The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-11-19
BURLINGTON WEEKLY HAWK.EYE;
Freedom Of the Ballet.

Our democratic exchanges bear their de-
ieat with reasonable eQuanimity. A few
insist on the rather stale story of fraud,
OUT conflne themselves to general asser-
tions, and one or two, we observe, in
elst that the election was not fair express
ION OF the popular will, but as much farce
az Inc elections under the French Empire.
Inis 10 absurd enough to be harmless; mo-
Dody believes 1t, not even the writer's them
serves. There never has been a Presiden.
ual election within our remembrance
wnere the opposition to the administration
IN power have INDUCED in greater freedom
OF discussion, or more vilely abused the
freedom Of speech. The Administration
mas not only been subjected to the severest
efiticism, bat the Executive has been made
she subject Of malignant ribaldry and viii
famous detTactiOn. AL the artillery Of the
opposition has been brought to bear upon
MN without let or hirdrance; the coarsest
ridicuie, the most rapcorous SANDER, the
keenest sarcasm, the grossest misrepresen-
1ai1lon, All the arts and appliances OF politi-
Cal management known to parties in the
most peaceful times, have been freely re-
sorted to and industriously used. The
much taiked-Of military interference no.
where occurred. The military power Of
the Government was held in readiness 70
suppress disorder, and prevent riots, but
fortunately it was nowhere required. Who
Pendleton, did SO AZ freely AS though it
were an election held in days of pro-
FOUND peace. Indeed we have reason to
tnlnk that the freedom of the ballOt-bOx
IN all the States under Federal authority,
was more perfectly vindicated on the Sth
OF November than at any previous Pres
ldential election for the last twelve years
al least. In 1860 how many of the citi-
zens OF Kentucky. Missouri, Maryland,
VI West Virginia, outside the cities and
towns of the northern border would have
been permitted 70 cast q vote for Lincoln
and Ramlin? Those were days Of Demo-
cratic rule; and vet it would have been as
much a. his life was worth for any citizen
of the States named, had he been 80 dis
the Republican party. All this was changed
in 1854. There was greater freedom OF bal
lot in these states than has been known at
any election for many years. Only those
who have been, or are known to be. active
~ engaged on the side Of the rebellion,
were excluded from the polls; and they
nave no reasonable cause to complain,
since by their acts they virtually declared
themselves the enemies Of the government,
and no longer wanting its protection, or
willing to participate in its benefits and
privileges.
It is to he hoped those who have joined
in the hue and cry about the Lincsln des-
PoIem Will prOnt Dy experience. Unfo-
stricted in the use of speech and the ballot,
it will be difficult for them to declare in
what particular they have been deprived of
any privilege accorded to them at any time
under the constitution and laws of the gen.
eral Government. The people have decided
that for the next four years Abraham Lin
coin shall perform the Executive duties Of
the Government. It is their duty to yield
obedience TO the DEGREES of the tribunal to
which they took appeal, and as good citi-
zens, desiring the welfare Of the Govern
ment and the stability of our institutions,
to stand by the Administration in its efforts
to put down the rebellion, and establish,
on more enduring basis, the Union OF the
States. This much they would have de-
manded Of those opposed to them, had
they elected Mcclellan President, andthis
much they should yield as patriotic citi-
zens.