The Portland daily press., 1868-04-21

htsfepfeseutA1Ons
We ms st that a sense of honor and of the
responsibilities OF journalism requires that
che Argus should make a fuller retraction OF
its article on Western municipal elections
than it has yet done. Yesterday it said: But
we eoncede the error. Instead of claiming
every city in the West we should have said
nearly every city in the West" 1t also
changes its declaration that RadicaliSn has
been overthrown in Michigan by $4,000 major
ity to a similar declaration respecting negro
suffrage. This is 3s wild a statement as the
original one, especially taken in connection
with a reiterated claim to 'a gain to the De
mocracy of the great city of Chicago" and
Democratic victories in Cincinnati, ST. Louis
and Louisville" Now we wish once more ard
for the last time to remind the Argus of few
facts which are as incontrovertble as theo-
rem of Euclid. If it misstates them again,
we do not see how it can escape the imputa
ton of deliberate Justification.
First, Michigan did not overthrow Radical
ism or negro suffrage by So 900 majority, but i;
rejected a new constitution embracing q very
large number of novel provisions, negro SUIT
frage among them, by very large majority.
That majority included so large q number
negative votes directed against articles of the
constitution other than that relating to the
franchise, that it is extremely doubtful wba;
would have been the fate of negro suffrage il
submitted alone.
Second, the Democrats did not carry "nearly
every city in the West" They carried only
few of those mentioned by the Argus. What
honesty is there in claiming Cincinnati again
md oi,a NH Ill.
that the Republicans elected all but few uu-
important officers? Let this question be dis
posed of once for all. we are tired of it. The
following is dispatch to the New York Times
dated Cincinnati, April 7th:
The total vote Dnlled here yesterday wa.
23,637, against 28804 in October. The Repub
hcans elected the Judge of the Superior Court
the Clerk of the Police Court, the Trustees OF
the Water Works, and the Director OF
the City Inf mary. The Democrats elected
the City Commissioner and Wharf Master
The highest Republican majority was 1O97
and the lowest &c. The Democratic majorities
were 1O7 and 208. Two of the Democratic
Candidates elected were supported by the
Workingmen's Party. The Workingmen's
ticket received an average vote of about 600
The Republicans have a majority of in the
City Council.
Neither did the Democrats carry ST. Louis
There was citizens ticket, partially success
full, and yet the Radicals elected four of the
nine school directors and five of the twelve
aldermeh. The "two OF three small cities"
which the Argus comedies to the Radicals are,
Cincinnati, Cleveland, Omaha, Indianapolis,
Toledo, Madison, st. Paul, Peoria, Lawrence
Dayton, the home of Vallandigham and the
great majority Of all the toaons and cities Of the
Vest aohere elections haze been held. We chal-
lenge the Argus or any other Democratic pa
pers to refute these facts in any other way
than by general assertion.
Third, in Wisconsin, the only State where
general election has been held of nature to
afford anything like fair test of the relative
strength of political parties, the Republicans
have made gerry large gains.
Fourth, the mu nicipal election has not get
been held in Chicago. Our information is that
it takes place to-day. How hen does the Ar
gus conclude that the Conservatives have tri-
umphed? 1t can have consulted no one more
reliable than Planehette, and everybody
knows that she will lie most villanously about
even such impo' tant matters as engagements
marriages. &c. She certainly can't be trusted
on so small matter as elections.