The Van Buren press., 1866-11-09
Not a bit dead.

n. Y. World says the readers ofthe He--
raid aud Times, which papers daily write
obituaries Of the Democratic party, would
do well to bear in mind the sound and
sensible views OF the Journal of Commerce,
which says, in commenting upon the rcceLt
elections:
The smoke Of the contest has not cleared
away in Pennsylvania. Ohio, Indiana, and
Iowa, but cnougl, is visible to see clearly
the same remarkable state Of affairs which
has been seen in the North for five years.
The people are JUS. about equally divided
on the great questions of the day. There
is no such prcpondcrance in tho votes of
either party as to indicate any great and
lasting majority. 1t is one OF the most
marvellous things in history that for SO long
time, from election to election, in sthe
midst Of the utmost excitement, through
war, and peace following war, the votes
Of the immense governing population OF
the Northern States should remain Just
about equally divided on the grandcst ques-
tions ever submitted to the decision ofa
people Here are lessons for the world to
learn in this state of affairs. There are also
lessons for the coaatry to learn. lt
II is plain enough that tho majority Of
the citizens Of the United States arc oppos.
ed to the course taken by Congress, and i'll
favor Of the policy Of the President. Halt
the people Of, the North, and all tho people
of the South, are agreed in this. On tho
other hand. it is plain that the minority Of
the people, and very decided minority at
that, now rule. and will continue 10 rule the
country 1t is not rule of the majority
uudcr which the inhabitants Of the United
States are to live X
Another fact /. plain and ought to be dis
distinctly seen and recognized henccforth'
Neither the Republican nor the Democratic
party is dad 1t has been very often
said that the emission ofthc Republican par
ty was accomplished Politicians have
talked about tho disjeeta membra Of that
party. and imagined that a new party
could be formed ont Of the Conservative
portions Of the old. Tho lesson Of this
week is. that the Republican party is not
dead. but is firm, united, and strong, and
there is no such thing as Conservatism in.
it. el *lo% y The Democratic party
is no more dead than the Republican. The
fires Of aflliction have only warmed it, and
the blows Of successive defeat have only
welded 1T into d more compact mass Il
polls its huge vote. just as heretofore, gain
ing some in one place, losing some in an
other, bnt always tho same old party. 1t
is arrant nonsense. in the face OF such al
election as this III Pennsylvania, where Mr..
Clymer polls one-half the immense vote Of
the Sta:e---it is arrant nonsense, we say.
for any man looking at snch a fact totalk
Of the Democratic party as dead.
AS it is, the fate Of the nation is to depend
on the future action Of these two political
partiesl They stand faccto face just about
even in mem bers. They are ierccly yoppos-
ed to each other. They are bent on direct.
ly opposite purposes. They are equally
determined in their claim of patriotism Ii
the party IN power attempt tho revolution
airy measures which have been threatened,
tho other party will unqucstionably stand
by the Constitution and laws. '1l