The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1864-11-02
The Lesson ofthe October EIec-
llOns.

The October elections, so far as the re.
turns have yet come in, have reversed in
two important particulars the expectations
which had been formed. AS regards Ohio
the result is not different from what had
been anticipated. IL was not expected that
the enormous Union maiorities OF last year
when the Democratic ticket was loaded
with tho wcight of Vallandigham's name,
could be fully maintained; but there is u
majority left 80 emphatic that we may rely
upon it to carry the State in, November,
aud there has evidently been large gain
III the Congressional delegation. Tho re.
suits in Indiana and Pennsylvania, howov.
er, do not 80 fully answer to the previous
calculations. In Pennsylvania, which was
regarded Us entirely safe, the Union party
appear to have lost enough ground TO mako
the soldiers vote decisive element in
settling the result And in Indiana,
which was thought to bo doubtful, the
Union majority is apparently so largo that
the soldiers vote is not needed, oven if
there were any provision for taking it, In
fact the Union men have found themselves
strong where they thought they were
weak; and what ia quite as serious q mat
ter, find themselves, if not weak, less
strong than they supposed, whore they
!
which is not at all unusual,
We are by no means disposed in either
case to quarrel with tho fato' which sends
us this disappointment With the Indi.
ana case especially we have no fault to
find. Tho Union majority in this State was
obtained under tho greatest disadvantages
and, in general canvass, little affected
by the minor local issues which tend To
confuse the result in q nero election OF
members of Congress. Tho remaining vot
ing population Of tho State was invited to
range itself on the one side or the other oil
broad national grounds; and, we believe
this victory in one of the two most doubt
ful States of the north western group shows
that the Democratic party has nothing tc
Ihope for at the Presidential election in that
quarter. 1t has overshot its mark, so far
as they are concerned, by it's violent hos
tiity to the government, its opposition tc
the war, and its indifference to the Union
1t is able indeed to rally upon sucha plat
form that virulent faction which now
passes for the democracy there, but the
great majority in the northwest are botl
resoutely loyal, and are bent upon seeing
the whole region from the Lakes to the
lGulf undor the sway Of ono Government
whatever tho cost--and tho name OF Gen
Mcclellan hasno magic to draw them from
this position, even if it is not positive
source of weakness. We draw tho harpi
est auguries then from tho election in Indi
ana, as to the final result, not only in tina
State, but in the great region of whicl
that State gives severe tost.
Our reasons for content with the resul
in Pennsylvania arc somewhat different
While the friends of tho administration
have probably made somo gain there il
the congressional delegation, the have fail
ed to give that decisive majority whicl
might have put the result in November be
yond all question. They have left the op
position some ground for hope, and hav
done this, there is reason to believe, not D.
reason of any real weakness OF their owl
but in consequence of over-conllionco 4
their strength, aud the failure to use ever
preoaution and mako every effort whic
they might have made in case they had fol
less easy. The lesson will be useful, no
only in Pennsylvania. but everywhere else
1t is certain that the Union party for som
time past has needed nothing so much as
: little fright-some alarm in the politico
field not so great as to discourage, but sc
rious enough to warn all that it is now n
time to be idle, and that tho country dc
mands the full strength Of its defenders
this emergency. That warning HIS no'
come. Union men everywhere may rea
in the Pennsylvania returns lesson aglin'
trusting to the Chicago Platform and
. Sherman and Farragut to give us dccisiv
| maioritios without other effort. Unlo
, men must labor reso'utcly and pcrseve
t ingly, as the greatness of their cause d'
mands. and then when the election is owe
\ they will find their efforts crowned b
J such decisive victory as will double tn
1 advantages of success. Lot them be warl
ed by the inconclusvo result III fennsy
= vania AMI leave nothing to chance or
= mere calculated strength which can /
made sure by work,-Boston Duly Ados
y tiSer.