The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-04-01
Learning from Misfortune.

Learning lTOIu mlSlUKbuuos
Now that time enough has elapsed since
the New Hampshire election to give oo'n
parties time to contemplate the logic oil sue.
cess. or chow the bitter cud OF disappointed
ambition. 1. may safely be expected that each
ba, reviewed the causes which led to the gen.
cral results.
The Granite State election, as We have be-
fore remarked, was fair stand up fight, and
the Democracy have lost largely. In look
ing around for the cause Of their overwhelm-
ing repulse their party organs are raising the
senseless cry of uniairness and fraud, bribery
and military interference! II is reasonable
to suppose that if either Of these charges.
in one instance, could be shown, these polit-
ical scribblers would hasten to cite case !;
but none are mentioned. The fact that de-
cision has been reached upon the principles
enuciated by the respective parties, and that
the people in their sovereign capacity as cleo
tors had any object in casting their ballots,
is entirely ignored. How utterly disgusting
ii must DO to q reading thoughtful man Of
the Democratic party, to perceive that the
press Of his party seek to account to him for
their lack Of success by telling him that go
majority Of the people are with us, only we
ore in minority in consequence Of fraud. "
IA. n n
Tho thorns which have reap'd are OF tho tree
Iplanted,-they have torn mo.-and bleedi
should have known what fruit would spring from
such seed.
Just such moral would we impress upon
the mind of every copperhead in the coun-
try. The tide Of public opinion in resistlcss
force is set against them, because the position
which they have taken in opposition to their
country has called down upon their mis-
guided heads the indignation OF the people,
and it is force which is daily growing deep.
or and stronger. This is the whole story,
and the sooner that lesson is learned the bet
, ter il will be for them.
There arc some men who never learn any
thing by observation or intuition they are
of such temperament that nothing but
slcdge-hammer blows ever drive a ray OF light
into their understanding. Then there are
Others who learn only by misfortune; they
are old youths who begin to harvest crop
OF curses sown by them bcloretime. When
calamity comes upon them, they fall to be-
rating Providence, and whining about their
trouble, considering themselves martyrs
every one, John Knoxes. They forget that
the thorns which they reap are Of the tree
they planted.
To-day the Democratic party ought to be
learning from the calamity they brought up
on themselves. Naturalists say that in the
hottest seasons Of the year the copperhead
snake is totally blind. Anticipating danger
raises its crest and strikes out its head here
and there in its blind zeal Tor safety. Tho
northern copperhead is blind all tho year
round, and, in the language OF the "ring'
dies game. In 1854 the Democratic party
could not. or did not. interpret the voice oil
the people raised against their ill-conee'Ved
and ill.omened legislation to pcrpetuate the
rouer or the barbarous foe which we are
now fighting, no less barbaric now than when
thew controlled the Government by means OF
Pierce and Buchanan. The uprising OF the
peoplo in 1856 nearly succeeded in overthrow
ing them. State after State, long in strength
the G,bralter Of the party, wheeled into line
confronting them; the best men OF their
faith Lett them, and still they refused to learn
bv their misfortune. In 1860 the wheel oil
progressing events, gathering force by each
revolution. crowded them from places they
occupied for their counsry's ruin, and their
days of power werc numbered, thank God!
And still the wheel revolves. Two years
ago, taking advantage Of the country's no.
cessitics, they sought to mako successful
encounter with the loyal men of the Repub-
lie. Emboldcned by partial success, in 1868
they again "came to time" when the well
directed blows OF seventeen States sent them
heels over head out OF tho ring. In time
they gathered again, and, bowling about the
rights Of traitors, declaring themselves for
tho war, but opposed to the prosecution of
it, blindly cursing the Administration for
every step taken for the crushing of tho re-
bcllion. warning their "partisans" to beware
Of reported National victories in the field,
lest their prospects should be injured thereby,
they again "came to time" and one blow
from tho sturdy yeomanry of New Hampshire
has utterly crushed them out. Not less
decisive have been the elections in New York,
in this State and in this county.
Will tho "Democratic" party learn les
son from their significant discomftures, Will
they learn that tho reasonable position
which they have taken has ruined them with
tho people? Certainly they will. for these
are tho sledsc-hamAcr blows; but the knowl-
edge will como too late. Their boat is ON
the beach and the tide is out, TO return again
for them. ncvermorc.
IN. -..~I. oC N,,oa c,r Aha ra,- all To-