The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1865-11-28
The Autumn Elections.

The Autumn Elections are over. Several
of the largest States. in the Union have voted
for the first time since the end of actual hos
tilities, and the result is another impressive
vindication Of popular government. Foreign
statesmen and many Americans have always
cared that free people must be mob, and
would show itself in extremity both fierce and
tickle. The trial has revealed that they were
exactly wrong. No nation in history, tried
az this has been, has been at once so humane
and persistent, so reasonable and patient.
But party-spirit had hoped and predicted
that with the cessation of armed hostlhties
would come reaction which would sweep
away the real results of the war. The party
which first pallated the rebellion then, dis
mayed by the vehemenee of popular patriot
ism, held Its tongue then, when The pressure
of the war began to be felt, opened its mouth
TO dishearten the people, to thwart the Gov
ernment, and to encourage the rebels, fondly
believed that the return Of peace would de-
moralze and destroy the great party which
had saved the Government. Itwas supposed
that such party was held together only by
{ he necessity of the War-that it was com.
posed Of those who had hundred different
views Of public policy-and that it would dis
appear with the occasion that created it,
Probably it will, when that condition is full
filled. The political blunder was in supposing
that the occasion was past.
The Union party grew out of the danger of
the Union. 1t will have finished its work
when the Union Isl secure. But the Union can
be menaced by intrigue as well as by arms
The Union is notsecure until every late rebel
State has shown that it accepts in good faith
the conditions required by the country. While
that point is doubtful the necessity of the
Union party is as imperative as ever, and 1t is
that instinct which has carried every where
and unanimously the autumn elections.
Another element must uot be forgotten, and
that is the feeling of the soldiers. The men
who have been offering life and limb in the
field will never forget the party which declared
their efforts useless and the country conquer
ed. Those who betrayed the soldiers the
soldier will remember, A Copperhead is
heEceforth more odious in this country than
Tory after the Revolution; and because the
Democratic party was controlled by Copper
heads it has lost its ascendency as absolutely
and irretrievably as the Federal party after
the last war. Nor can such party be resus-
citated, even upon new issues, except by the
overthrow of its old leaders. There are
IN en- in this country who taint whole parties
as dead mice scent a house. They must be
utterly removed or the house is not habitable
by decent dodgers.
But the crowning glory or the autumn
elections is their revelation Of the fact that
the people of the United States stand heartily
together in support ofthe Equal Rights of men.
That is the text from which the United States
are to be the sermon. Hitherto We have not
been true to our fundamental principle nor to
ourselves. The world has been able by a
single sneer to put US on our defense and
our apology has not been accepted because
the ofense was inexcusable. But by infinite
sorrow we have expiated the crime, and the
elections show that we mean to make the ex-
piation effectual. If we do not misjudge the
popular WILL no State legislature or conven-
tion and no national party will be able to pre-
vent the country from securing the freedom
which it has bestowed
The people of the unorgaHized States should
ponder these results. The election of last year
showed them that the country did not believe
the war to be failure, and that it meant to
fight it ont upon that line to victory. The
election of this year should show them that
tho popular purpose is unrelaxed, and that all
the advantages gained by the war are to be
absolutely, finally, uncooditionally secured
The country has solemnly proclaimed that it
is not so necessary that the disorganized
States should tesume their relations in the
Onion speedily as that they should resume
them safely.-Harper's Weekly.
say The Board of Directors of the North