Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1865-10-20
After Election,


After Election.
In 1868 the Democratic party nominal
ed Gen. Tuttle for Governor, agains
Col. Stone, the Republican nominee
futile at the time was in the service
and stood well with Union men as
soldier and n patriot. II was though
he would repudiate the nomination
but he disappointed his friends, and &C
cepted il. In the CANVASS which ensucd
bitter as it was, the soidicr-like qualit;e,
of Tuttle were not denied, nor HIS loyal
t. once brought into dispute. But tn,
contest was waged against the nominal
ing party--as invariably it should De-
and the fact of his being soldier and
loyal man availed him mex. 70 nothing
and utterly failed to save the Democra
cy from ignominious defeat. In those
days Of terrible war, when the braves
hearts were not strong enough for per
feet hope. it was enough for the people
of Iowa and her soldiers in the field tt
know, that, Gen. Tuttle was the candi
date Of the party which stood arrayed
against the war for the Union. The
Democratic party was routed, and tat,
tered, and torn, by perfect storm OF
loyal ballots, even Us the leaden bullets OF
= boys in blue had on the fields of Shiloh,
Pea Ridge and Donelson so happily de-
feated the Southern wing of the same
party. Col. Stone was elected by the
unprecedented majority of over $4,000,
Including the soldiers vote.
In 1865 the Republican State Conven-
ton sent thrill of animation through
the enervated Democracy, by adopting
resolution declaring for an amend
ment to the State Constitution by which
the right of suffrage should be based
upon manhood instead of color. A call
for q State Convention of all those OPP
posed to striking out the word "white'
in the article defining the right of suf-
frage in the Constitution of Iowa. then
appeared, Us the effect of the thrill,
signed by Laurel Summers, Chairman
mittee. 1t was dreamed that all the
political elements of the State unfavor-
able to negro suffrage could be thus
united, under Democratic lead, in OPP
position to the Republican party. The
time of the Convention was drawing
near, and the instigators Of this strate-
gle movement became sadly convinced
that the Burlington HIok-E,yc was not
far from right in its extravagant remark
that the State Of Iowa could be carried
for mule suffrage, even, in opposition to
the Democratic party. 1t became APP
parent, therefore, that greater deception
was necessary, or no less Illuminating
defeat than that of 1868 would result.
With this better understanding of the
situation, the Democratic organ at Keo-
kuk published wordy call for n Sol
tiiers State Convention, which by sur
prising coincidence was to meet the day
before the Democratic Convention. But
we need not review in detail the history
of these two Conventions. II is suf1ici-
cnt to say, that, the Soldiers Conven-
ton nominated Col. Benton for Gov
ernor, and made plank in their plat
form against negro suffrage, and the
Democratic Convention adjourned with
out making nominations or deciarin,g,
principles. Again, as in the case of
Gen. futile, the best friends of Benton
thought lac would reject the nomination,
fer reasons not dissimilar to those which
it was thought should have actaated
Gen. futile. But Col. Benton professed
to be satisfied with the character Of the
Convention which nominated him, and
gave the prestige of his Republication
and honorable service in the army tc
the intriguing work of the Democracy
lie went through the canvass represent
Jag himself as the Soldiers candidate
pnt forward by an honest opposition tc
Gov. Stone as man and negro suffrage
al principle, wholly independent of the
Democratic party. Beside the force
given to these declarations by Benton:
reputation for loyalty and honor, TIT
Democratic press and Democratic speak
ers, the State over, declared that Their
was no Democratic ticket in the field
The Dubuque Herald even went SO IA
as to sound!y bcrate its party for leavin.
the Democracy in condition 50 abjcc
aud Eitiable. 1t is quite evident tina
it WAS the intention to create division
in the Republican party on the far
fetched negro-suffrage question, ant
then bring up the Democrats to supper
the disatlected wing, and thus secur
the election of Col. Benton and the tri
umph of Democratic principles. Dis
appointed hope again nestled upon tn
Democracy of Iowa, and to-day they 81
again in the dark valley Of the shado'
of death. Gov. Stone is reelected b
handsoms majority-iT,G0o, probably
Now, tho Democratic party pursue
the same line Of policy in 1868 that
did in 1865. That is to say, in bot
campaigns it was attempted to swim
the obnoxious party into power by pir
ming it to blue coat-tail. The Demo'
racy learned lessons in '63 which the
turned to their profit in '65. They knc'
then that they could not elect Dem'
,crat, SO they nominated a Genera! i
the army; they knew this year that
Democratic Convention could not non
iratc man who would DO elected, {
they manipulated a Soldiers CONVEX
tio2.
The Democracy are seeking comfor
however, in their last great sadnes
They display the election returns, an
with faint show of enthusiasm, d
mand attention to the large "Democra
ic gains" and no paper III the Sta
finds greater delight in this than Il
Dubuque Herald. All! how can the
be Democratic gains when there was ,
Democratic ticket? Perhaps the lie
aid will explain.