The Waynesburg Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 1867-18??, 1867-10-30

1t thus appears that total vote cast in 1866
exceeded that of 1865, l43, $50 and that the
total vote of 1867 falls short ofthe vote Of
1866, So, ,s0o.
On an examination of the details it
further appears that the decrease this
year is 40,7l0 on the Republican vote
of 1866. and decline of only 22,090
on the Democratic vote of 1866. Or
in other words, there were over 49,
600 more Republicans who did not go
to the polls at the late election than
there were Democrats. There are
eight counties in the State, viz, Ale
gheny, Bradford, Crawford, Erie,
Lancaster, Philadelphia, Schuylkill and
York, in every one of which more Re-
publican voters remained athome than
were required to elect Judge Williams;
and in both Allegheny and Philadel-
phia there were more than fourti times as
many absentees as were needed to give
us the State. In no county except
Philadelphia and Forest (the latter by
change Of boundry line) did eitherparty
increase the vote of last year.
1t is hoped these plain figures will
teach the Republicans the simple but
important lessons that mere numeri-
cal majority of voters will not carry an
election unless they are at the polls and
vote on election day. Generalapathy,
caused by an apparent failure to appre-
ciatc the Importance of the contest, is
the primary cause of our defeat. Be-
sides this, we had side issues and local
difficulties to contend with, sufficient
in themselves to detroy us. We lost
votes in many places by reasons ofthe
legislation of last session, and on the
apprehension of negro suffrage; and in
Philadelphia on the questions of city
taxation, and by sundry frauds. And
worse than all these, our friends there
nominated a ticket for city offices, not
acceptable to our people, mainly be-
cause it had no soldiers upon it. The
soldiers themselves, to their credit be
it recorded, stood up manfully to their
principles, and voted with us as here
tofore. But large numbers of their
friends would not support the ticket
and in every Republican precinct in
the city there were from fifteen to one
hundred and fifty of our friends who
refused to vote. Thus we lost Phila-
delphia, and consequently the State.
The defeat ofso worthy candidate
as Henry W. Williams is a humilia-
ton to which our friends who staid at
home should not have subjected us
They have been unfaithful to the great
principles for which we have strug-
| gled and suffered together during the
last six years and they have imposed
upon us additional labors and trials fol
the future, which proper discharg,
of duty now would have averted.
But, let us "never despair of the Re.
public" Reconstruction on the basis ot
universal liberty an impartial justice
must yet be accomplished; and there
can be no doubt the Union Republican
party is as strong to-day, on all great
National issues, and as determined tC
accomplish its mission, as at any time
during the last six years. Our duty
is plain, and is we'll stated in q recent
private letter from our standard bearer
in the late contest, as follows: "In.
stead of being dispirited we should
grid up our loins, and burnish up oul
armor, for next years Presidential
contest, and make such use of this de-
feat as to secure a decisive and over
whelmning victory"
Many thanks thosewho to nobly die
their duty in the late canvass and as t.
those who did not, the earnest hop,
is indulged that they will make ampl,
amends hereafter.
BY order of the committee.
F. JORDAN, Chairman.
GEo. W. HAMrERsLY, Sooro.,,;,.
r. DrrNcr rcnN fNSSiCtohi iSo'