The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-09-13
CALIFORNIA.

cess In California has ast0nlshed the radi-
calls. They had looked upon the defeat of
their candidate for governor as a possible
contingency, hut as for the rest they coun-
ted upon carrying the state. Instead of this
partial triumph. which would have been,
very likely, attributed to local causes, there
has been clean sweep OF state and federal
Offices, an unprecedented gain in the popu-
lar vote, and an utter destruction of all radi.
cal hopes in California.
The governor elect is an eastern man, one
of those gratis upon western stock that have
brought forth the best fruit of the section,
He is native of Rochester, N. Y, where he
was born in 1925. Graduating at Yale Col
lege in 1874, he studied law in his native
town, and upon being admitted to the bar of
st. Louis, he there engaged in the practice
of his profession with his father, Judge Flet-
cher NJ. Haight. Both father and son sub
sequently went to California. There Haights
legal abilities won him an extended reputa-
ton. During the war Mr.. Haight stood
firmly by the cause of the Union, urging the
prosecution of hostilities, but disapproved
Mr.. Lincoln's emancipation proclamation,
and took very active part in the canvass
for Mcclellan in 1864. He was the unani-
nous choice of his party tor governor. In
personal as well as public character, even
his bitterest political enemies praise him.
He is at once an upright and honorable man,
and talented and able public officer. Mr..
Holden, the lieutenant governor elect, is a
gentleman of ability, well known as party
man, and has been in the state senate for
years. The election of this ticket is an hon.
or to the good sense, as well as the patriot
ism, of California.
But the political significance of the cleo.
ton takes, the foremost place in our consid-
Grafton. 1t is an evident revolution in the
public sentiment of California, even more
| remarkable and encouraging than the reac-
ton in Connecticut. 1t is part of the same
reaction that has begun to show itself here
in the east; but how much stronger and
greater! A democratic gain of nearly thir-
ty thousand from the last gubernatorial cleo
ton, and of nearly twenty weight thousand
from the vote for president in 1864! Then
the radicals countedfr eighteen to TWEEN
ty thousand majority. Now the democrats
have turned the tables upon them and roll
| up noble ten thousand for constitutional
| liberty.
The radical press would close their eyes
| and the eyes of their dupes to the fact that
the reaction has advanced with such rapid
| movement. They seek to attribute their de-
| The n Y. Tribune calls it family quarrel
aud says, "no wonder we were beaten" The
| N. Y. Times lays it all to the "apathy and
| disgust" occasioned by Gorham's nomina-
| ton and the consequent division of the party.
| But the clean sweep shows that there were
| other and deeper causes which brought this
| crushing blow upon every representative OF
| radicalism in California. We must look al
| the sentiment of a sturdy, thinking, clear
| sighted and intelligent people, arodsed to q
| perception of the vast wrongs and injuries o.
| radical rule, if we would trace to its proper
| source this protest against congressional
| tyranny and Encouragement.
| But when was such q result ever brought
about by the division of party on a merely
| local question as to the popularity of one
member of the ticket? 1t never has beer
and never could be- Gorham and his radi
| cal rival may be as bad men as their party
| represent them; bat how about the con,
gressmen? How about the Legislature? Mr.
| Gorham defeated, and the remainder of the
ticket elected, we might consider this excuse
| as valid.
| We are forced to interpret this victory a.
a denial of the wild theories and the illega
acts of the reckless partizans who have here
| tofore ruled the representatives of the ma
| IOTllY, anu al ENDORSEMENT OF the COllSllIu
tional principles of the democratic party ant
the executive. Taken at its best, the ex
| cuse of the leading radical journals is but
confession of the unworthiness of their party
| They allow that they put in nomination meI
| who deserved defeat, thinking to Gro wd then
into place and power, rs they have forced
| through their destructive measures in con
gress, under the lash of party discipline
How low is party sunk when its very ex
cuses are ordinations of itself!
The constitutional men of California ma
| well be proud of their success. We at tn
east rejoice with them. Here is n Telegram
received by President Johnson, Friday night
showing how the victory is regarded by tn
| contestants:
| SAN FRAScIsoo, Sept. 6.
We have carried the state by 10000, electin
| our whole ticket, two members of congress, an
a majority of the legislature. This is purel
a triumph of the policy of your administration
condemning distinctly congressional reconstruc
ton and negro suffrage, north or sonth.
| THOMAS J. HENLEY,
| JoHS +. MCCAULEr.
That is the whole story California dis
tinctly declares that the tendency of tn
dominant party is towards destruction. n
explanation can make it appear that ''pel
sonal unpopularity' caused the grand chang
from apparently powerful radicalism to ovel
whelming democracy. 1t is a refusal to ell
dorse congress, and as strong an endorse
ment of the administration.-Bost Post.