The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-11-09
The Election.

The radicals have carried all the states in
which elections for congressman have been
held this fall except Delaware and Mary land.
When the returns shall have oil been made
there may appear democratic and conserve
tive gains of three or four congressman, but
the radical majority in the fortleth congress
will be substantially the same as in the pres
emit one provided the members elect do not
follow the change in public sentiment to-
wards conservatism which will undou btedly
take place, and the policy of excluding the
southern states be maintained
The radicals claim the result IS an ind0rse-
ment by the people of the policy of denying
the south representation In congress. This Ia
true of the northern states, but the maj ority
sustaining that policy is small that u
change OF twenty-five thousand out of the
millions of votes cast might have given the
democrats and conservatives majority of
the congressman. Considering the closeness
OF the vote In many of the states, and espe-
oially in New York, Pennsylvania, Indiana
and New Jersey, and the small radical major
ity in Connecticut in the spring election, aud
the change in Delaware and Maryland, the
result, Notwithstanding the power it has con-
tinusd in the hands of the radicals, csnnos
be claimed as On emphatic or decided express
zion by the people in favor of the radical pol
icy The fact that so mesgre a majority in
dorsed it, is proof of doubtful, hesitating
condition of public opinion concerning it, and
that many who voted for it did so unwilling
w. Such promineut and Influential newspa-
pers az the New Y ork Times, the New York
Commercial ADVERTISER the Springfield he
publican, the Cincinnati Connsercial and 9th
ers, have condemned the policy of the radi
Gals while sustaining their candidates.
We do not mention this fact for the pur
pose of here impugning the consistency of
those newspapers, but as evidence that
large number of repu blicans followed the ma
iority of their party with great reluctance,
aud will not support it in the extreme meas.
ures TO which it IL committed. We think
they were led to take the course they did Dy
ties of party and partisan hatreds, and that
now, the Canvass over, they will be found
with democrats and conservatives in opposing
the fanatical schemes of the radical leaders.
The passions engendered by the war are yet
alive, and IL was mainly by appeals TO these
that the extreme wing of the republican par
ty kept its force together. They are dying
out, and it is 50 obviously Just that they
should be oxtinguished that they cannot here
after be employed against party advocating
right principles of policy and government
A political party cannot live upon It's record,
nor upon appeals to the worst PASSIONS of
men. Il must present principles and poli-
ciss WHICH will bear investigation before in
tell gent people. A single election may be
carried by appeals to malevolent feelings and
party pride but the triumph will only lead
to an overwhelming defeat in the next con-
test if the opposing party addresses itself to
the calm judgement OF the people.
The reduction of the radical malorities has
been greater than democrats and conserva-
sives expected it would be- and .here is alum
dant evidence that in many localities the
friends of the President permitted the cleo
ton to 60 by default. We have elsewhere
commented on the light vote in this city
Taking the election of 1864 as the basis of
calculation, the radical party polled but so
per cent of its vote, and the democratic par
ty only 33 per cent. The CITY has increased
in population since 1864 twenty five thousand,
and we infer from the above figures that the
democrats and conservatives supposed the
radical majority to be so great that it could
not be overcome, and therefore did not attend
the polls, and that several thousand rspubli-
cans in this city were indifferent as to the
result. The general reduction OF the radical
majoris;es is proof that the changes from on
party to another have been altogether against
the radicals, and the apathy OF heretofore
prominent republicans in the late election 10
proof that they contemplate the abandon
msnt of . party which il to them now an OBJ