Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1867-11-01
Address ofthe Union Republican State
Central Committee.

CoaIyuTTEE Rooms No, HOS Chestnut
81. PHILADELPHIA, October 2lst, lS67.-
Explanations of failure are always less
agreeable than congratulations upon success.
AT the same time the former may be as pro-
fitable as the latter, for the uses Of adversely
are manifold Regarding the recent defeat
of the Republican party as both political
misfortune and national calamity, 0 short
review of the facts and a few reflections
thereon are deemed not out OF place. The
most diligent and persistent efforts TO
orouse our friends from apathy, TO impress
Unon them the importance Of the contest,
the danger Of defeat and the necessity for
action 60 avert it, failed to produce theu usual
and desired results. The Immediate cause
of our failure is apparent from the official
returns, compared with those oftormer years:
In 1865 the Republican vote .2as, 400
. the Democratic vote was .....2l5, 740
Total .......... ..454,l4o
Maj for Hartrauft, Auditor General 22,660
In 1866 the Republican vote -..807, ,274
" the Democratic vote was s".... 290,0a6
otal, .....-.. ....s. ~ $40
Majority for Governor Geary, ......... II, ,178
In 1867 the Republican vote was....,26G, ,624
the Democratic vote was.....267, 746
Total, ......,. .......,. ...... 534,57o
Majority for Sharswood, ....... ............. go
1t thus appears that the total vote cast in
1866 exceeded, that Of 1868, l43, $50; and
that the total vote Of 1867 falls short of the
vote oflS66, 62,S00.
On an examination Of the details it further
appears that the decrease this year Is 10, Tl0
on the Republican vote Of 1866, and de-
crease Of only - ,090 on the Democratic vote
of 1866. Or, in other words, there were
over $1,000 more Republicans who did not
60 to the polls at the last election than there
were Democrats There are eight counties
in the State viz; Allegheny, Bradford,
Crawford, Erie, Lancaster, Philadelphia,
Schuylblll, and York, in every one Of which
more Republican voters remained at home
than were required TO elect JUDGE WILL
IANIs; and in both Allegheny and Philadel-
phia there We're more than four times as
many absentees as were needed 20 give Us
the State. In no county except Philadel
phia aud forest the latter by change Of
boundary Iine) did either party increase the
vote Of last year.
It IS hoped these plain figures win teach
Republicans the simple bat important lesson
that a mere numerical majority OF voters
will not carry an election, unless they are
at the polls and vote on election day.
General apathy, caused by an apparent fail
ure to appreciate the importance Of the
contest, is the primary cause Of our defeat
Besides this We had local difficulties and
side issues to contend against, sufficient of
themselves TO destroy us. We lost votes
in many places by reason Of the legislation
of last session, and on the apprehension
Of negro Suffrage and in Philadelphia on
the questions Of city taxation, and what is
known As the Sunday car question, and by
sundry frauds. Aud worse than all these,
our friends there nominated a ticket for
city Offices, not acceptable to our people,
mainly because 1t had no soldiers upon it.
The soldiers themselves, 20 their credit be
it recorded; stood manfuIly to their princi-
pies, and voted with US as heretofore. 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 Philadelphia
and consequently the State.
The defeat of SO worthy candidate as
HENRT W. WILLIAMS is a humiliation 10
which our friends who staid at home should
not have subjected US. They have been IN
faithful to the great principles for which
we have struggled and suffered together
during the last six years; aud they have
imposed upon US additional labors and tri-
ais for the future, which proper discharge
of duty now would have averted.
But, let US "neyer despair Of the Bepub
lie " Reconstruction on the basis of uni
versal liberty and 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 dc
termined to accomplish It's mission, as al any
time during the late six years. Our duty Is
plain. and is well stated in recent private
letter from our standard bearer IN the late
contest, as follows Instead Of being dis
pirited we should grid up our loins, and
burnish our armor, for the next year Prcsi.
Dental contest, and make such use Of this
defeat as to secure decisive and oyerThel
ming victory.
Many thanks to those who 50 nobly did
their duty in the late canvass; aud as TO
those who did not, the earnest hope Is IN
dulged that they viii make ample amends
hereafter.
By order Of the Committee,
T. JORDAN, Chairman.
GEO. ". HAMERsLY, Secretaries.
j, RoBLEY DUNGLTs0N :