Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-10-14
The Northern Press on the Election and the
Reaction.
From the New York Tribune.l
THE ELFCTIoNs-A LESSON.

THE ELECTlONS-A LESSON.
Late in the summer of 1862, Mr.. Lin
coin was persuaded, after long urging
and hesitation, to issue the edict of
emancipation. The country, it was said,
was not prepared for it-that is, the slow
coaches were not. And, when the cleo
tons that soon followed showed Demo-
cratic gains almost everywhere-from
East to West-the Conservatives shouted
that Abolition and Radicalism had re-
ceived their death-blow. Look at Maine,
Massachusetts,, Michigan, Wisconsin !"
they exclaimed-"their Republican ma
iorities reduced more than half; see
PENNSYLVANIA carried by the Democrats,
aud United States Senator gained, in
spite of Lincoln's large majority; see
Ohio swept clean by 5000 majority for
the Democrats, who carry fourteen Rep
reseutatives in Congress-a clear gain
Of seven see Indiana, Illinois likewise
carried both branches of the Legisla-
lures, two-thirds of the Representatives
in Congress, and Democratic United
States Senator gained in each; see New
Jersey, which gave Lincoln four of her
seven electors, ROW swept by the Demo
Gratis by over fourteen thousand majority,
giving another Senator, with four of the
five Representatives in Congress look
at New York, where Lincoln had fifty
thousand majority, and the Union ticket
last year a hundred thousand, now elect
ing Seymour Governor by ten thousand,
and seventeen to fourteen Representa-
tives in Cougress-do you not see the
handwriting on the wall Isn't it high
time 20 give up niger worship, and
attend to saving the Union 2
These taunts were bitter, but the ex-
ultation that impelled them was tran
sient. Though Fredericksburg and
Galveston, and the repulse ct Vicksburg
and Charlottesville, we're still before
us. the national cause was not lost, for
It was the cause of freedom and human
ity. Much less is it lost now, though
the false hearts which thought the defeat
of Wadsworth and the loss of Ohio,
Pennsylvania, Indiana and Illinois,
lessons that only the blind could fail to
read and heed, still remain to renew their
croakings, and have another, though
lesser, opportunity.
Judge Sharswood is elected to the Su-
preme Court of Pennsylvania, as we
feared he would be; and we believe this
the extent of the Democratic triumph in
that State. Many Republicans would
vote for him on personal grounds; yet a
good county ticket in Philadelphia would
have defeated his election. But it was
supposed that any thing would be elected
that could get on the Republican ticket;
so nominations were made that the peo-
pie would not support; while the Demo
Gratis, having little hope Of success, nom
mated three soldiers who had a good
war record for the best offices, and so
gained thousands Of votes We trust the
lesson will not be lost on those who con.
troll nominations in our State. We can
tell them that the legislative jobbers and
railroad robbers who are fixing things"
in several districts to nominate them
selves to our next Legislature may buy
ever so many delegates, but cannot buy
the people. Mr.. Jacob Sharp, for ex-
ample, will waste his money if he uses it
to achieve Republican nomination.
We shall of course have the old cry
renewed" See how Ohio has voted
down equal manhood sufrage-hadn't
we better drop the niger, and take care
of ourselves p The answer is ready:
Ohio on Tuesday gave more votes and a
larger proportion of her Republican
strength for manhood suffrage than any
other State has ever given-mOre by
many thousands than she would ever
have given till now. Say that one
Republican in every twenty went straight
over to the enemy on this question, and
one weak brother voted the Republican
ticket but failed to vote for manhood
suffrage, what of t2 New York, twenty
one years ago, gave but IS, 406 votes for
equal rights in 1860 she more than
doubled this, giving il 1877 sos; aud still
it was heavily beaten, though Lincoln
carried the State at that election by
$4,000 majority. The next time it will
have at least 100000 and, II beaten by
a handful, its enemies will scream and
fire guns for their glorious victory. So
it will be in other States while the vital
principle of genuine democracy marches
on through seeming defeats 10 It's in
evitable and conclusive triumph.
There are still some persons In the |
Republican camp whose hearts are with !
the adverse host, and who, We trust, will |
now be tempted to let their bodies follow. |
At all events, through whatever trials Of
its consistency, its consistency, the great
party Of which they would fain bear the
bag so long as there may be anythin.
likely to 20 iuto il, viii move right on 10
the arduous but inevitable achievement
Of equal rights FOR al citizens; and
those who are not ready 10 suffer in that
cause cannot leave lis ranks too soon. !
Soldiers said Garibsldi 70 the for. |
lorn hope Of Italian liberty, in 1873, II
offer you privation, hardship, hunger,