The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-04-05
The Rhode Island ElcctiOA-Defcat Of
Republication.

Republication.
Rhode Island, the smallest State in the
Union, with an area of 1900 square miles and
population of about 100000, immortalized
herself yesterday by defeating the black re-
publican candidate for Governor, and by a
large majority electing Sprague, who repre-
sented the conservative elements of every
shade. In Rhode Island, as in Connecticut,
there was but one issue, and two parties in the
field. There was no trace of third party-the
foreign" vote united with the Americans and
the democrats against the common foe, and the
result was the discontinue of republicanism.
1t will be the same throughout the whole
Union. There will be only one issue and only
two parties, and the contest will be the great
est and the most desperate that ever took place
since the time of the Revolution. The republi-
cans have tried to make political capital out
of the Tariff, out of a Homestead bill, and out
of the question of no slavery in the Territories
by act of Congress. But none of these ques-
tons created more than ripple on the waters.
The party have, therefore, resorted to the des-
perate issue of an irrepressible conflict against
the labor institution of the Southern States, with
view to its total overthrow by force or fraud;
and they are doing everything in their power
to excite the fanatical passions of the New Eng
land population to the highest pitch. The course
of Hyatt in refusing to testify before the
United States Senate Committee, and going
into prison, is intended to produce that effect;
and yesterday Sanborn, at Concord, as we
learn by telegraph, played the same game, and
collected mob to rescue him from the hands
of an officer of the federal courts with such vio-
lepce as to cause the death of citizen from
terror or otherwise. By the John Brown raid,
and by such means as these, the republicans
have succeeded in raising an issue which has
absorbed all other issues, and stirred the heart
of the nation to its depths. That issue is now
being met. 1t has been tried In Connecticut
and Rhode Island. The question is whether
there is to be peaceful and legal revolution
through the ballot box, or revolution by vio-
lence which will tear the constitution to atoms
sever the last ligament which unites the North
with the South, and reduce this mighty con-
federacy to number of isolated, petty States
having no bond of common interest, but war
ring with each other, and becoming one by one
the prey of the great Powers of Europe.
Rhode Island understands the question and
appreciates her own position. Out of the
Union she would be as contemplate as the re-
public of San Marino in Italy. In the Union
che is part of the great Empire of the West,
and partakes of its glory and strength. She
has, therefore, given large majority for con-
servatism and against the republicans who last
year elected the Governor by a majority of
1904. In Rhode Island the reserve vote has
told, as it will tell throughout the country,
when million of ballots are brought out next
fall which have not been polled at the State
elections. Rhode Island has played highly
important part in this campaign. She has the
honor of being the first Of the Northern States
to stem the tide of fanaticism and present to
the South practical argument that there is
still justice at the North. She has broken the
chain of Puritan States, which were considered
cafe for William Fl. Seward and his party next
November. This election shows as does that
of Connecticut, that they are not safe; and if
the New England States are not secure, on
what other States can the republicans reckon
with confidence?
Connecticut, in which they calculated to have
an increased majority, was only saved to them
by the stupid neglect on the part of the demo
cratic managers to canvass Windham county,
which consequently gave majority Of Lie,
whereas last year it gave only 6l5 majority,
which, instead of being increased now by 500,
might have been reduced at least 100 votes
just sufficient to carry the election against re-
publicanism. Had the Albany Regency and
Tammany Hall leaders accepted the invitation
of the Democratic State Convention and stumped
the State, like Fernando Wood, on the part of the
Mozart Hall wing of the New York democracy,
there cannot be the slightest doubt that the
small majority of 81 would have been reduced
to less than nothing, and Connecticut would
have been carried in the interest of the con-
servative party against the destructives
and revolutionists. As it is, the repub-
lican victory is tantamount to defeat.
The democrats cannot be said to have lost a
post which they did not occupy. The republi-
cans, who had possession of the State. have lost
ground, and the democrats have gained upon
them by 1900 votes since last year. If the gain
be 10 the same proportion in the Presidential
election next fall or even half as much, It will
be sufficient 70 win the State. That it wilt be