The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-10-31
The Election.

ou VI VIC Aeau anu SO DaOly injured that Its
recovery is impossible. The Union of the
States and the welfare of the white popula-
ton were questions of such paramount in
terest, that all minor points Of controversy
were ignored, and the people went out in
their might to do battle for their country
and save it from ruin. 1t was remarka-
pie day, that 18th of October. They who
thought we had no national character to
distinguish us from the other communities
OF the earth, saw enough on that day of
grace 70 stamp our name forever as peo-
pie destined for greatness and renown be-
yond all ordinary standard. Far be it
from us to say that all parties did not de-
sire the welfare of the nation and State
we conceed to all that purity of intention
which consecrates the actionof the patriot:
but IN the vast majorities for the successful
candloates, IN that marvellous outpouring
OF the cltlzenS, there was sign of power. a
plentitude of popular will, a sublime tenac-
lty OF purpose, whichno other people could
exhibit without manifesting at the same
time some of the darker passions of human
lty. And throughout all that day of trial
there was universal peace. The streets in
our city We're as silent as on Sunday-no
polsterlous cries, no shouts of triumph or
defiance, none of those noisy demonstra-
tons which attended former elections. but
from early morning men went to the ballot
box, calm and self possessed, showing by
their demeanor how much they were in
earnest, how deep in mind and heart was
tho thought OF their nations welfare.
The Democrats had heavy load to car
ry. 1t is only short time since they were
in great favor. The people were anxious
to range themselves by the side of the old
party. We thought that its leaders would
hold the reins of power for many years to
come. There was no reason why they
should not, but their very strength became
a temptation and in their pride they FELL
They challenged opposition from every
point of public and private life. They car
ried mountains and thought they could win
the race. They nominated q man whose
name was offensive to the public. This
er he voted it was against US, whenever he
spoke it was in behalf of our enemies. 1t
was thus that he was understood by the
people, no matter what might have been
his motives. The Convention at Columbus
was warned of the consequences which
would follow his nomination, but the ma
jority was defiant. The usual forethought
ofthe delegates were forgotten in the fierce
enthusiasm of the moment. They con-
demned the tyranny, as they called it, of
his arrest as well as that of others, but the
people remembered the necessity of it's ex-
ercise. In the same spirit they opposed
the war, knowing that a hundred thousand
valiant men had left Ohio for the battle
fields of the East and South, and that their
relatives at home could not be Indifferent
to the treatment which they received from
the politicians. II was hard to ask the man
whose son was in q soldiers grave at Shi-
lob, or Vicksburg, Or Stone River, to vote
for man who denounced the war as the
work of tyrants, illegal and unjust. More
over, the Democratic leaders pointed at re-
pudiation, and muititudes were alarmed
whose fortunes were in the national cur
rency and stocks.
Above all, they took Slavery under their
protection, it was their chefe Gna3e-it was
sick and they nursed tit was thirsty and
they gave it to drink. How mildly they
spoke of it's feelings, and how gently they
| touched on its vices! And so great was
their magnanimity-so wide the horizon OF
their charity, that their love for the slave,
as they avowed, was awakened by their
regard for the free man, and that they
wished to restore the former to health,
merely to keep him from entering in the
field of labor with his white brother!-
Wonderful and mysterious benevolence =
But the people were too unsophisticated
and honest to comprehend such transcen.
| dental devotion. They knew the beaten
| paths of daily life, but they had no expert.
ence in the clouds. They knew that Slave.
| ry, by universal consent, was morally, SO.
cially and politically an evil; and disre-
! garding the tine-spun theories by which il
was defended, and moving aside the gossa-
mer web which tioated so POLITICALLY over
the ''patriachal institution" they struck
home at the heart of the wrong, and that
grand old party whose victories we have sc
often recorded, went down before the popu-
lar avalanche. $50. -.,a al3 .f ..
Not content with the power of the press
at home they invited, and here, was an.
other blunder, the disatfected from other
States. The New York Press, and in par
ticular that part of it which assumed te
speak for the Irish Catholics hostile to the
Administration, rushed into the campaign
with such hostile demonstration, that il
abandoned the little discretion it ever had
and took counsel only from its courage
1t became at once conspicuous by its noise
and was hailed, five may use the express
sion, as the bully press-the guerrillas o.
the political struggle. At first there was
something tragic in it's violence; the thun
der rolled, the lighting flashed, the tenn
pest ratified; but as there was nobody
hurt, the people out West looked up anc
took courage. The Democracy shouted
| "encOre' and the noise was redoubled
but seeing that still there was nobody
hurt, nor likely to be, the people began te
laugh, and the New York organs settlec
down into a long and dismal howl which
ICoutluueu uIltll Luo Ody Vi eieCGiolI, WIZ.
the wind gave out, and collapse followed
We are within bounds when we affirm
that the course of those unscrupulous pa
pers, cost the Democratic ticket, in thii
city and county, fifteen hundred votes
whilst in other sections of the State, thell
influence was equally pernicious to 1t!
friends. They mistook the character O
the people of Ohio, and thought that tn
; style which suited rioters and vagabond!
in the alleys of New York, would %
equally pleasing to them. They though
that the Catholics of Ohio could be induced
to defy the teachings of religion, and dis
obey the powers that be- to crafty point
cal malice.
These causes we're sufficient to overthrow
the Democratic party. We cannot say tina
any OF the distinctive features of that party
as they were known of old, have suffered
in the late election; it was at most con
domination Of the course taken by its lead
ers, and it will be well if the sharp lessor
they have received will bring them back
the position they occupied in other days
The old friends who left them may then b'
at their side again; but we believe it vii
be a long time before confidence is restored
and victory become as familiar with thei
party flag as in the days Of old.
We have been so uWustly censured, ane
~I1.k In a