The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-08-28
The Chances

The Chances.
The struggle at the North possesses an alb
sorbing interest for all classes of thinkers II
is impossible to over-estimate the importance
Of the issues involved. The fundamental
principles Of free government. and the mate
rial prosperity OF the country are at stake. II
the Conservatives win, the brave and virtuous
people Of the South will again participate in
government. The political ethics of the
country will be elevated to higher standard,
and tranquility secured. The intolerable
evils of the Freedmen's Bureau, and the ty-
rannical machinery of the Civil Rights Bill
will be removed, and a new career opened to
the South. On the other hand, if the Radi-
Gals succeed, we may expect all the eutrages
and exactions which the ingenuity of STEVENS
and BUTLER, and BAEKs and ColFAx can in
fict upon us. Under their rule, the science
Of government would mean confscation and
ture we have drawn is very grim one; but
SO far from being exaggerated in its details, it
is really short Of the reasonable probabilities
1t is this recognition of the realities of our
position which Influences the leading journals
of the South to accept the action of the Phil
adelpha Convention with cordiality, which,
in some cases. their first utterances seemed to
forbid US to hope for Standing, then, as
spectators of this contest, to the favorable is
sue of Which We gave all we had it in our
power to give when we sent our delegates to
Philadelphia, it becomes matter Of daily in
eleasing Importance in our eyes. Day by
day conviction OF its profound gravity will
impress itself upon the public mind. and day
by day our interest in the struggle will in
crease What then will be its results? For
our own part, We are animated by strong
hope Of success. The Conservatives in New
York and Pennsylvania are sanguine of car
rying those States, and the indications seem
to Justify their confidence,
But, charging our view for moment
from particular States to the entire field, we
from the vote of 1864 The States which are
now called on to decide this question, polled,
in that year, an aggregate of 4,034,7Se votes.
Liucon'= majority was ALL 1881. This was,
undoubtedly swollen by unfair means; but,
without making any deduction for fraudulent
voting, let us take that majority of All, 281
as the basis of orr calculation
1t is only necessary to effect change OF
2oe 600 votes III the North t. overcome this
and secure popular majority. Now, when
we remember that the MCCLELLAN party
still stands solid phaianx, ii is not unrea-
sonable to believe that the conservative Re-
publicans who organized the Philadcl phia
movement, bring with them strength far i'll
excess OF the 2OG,c00 votes necessary to
change the popular majority. In the Con-
eressional elections, the calculation IS more
complex, and We have not the data, Oh local
knowledge necessary to enable us to predict
results with certainty. But a change OF
$500 votes in New York will secure the
State government; and three times this num-
her rescues Pennsylvania. When the Con
vention sits in Cleveland-the call for which
some eighty General officers have ratified, to
say nothing Of inuumerahle names below that
grade-when this Convention does its work
the strength which the Philadelphia Folk
mote has organized for the support Of Mr.
JoHSsoNs policy will he Pfo'iigonsly in
creased
In addition, the " orkingmen's Convention
which recently sat in Baltimore, represents a
great force in the North, which nov, for the
first time, promises to become distinct ee-
ment in the party warfare of the country
This body, among its resolutions, passed three
which are in the very teeth Of Radical policy
The seventh proclaims tl.at the restoration Of
she agricultural prosperity OF the South is in
dispensahle to the workingmen Of the North
and the eighth and ninth declare pnccnpro-
missing opposition to the prohigate waste OF
the public lands We are warranted from these
expressions in The belief that, from this s,',ce
also, new yigor viii be given TO the party
which is now fronting the Radicals. On the
,3hoe the prospect is encouraging.
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University of Maryland.
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