The Van Buren press., 1867-10-25
r.nn ~. Lnnis R,pnLLiem.
Connecticut Elections.

Connecticut Elections.
In an article ON Wednesday we spoke ofthe
s,cadincss ofthe change in public sentiment
on political questions which manifested itself
in the fall elections OF 1896 and has continued
to manifest itself at all the elections Hitherto
in lS67. We instanced Connecticut as a spe-
cal example of this change, where in April
aSt the Radicals received a sore defeat losing
their Governor and three out of their four
members of Congress. That this change in
that state was not Temporary revolution but
the result ofa fundamental change in opinion,
we suggested was proved by the township
elections held in the State on Monday. the 9Th
inst. in which the Democrats were victorious
in majority of the towns for the first time
for thirteen years, rendering ii certain that
the next Legislature would show a majority
for the Democracy on joint ballot
As the Democrat itself appears to need some
cnlightment upon the nature of the results in
Connecticut, we give the following extracts
from New York and Connecticut papers
which furnished news concerning the cleo
tions of the 7th The New Haven Register
of the Sth announced that, in the town elec
tions Of the day previous, the Democrats
have not lost single town, while there is a
certain gain of seventeen towns"
More full returns made better showing
still. The New York World Of the llth said ::
l., IL
that in the returns from ll6 towns, the Radi-
Gals have gained 4, and the Democrats %,
which will elect 80 members and thus give a
handsome majority to the Democrats on joint
ballot in the next Legislature.
The Hartford Times of the 10th said:
We have received returns from every town
in Connecticut that voted last Monday the re-
suit is, Democratic towns So: Radical 73; a
Democratic majority of ten. This is the first
time in thirteen years that thc Democrats have
carried a majority Of the towns in the State
We have gained over twenty towns this fall.
The World of the llth says:
In Connecticut full returns from all the
towns show return of 81 Democratic towns
and - Radical. Democratic majority ..
The Hartford Times, while noticing the less
aggregate vote polled than in the State or
spring elections, by both parties, remarks
pertinently: I'VE always compare town
elections with town elections" 1t then says
As in the case of Meridian, where the Re
publicans have lost 300 since last spring. the
Democrats would gain largely by comparing
the percentage ofmaj ajoritcs.
The New York Express, commenting upon
the first news received, which credited the
Democrats with a gain of only seventeen
towns, said:
Seventeen towns in Connecticut are gained
outright by the Democrats, as Milford always
Republican. and Madison, ditto. The large
town Of killngly, the Radical stronghold OF
| W inulam county, has also SuCCumbed to the
gathering storm of public indignation. Last
April. killingly gave lIawley, for Governor
| 1872 majority. Monday it upset the Radical
wagon TO the tune of IS Democratic majority
gain of some 80 votes in six months The
next Legislature it is morally certain will be
Democratic. All honor to Connecticut.
We are perfectly willing tnal the Democrat
should regard the Connecticut elections as Of
no sort of consequence, and be blissfully ig-
norant Of what has happened in that one,
Radical state. But the people at large will
not fail to notice the change which has taken
place there. In the State elections of 1866 tn,
Democrats polled i3433 votes, and the Radicals
1884. The elections last April called on; a
| considerably increased vote. The Democrat,
polled 47,515, and the Radicals 465S5. Com
pairing these figures we find that the Demo
Gratis gained Al AZ on their vote of 1866, while
the Radicals gained but 3,6ll. This was i'm
mediately after the passage of the military re-
construction bills, and by this vote Connecti-
cut overthrow Radical Governor and spurn-
ed three members of Congress who had aided
in passing those outrageous military bills
And whom the next elections came on the 7tll
| of this month. the Democracy are found still
in the ascendant, carrying a majority Of the
| townships OF the State holding elections, a
thing not done before for thirteen years, and
carrying some of the very strongholds Of the
Radicals by handsome majorities. This. COM
ing almost simultaneously with the Demo
cratic victories of Ohio and Pennsylvania, and
at time when the Radical journals beat the
drum and blew the trumpet with deafening
din to call out their friends, enough is to as.
sure the country at large that Radcalism is
no longer rampant, and sustained by its old
force, but that its day of permanent defeat
has come.