The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-10-14
/" The Reaction"

Its substantial fruits are small, leas-
ing the Congressional strength of the
parties unchanged, except by the
election by the Democracy of General
SAM. CARY, in Cincinnati, negro
suffrage, temperance Republican, and
the States under the control of loyal
governors, our opponents claim to
read in the result a great reaction"
$ a mighty revolution" which will in
1863 hurl the Republican party from
power, and reyolutionize the policy
of the Government under the auspi-
ces of that party. which has opposed
every distinctive principle of the war
and the amended Constitution of the
country. But the experience
of past elections teaches us that the
Democracy are basing g large expec-
tations" upon unwarranted facts. 1t
is not the first or the most complete
defeat which the Republican party
has sustained. We have borne more
damaging blows than the one of last
Tuesday, and yet have been able to
meet and oyerwhelm our enemy at
the first onset. Our readers have
doubtless had fresh in their memories
the result of the election in 1862,
when we were so disastrously routed
in Y anderbnrgh- County and IN this
State. 1t was one of the fires bets.
which was TO float the Democratic
party back into power, but their new
born hopes were soon blasted. Yet
they had more occasion then to re-
j dice than now.
just recall the result of that years
election. Maine gave but 6,025 Re-
publican majority, and one Democrat
was elected to Congress. New Hamp-
shire gave 1878 Democratic majority
for Governor, and elected one Demo-
crat to Congress. New York went
Democratic on the State ticket by
1882. electing SEYMOUR Governor
and seventeen members of Congress of
the same ilk against fourteen Repub-
licans. z4ELICa GA gIgZ.
Pennsylvania went Democratic by
1924, and elected thirteen Democrats
to Congress against eleven Republi-
cans. ftu. -
New Jersey voted the same way by
IA ,597 majority, and elected four
Democrats to Congress to one Repub-
lican.
Ohio went Democratic by 5,577, and
fourteen Democratic Congress
men against Eve Republicans.
! Indiana went Democratic by 9,543,
and elected seuen Democrats against
four Republicans.
Illinois also went Democratic by
1876, and elected nine Democrat to
five Republicans.
In Michigan, the Republican ma
jority was cut down to 6,614, and one
was lost.
Wisconsin went Democratic by
l .167 votes, and elected three Demo-
cratic Congr essmen against three Re-
publicans. ts.s7
The Democratic organs and poll
ticians were perfectly wild over these
tremendous gains" and popular
revolutions" But what benefits did
they derive from them? 1t was only
a temporary repulse of the party,
whose grand mission it was to put
down the rebellion, give freedom to
the slaves, and establish the Union
upon basis from which it could
never again be shaken by traitors or
their Copperhead allies. At the next
there was a swing back of
the political pendulum, and the party
which appeared just ready to grasp
the reins of government. were over
whelmingly defeated everywhere.
Every Staterthatwas lost ia 1862, was
recovered in 1863 and 1864. 90
The reaction of 1867 bears no
comparison to that of 1863, and while
it is natural for the Democracy to re-
joice, there is no occasion for Repub-
licans 70 lose confidence in the future
or falter in their party attachments.
The experience of last Tuesday has
been more dearly bought than we de-
sired, but it was necessary, possibly,
to save us from defeat in the great
Presidential contest of 1868. With
judieious counsels and a good candi-