Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1867-10-15
THE ELECTIONS.


tons held in Pennsylvania aud Ohio last
week. The emphatic condemnation of radi>
calism conveyed in this expression of tho
people, ought to go far towards healing the
wounds which the inconsistent and overbear-
ing Policyof the dominant party have OPEN
ed, aud should, at the same time strengthen
the faith and euorgize the efforts of the Con.
sentative elements OF the country.
In Pennsylvania, the nature of the con-
test did not admit Of purely party campaign,
although the two parties made nominations.
The general election being judicial one,
party lines were not as strictly drawn as they
would have been under ordinary crcumstau-
ces. But III Ohio, where negro suffrage was
one OF the issues-indeed the main issue-the
fight was fair and square one; one party
advocating negro equality in all its phases
the other party, planting itself upon the Con.
stltution' opposing the heresy of negro sui,
tF"ge with vehemeuce and energy that has
never been surpassed in any political contest
in this country. To use the language of an
exchange the Democracy of Ohio fought the
most open and undisguised fight ever waged
BY political party. They put forward their
most obnoxious men, shirked nothing, aud
shouldered every responsibility. Adhering
to principle, they secuted the idea of putting
| forward candidate whose war record would
bring voters to. his standard; but arraying
themselves under the leadership of tried
and faithful Democrat, opposed to the fauati-
cIsm OF the times, they grappled the monster
radicalism, and by the most herculean efforts,
have overthrow him. All honor, then, to
this brave and dauutlcss party, that has dug
| the grave OF negro suffrage, and arrested the
| tide of despotism which has been rolling over
the land, carrying destruction in its path and
sweeping away the safeguards OF the peoples
liberties. There is hope yet-there is life in
the old land yet. There is some prospect for
the restoration of constitutional government
fadicasm is confused, and TO some cx-
tent, disheartcned. 1t sees the hand writing
on the wall, and the whitening rebuke is press
ing home, ye are weighed in the balance
! aud found wanting On the other hand. the
! conservative press are iubiant with exuita.
ton, and affect to behold the dawning of our
| political millennium. The Richmond Engui
! rcT commenting upon the glad tidings, saws
the crushing defeat III Pennsylvania and Ohio
of the wild revolutionary party, which has
hung like an incubus upon the country for SO
many long, weary months, has at last broke a
| rift in the dark clouds which Overhang US
We begin to see the clear sky beyond the
| limits Of our troubles and can take heart for
renewed efforts. 1t was only needed that cur
political situation should be assured that the
turmoil aud agitation of the country should
| give place to quiet and good. feeling for us to
enter upon career of prosperity unexamped
IN the history of nations. We have seen
all along in the defeat of the Radical party
the only possible exit from our difficulties,
and we now hail the prospect of that defeat
with uuboundcd joy. Pennsylvania, the State
OF Thad. Stevens, has arrayed herself under
the banners OF Peace, Prosperity aud Justice.
Ohio has taken new political departure. and
sends to her Legislative halls representative
body who will Gust Ben Wade from the Sen.
ator'aI scat, which his morbid malignity has
disgraced. The back bone OF Radicalism and
hate has been broken, and conservatism and
good feeling have e-assertcd their sway.
OF the results that may be expected from
this revolution in the public sentiment Of the
country, the Baltimore GQ=ete draws the
following picture:
While some Of the Radical Journals afFect
tn attribute the result OF the recent elections
to local aud various other minor causes, most
of them fully and sorruwtu,iy realize the true
significance Of the political revolution which
has just overwhelmed their party. For seven
dark and trying years the Union or Republi-
can party has ruled this land. Bent upvn as
sailing aud destroying an institution the in
tcgrlty OF which was strongly aud explicitly
guaranteed by the Federal Constitution the
RudIcal leaders, IciusIng to make any couces
sIOns to or compromise with the South. forced
her to stand upon the defensive Under the
pretcnce preserving Union, the existence
OF which would never have been endangered
but for their Vaccinations and selfsLness. and
| of saving Constitution which they had been
the first to deuOUucc and violate thew llle-
Saly summoned an army to the field to pre-,
serve by force Il brotherhood Of States While
warning against the South they crushed the
liberties Of the North. Free speech was pun
Ished as crime, and political sympathies or
opinions were branded reasonable Men
were torn from their homes aud thrown into
loathSome dungeons aud the Radical party
heard, without show Of Indignation, and
without a blush OF honest shame, that
William ii. Seward had boosted that the
tiuke of his bell in Washington could close
the bastlle's door on any man or woman be.
tween the Potomac and the St. Lawrence
The war went on, and while soldiers were
drafted in Swarms into the armies that were
bleeding and dying i'll different sections Of the
country, patriots at home and loyalists in the
neit were rioting in public plumber. Bounty