The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-11-13

through very rich agricultural district.
about midway between the lire Of the
Cedar Valley road and the Mississippi;
and it can be run, Mr.. LAME thinks. so as
to make the distance from st. Paul TO
Winona not to exceed one hundred and
fifteen miles.
The revived interest manifested in rail-
road projects in all parts of the State, is
one of the most encouraging signs Of the
times. 1t shows faith in the future, and
in the fact that an era OF renewed and
permanent prosperity has dawned upon u.s.
How will Parties stand next yeare
Next year we elect a President again.
The last of the series of State elections
preceding the Presidential contest has
been held, and the field of 1864 is open for
survey. General elections have been held
this Fall in all the Northern and Border
States, with two or three exceptions, and
in these latter elections of a local charac.
ter have been had. The result in all cases,
general and local, has been uniform. The
Union ticket, whether called so, or called
Republican, have been decisively success
full against the Democratic opposition.
There is not case Of Democratic victory
to give variety, even, to the Fall con-
tests.
The canvass on the Union side has been
fought on the basis of q vigorous prosecu-
ton Of the war, right along to its end, in
the utter overthrow and humiliation of the
Rebel Confederacy. The canvass ON the
Democratic side has been waged under a
thin rretence of vigorous war, to certain
extent, while the weapons they most re-
lied on, and which have more than neu-
tralized all the patriotism of their creed,
were opposition to the only authorities
under which the war could be prosecuted
at all, and, in some States, demands for a
secession of hostilities until test could
be made of the virtue of diplomacy. The
one party has been Internationally loyal;
the other has been only conditionally so,
and, in some localities, leaving itself open
to the suspicion of being condtionally dis
loyal.
Now, take these parties as they stand
at present, and see of what elements they
are composed. The Union party is made
up of men, ranging from the Radical Abe
litionist to the War Democrat, with three
or four grades of politicians between, but
all agreeing in this fundamental belief,
that the Union can only be restored, and
the rebellion be put down, by the destruc-
ton of the rebel armies Agreeing on this,
their differences on other questions are
comparatively immaterial. On the Dem
ocratic side there is an utter and irrecon-
cilable division. Those who believe with
WoOD and VALLANDIGHAM are not only
locked upon as practical traitors by Union
men, but also by a large proportion, and,
we think, a majority of those who voted
the Democratic tickets this Fall These
ultra Democrats control the party organi-
cation in nearly every Northern State.
They must either surrender their tenets
and give up the control of their party to
the more patriotic element, or the latter
will leave them, and either set up party
on their own account, or coalesce with the
Union party. For, We cannot consent to
the idea that any very large fraction of the
old Democracy is disloyal. We dare not
believe so; for, thus believing, we should
have no faith in the ultimate restoration of
peace and the Union. Tens and twenties
of thousands OF patriotic Democrats have
thus far voted with their party, who not
only disbelieve, but despise the reasonable
theories Of their ultra leaders. They have
done SO through the sheer force Of habit,
and in the exercise of blind, though par
donable faith. But there are evidences.
strong and multiplying every day, that
these men are opening their eyes to sense
Of their position. In most of the States,
and especially since the late elections,
the demand is becoming almost universal,
among the most influential leaders of DEM
ocratic opinion, that the party shall be
placed upon high patriotic ground. We
have no faith that the demand will be &C.
ceded to. Nor, indeed, do we see that
there is opportunity left for the party to
place itself on such ground in time for any
show of success in the Presidential cam
paign. So, there is not even the poor in
ducement of spoils to keep the conflicting
elements together.
We see but two courses for the loyal
Democrats, who have thus far acted with
the old organization, to pursue. They
must either organize separately, on pa
triotic basis, or they must follow the ex-
|