Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1867-10-18
THF ELEUErORs.

The Delriot Poss has the following
sensible and excellent article on the re-
cent elections. We hope every reader
wiz give It an attentive perusaI;
There is metaphysical solution Of
the apparent reaction in all the States
which would account for it in any event.
even il there were no special reasons
which are the symptoms Of the general
feeling rather than the cause Of It. Ever
since its accession to power IN 4ooys the
Republican party has been Wroussn6 up
to the highest possible tension Of men
tai excitement. The responsibility OF
the great war, and the vigilance increas=
ed by an active and bitter political en-
emy, have produced perpetual strain,
which, in the very nature OF Things
could not continue forever. 1t yielded
to this severe pressure in 1862, in far
more important elections than have
vet occurred, for it was the year Tor
eleCtinQ Congressional representatives
but recovered its tone and finished It's
work IN triumph. This Is the 1unda-
mental cause Of its defeat at the pres
snt moment. Let US consider the spe-
cific causes, or side issues, as they are
called. and which are only issues at all
because the public mind is seeking to
divert itself for q time from the subject
that has completely engrOssed II.
In Pennsylvania, position on the
bench in which personal considerations
largely entered, was the most import
ant interest about which to rally the
party. The probable light Republican
VOse viii demonstrate the imposs1bllIty
Of urging the party up to the point
which il reached during the tremen-
dous excitement at the very height Of
the war fever.
In Ohio. the Question of equal guf-
frage and the disfranchisement Of des-
erters were entangled and presented Tor
acceptance. The influence of slavery
on the southern portion Of the state
has not been wholly eradlcated Dy the
war. The prejudice against the negro
there is almost as intense, though NOT
as universal, as It Is across the Onlo.
Besides this, the strength of the party
appears to have been worked up only IN
the doubtful districts the strOnghOIds
were left to themselves under the e1-
pectation that their vote would be
brought out without any e2traneous
exertiOn. Had the labor been more
equally distributed, its influence would
have produced more effect than il has.
In Iowa, liquor and SabbataEan leg
islafion was the form in which the un-
Iossening of this moral and mental
tension exhibited itself.
We have alluded to similar phenom-
ena in 1862. That great step which
marked the progress of reform-the
emancipation of the slaVes-had been
taken, Just as the principal of equal
suffrage is offered and urged now, and
was received with fear and suspicion BY
the comparative few who hold the ball
anee of power, and who, while mean
ing to keep up with progressive IDEAS
start back when they are first boldly
presented to them for a practical decls-
ion. At that time there was discomfort
with the delay in crushing the repel1on
Just as there is now with the delay IN
---Ass-r 1ra-
Southern people looked with eager
ewes for the triumph Of the Democratic
4lsztsr- Than as it -1zzi11 do now, this
triumph prolonged the conflict be-
tween the party of freedom and the
narty of slavery. Then, as now, the
Democratic organs and orators predlc-
ted q reaction and looked forward con
fidenlly to success in the next PresI-
Dental election.
But the extent and intrinsic impor-
tanee of the reYulsions now, do not
begin to compare with that of 1867. In
Maine, the Union candidate for Govern
or was elected by only 5000 majority.
In New York, Seymour, Democrat, was
elected Governor by 10000 majority,
while eighteen out of thirtY-one mem
bers of Congress were Democrats In
New Jersey, Parker, Democrat, was
elected Governor by nearly $4,000, and
only one Republican out of i've mem
bers of Congress was successful. In
Pennsylvania the Democrats elected an
Auditor General by 8, 500 majority, and
fourteen out OF tWenCy-four members
of Congress. In Ohio, the Dmocrat1c
Secretary of State was elected by a ma
iOrity Of 5000. and fourteen out of nine
teen members Of Congress were chosen
by that party. In Indiana, the Demo-
Gratis elected their Secretary OF state by
a majority of about 10000; in Illinois
a Treasurer by $4,000, and OF twenty
Eve Congressman from those two States
sixteen were Democrats. On the heels
of this widespread disaffectiOn came
fredericksburg and ChaneellOrsv1lle !;
but in the very next election Maine
gave II, 900, New York SO, 600, Pennsyl-
Vania $4,000, Ohio 100, 600, Illinois 10000
majority for the Republican party,
which they had apparently reppd1ated
{ WelYe months before.
In 1862 the Repblican party was de-
feated from the same causes which have
defeated it now but the Government
was in its control, and the war went on,
ending in the triumph of freedom and
the liberation of the slave. Those
whose enthusiasm or whose desponden-
CIV exaggerates the present situation
may profitably ponder upon the history
we have briefly recited. The Repub-
lican party is planted upon the principle
of equal rights and impartial suffrage.
The war will 60 on, until that principle
is vindicated. The wave which seems
to carry us away from ourpositlon viii
rise higher than ever whom the rehuent
tide pours in again.