If 1t
means to retain its ascendency when farther Its men,
bers ought neither to be discouraged by the brag of OPP
ponents procaiming the party dead, nor betrayed by
their own feelings of security into any lack of exerton
To render success certain must endeavor to under
stand and estimate our means and our ends together
with their adaptation to each other otherwise may
fail to attempt what is fairly in power or we may
fail to achieve what do attempt from not knowing
the difficulties to be overcome, and proportoning our
efforts to their removal.
It would be selfdeceptOn for the Democratic party
to calculate upon an easy victory in the contests Of the
coming year, or 10 suppose Chd unuef eASLllS ClCu
stances she has that superabundance of strength that
will Justify her in sacrificing neglecting any element
that can fairly and properly be brought to her aid She
cannot afford to fitter away her strength in squabbes
or divisions between men, in abstract discussions
upon departed issues.
The relations between the Democratic party and the
South are now too we'll established and too generally
recognised to require any particular explanation or en-
forcement that the mail strength of the Democratic
party at the South and that the main strength of the
South in the Union is through the Democratic party
There are thousands tens of thousands, hundreds of
thousands of good Democrats at the North who per-
ecty reliable upon all subjects involving the constitu
ona rights Of the States. And should be sorry to
indulge in any sweeping denunciation of our tellowct
of the South who do not agree with US IN politics.
still the broad facts above stated hardly be called in
question and it therefore follows that Democrats ought
to do nothing calculated to divide their forces at the
South or ALLEVIATE any of their true friends at the North
for to meet and force back the coalition founded upon
Free Soil and Pennsylvania Protection bases to say no
thing of the other sms, will require not only united
South but the cordial assistance of all national men at
the North.