The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1867-11-02
The Election


The election in this county next Tuesday
involves probably no questions ofthc slightest
consequence so far as the men to be voted for
are concerned. The finances of our county,
we apprehend will be equally safe if handled
by Mr. Donaghho, Or Mr.. Bowen, or Mr.. Clark ;
and we presume the surveys will be made with
sufficient accuracy by either Mr.. Hit or Mr..
Fleming. The reason why we urge democrats
to 60 to the polls, and why the radicals are so
active in their efforts to get out big vote, 90
very far beyond the men who are to be set up
or set down by the result. The local elections
in Illinois next Tuesday will be almost as po-
tent in their results, rs hearing upon the great
issues TO be decided in the presidential contest
next year, as if we were voting on those issues
now. The question to be decided is, whether
the revolution in public sentiment, as indica-
ted in the result of the recent elections in Cal
ifornia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, &c, is real, or whe
Their it is simply the result of the apathy and
overweening confidence of the radicals in their
strength We maintain, as all democrats do,
that the revolution is real-that it means dis
gust on the part OF the people with radical
pretensions and radical measures, and that
the people are preparing the way for the re-
turn of wiser and better councillors and cOun-
sells in the management of the affairs of this
nation.
Shall We allow the revolution thus happily
begun, to 60 backward Shall the democra-
cy of Illinois respond to the noble efforts OF
the democracy of Ohio, Pennsylvania and other
states by chilling them with discourage
ment 2-
Such course on our part would be Grimm
al. The radicals themselves are not so blind,
or deaf, or lacking in sagacity as not to re.l-
ize the full meaning of these elections They
see and know that it is reaction in the pub
lie mind, and many of their journals already
promptly confess it. They tremble in view OF
the fact that the party has lost its enthusiasm
that it no longer rallies to the old watchword
that it has lost its union and cOherency, and
cannot be depended upon in 1868 to follow
the leaders and march to the polls in solid
phalanx. In place of their former selfconf-
dence and arrogance cries of alarm came up
from their conventions and leaders, with
doubts as to the result in 1868, unless great
reformations are made in their programme
Instead of throwing their negro suffrage and
negro equality policy into the face of the de-
mocracy as a matter of justice and right, theil
present alarm and trembling for the fate o.
their party, has raised a cry among them II
throw overheard negro suffrage, confiscaton
military despotism, and all those essential
measures which they have hitherto made theil
chief hobbies.
Thus the results of q complete democratic
triumph are already being realized. The OBJ
ieets the Democracy have these half dozen
of years been contendinglfor With SO much ap
parent hopelessness are being yielded even
before we are sufficiently in power to compe
their accomplishment.
Shall all these important results now be alb
andoned! Shall Illinois, by rolling up her us
ual radical majorities this fall, proclaim that
the revolution III other states is but sham
and thus encourage the radical congress to &C
on in IFS career of Vengeance and destructive
ness Let the democrats on Tuesday next see
to it that they are true to themselves, true to
the expectations of their brethren in other
states, and true to their country.
Clear as Mud,