Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-11-29
16t Daily annrnaG.
Observation-Disclosures 20.
q The Richmond Enquirer regards the
-. -. .To.t.ox. = AZ. MI

Observation-Disclosures ~.
- The Richmond Enquirer regards the
result of the late elections in the North
ern States as direct condemnation of
the Presidents policy OF reconciliation
by the dominant party. To the argu-
ment of the Louisville Journal and
other papers to the contrary of this
opinion-and claiming that these cleo
tons must be regarded as a popular
verdict sustaining that policy, because
the platforms Of the Union party une-
quivocally endorsed the President-the
Enquirer replies, that parties never re-
gard their platforms after an election,
and that the Union party will prove no
exception to the rule. 1t insists, fur
Their, that the radical, ultra men always
control and dictate the policy of the
political organization to which they be-
long, and hence it feels certain that
Chase, Sumner, and Phillips will ulti-
mately gain possession Of the Admins
tration and the Union party, and force
= negro suffrage upon the South. The
defeat of the negro-suffrage clause In
the States of Wisconsin, Connecticut,
Minnesota, aud Coo-al - by the Union
party seems to have no effect in dispel.
ling the gloom in which the Enquirer is
enshrouded. 1t sees nothing but dark
ness and the blackness ofEdarkness on
the suffrage question in all the future.
We are not surprised at the conclu-
sions of the Enquirer, when we regard
the standpoint. it occupies in looking at
the question. The great Virginia orator
asserted that we have no better way of
judging the future than by the past.
Looking at the past, and more particu-
larry at the history of the Democratic
: party With which it acted, it is natural
that the Enquirer should measure all
other political organizations with the
rule by which that one was guided. 1t
is true that the platforms of the Demo-
cratic party lived only during the short
period between the nomination aud the
election-that they we're prominent only
during the canvass. 1t is also true that
wbsn that organization triumphed, no.
thing more was heard of the platform.
It was laughed at as tub thrown to the
Northern whale--a trick to catch votes.
The ultra men of the South, among
the most prominent of whom were
the editors of the Enquirer, always
nominating their men, were gener.
ally willing to adopt any kind Of 9
platform. It was also true of that orga
nization shat men Of the most decided
views, and factions Of the most ultra
principles, imprinted their policy upon
the plastic nature of those who wanted
Office and cared nothing for principle
The history of the Democratic Nationa
Conventions for several years previous
= to the rupture at Charleston sustains the
Enquirer's view of the matter. The
men who, claiming to be Democrats
argued that slavery should not be con
fined to the black race, but was the onl]
safe and sound principle upon which
every well regulated society could bt
based; who insisted that some men were
born with saddles on their backs, anG
others booted and spurred to ride them
who sickened at the term Stree SO
ciety"; who hated everything Stree
free speech, free territory, free schools
were the men who also in the name O
Democracy dictated the candidates anc
decided the policy of their party regard
less of their platform professions, ant
utterly Indifferent to the feelings ant
opinions Of the Northern men belonging
to it,-knowing THAT. these could b.
controlled through the offices the party
was able to distribute among them.
Brought up in this school, we are no
astonished that the Enquirer is unable
to comprehend a great party in whicl
the masses dictate the policy of it
leaders; that it cannot understand hov
it is that the wild, fanatical, meteori
men like Phillips are admired, but never
followed, are listened to with patience
but their counsels always disregarded
While we are not surprised that th,
Enquirer cannot comprehend thes
things, we must say that the result of tn
great struggle through which the countr
haa naaaaI and a4uJr -
talities which secured victory to tn
Government, ought to have furnishe,
the Enquirer with sufficient light to ens
BILE it to appreciate the great darkness
in which it has been enveloped FOR years
and induce a becoming modesty in il
estimate and opinion of the great part
which has saved the country. The pee
pie of the North IL was that saved th
Government. Mr.. L.Acoln was, in
great measure, but the buoy that marke
the ebb and flow of the great popula
tide. Il was the people that prolonge
the struggle with sublime faith tbs
never wavered or hesitated when blundel
ing officials, incompetent commander
and swindling contractors brought di
asters upon their cause thick and fast
and the same people, composing th
same great political organization whic
has triumphed SO grandly in the recel
elections, will sustain President Johnso
30 long as he manifests disposition I
do the best he can to reconcile opposin
factions and consolidate the warning il
terests sof contending, disconteAte
States into nationality that will be q
powerful as it is free.
This we regard as the lesson, and Ii
only lesson, incuIcated by the recer
elections. The Union party has no di
position to force negro suffrage upo
she Southern States, any more than Ii
Republican party, in 1850, had {
forcing abolition upon them. But "
cannot be unmindful of the fact that th
Southern States may, by blind foil.
bring about the former result as it di
the latter. 1t is for the Enquirer, an
papers of like influence, to exc