The Portland daily press., 1866-10-08
The Democratic Press on To-mOrrow's
Elections.

The Democratic Press on To-mOrrow's
Elections. -..
The New York World, Che Head Centre of
the Democratic press, after remarking upon
the Democratic sgains" in Connecticut
which are entirely imaginary proceeds to
say
The Radicals have reduced lying about cleo
tions to a science. 1t is popularity supposed
that the Vermont and Maine elections show
enormous Radical gains over last wear. when
the fact is that the increase of votes is largely
in favor of the Democrats. In Maine, for in
stance, the percentage of increase was 25 per
cent. in favor of the Conservatives, and only
per cent for the Radicals.
AS we have heretofore shown, the Republi-
can vote in September was IS per cent larger
than last year. Whether the World lies, or
simply blunders, we have no means Of know
ing and do not care TO guess. 1t is indeed
popularly supposed that the Vermont and
Maine elections show large Republican gains;
there is a common report that we had snow
on the ground here last winter; it is general
" believed that the sun rose yesterday morn
ing. and that stars are visible in this latitude
in clear nights. If the World does not know
that the percentage of Republican gain in
Maine is over 5, then the World ought to be
ashamed of its ignorance. If it does know
that notorious fact, then lis not likely to be
ashamed of anything.
The World proceeds to say that the object
of all this lying, is to influence the October
elections. We dare say the World knows all
about it. In the last number Of the Bangor
Democrat, we find a cheerful review of the
prospects for tomorrow. The Democrat re-
fers to the Tribune almanac for the returns of
1864, and proceeds Oh the simple principle of
marking every Republican district carried by
less than 1900 majority, for Democratic con-
quest. BY this short and easy method the
Bangor paper shows that Democratic gain
OF four Congressman in Pennsylvania, seven
in Ohio and three in Indiana may be "confi-
IDENTITY expected" There is certainly no rea-
son why our Democratic friends should not, if
they choose, expect the skies to fall, and an
extraordinary opportunity for catching larks.
A Democratic gain Of fourteen F'may be. ex-
pected" tomorrow, without exposing the silly
people who expect it to anything worse than
Radical laughter.
The Advertiser, of this city, deals more
frankly with its readers. If the Republ, ans
carry Pennsylvania and New York this fall,
says the Advertiser, "the Democratic party's
usefulness as an organization will be ended
it may hang its harp on the willow for gene
rations to come, and forever" This danger
oh
lack of craftsmanship on the part Of the
Democratic leaders. By craftsmanship, the
Advertiser means, political management, and
OF such craftsmanship there has been a ser-
GUS deficiency. The nomination of such men
as Clymer, Pilsbury and Hoffman was fa-
tai biunder, for party which was trying t.
stand on the Philadelphia platform. The at
tempt TO overaWe the people by threatening
to remove this or that office-holder, was in
our opinion another mistake. As the Ad-
Vertiser differs with us on this point, we leave
il to tell its story in it's own way, as follows:
The New York Times, we regret to say, has
come out square footed from the nomination of
Holman, the Democratic nominee for Cover
nor, and advocates Fenton's election as choice
of evils. 1t charges the selfshness of the DEM
ocratic leaders with a blindness that will tum-
BILE the whole johnson phalanx in New York
into the ditch. And once there, at this crisis
nobody can doubt, it will be there for an etern-
ity The spirit of fraternization which the
Philadelphia Convention inculcated, could
alone save either the Conservative or Demo-
cratic element of President JOhnsons support
from utter ruin. The absence of it---and much
more, the negation of it by Democratic leaders,
has changed the whole aspect of coming events
which SO illuminated all minds on the close of
the happy labors of the Philadelphia Conven-
ton. But one or two only of effective speech
es from the President on his late tour to and
from Chicago would probably also have served
the rising hopes of the nation far better than
the fifty which he did make, have done.
Our readers must not be deceived. We will
not deceive them by any false hopes. Better to
know the evils that beset us, than deny their
existence. ,r- I'd.
We say, the times are not in accord with our
reasonable expectations inspired by the doings
of the Philadelphia Convention. The enemy
have made more advance upon u.s. than we
have upon them. The chosen battle ground of
the Philadelphia Convention has not been TAX
en-, and adhered TO- as was promised 1t is not
the result of the election in Maine, that has
worked the popular change. The change was
worked pTeUiOusly-the error adopted earlier
and was but too faithfully reflected in that re-
suit. And then again, the inactivity of the
President in promptly transferring the power of
office and Government patronage from the
hands of opponents to the hands Of supporters
encouraged the selfshness of old office holders
and old office seekers, who alone had strength
in the Democratic organization, and who ac-
cordingy pushed that organization, instead of
the wiser policy of the Philadelphia Convention
into prominence. Amid distracted counsels,
the Executive action was more and more par
alyzed. The people became doubtful from un-
ceftainties of the Executive action; but the
people neoer doubt long, They act-their con-
victions are instructive, and they always rush
when they move from doubt to decision.
We will, however, hope for the best. A few
days will tell story of joy, or grief, in cleo
tlons that are approaching The fate of long
future is involved in them.
Very well; we shall see what we shall see