Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-08-25
Our Liberties Must and Shall be Pre-
~ served a

The Charlottesville Chronicle says that every
thing indicates the steady roll Of the popular
wave which seems about to engulf Radicallsm
and consign to well merited oblivion the men
who have almost succeeded in subjecting free
people to the rule of a despot, and by their
gross Encouragement of the public finances
have brought a rich and prosperous country to
the verge of national bankruptcy. In every
State election that he's been held this summer
the Conservative Democracy have made large
gains. The people at the North seem at last
to appreciate the importance Of the questions
at issue, and to be inclined to decide them on
their merits with regard to men Or to old party
ties Party lines are being drawn more closely
every day, in view of the live issues that now
agitate the country. Democrats and Wings,
Confederates and Unionists, Old Shareholders
and Abolitionists have forgotten their old pref
udices against each other and have ranged
themselves, side by side, in favor of the lber-
ties of the whole country, where they are hon
est men and are influenced by motives of pub
lie good, or are found fighting on the side OF
despotism where the desire of plumber and a
regard for their own interests are stronger than
their honesty. Joe Brown the extreme seces-
sionist-and Sumner the radical abolitionist are
found in the same ranks-while We find the
gallant Southern soldiers Hampton and Forrest,
desiring the success of the same party, and the
election of the same men with Hancock and
Blair the brave champions of the Northern
cause
In the whole history of the Anglo Saxon race
it will be found that radical excess has been
followed by conservative reaction, which has
uniformly restored the disturbed equilibrium of
their government-and during the greatest ex-
cesses of modern radicalism the recollection OF
this fact has been to us a ground of hope.
We always felt sure that this reaction would
come and only feared that it would be put off
too late to save the Southern States. Now we
think that every thing indicates that it has set
in in good earnest and unless something hap
pens to check the popular movement against
radicalism all will go we'll.
We feel sure that we can see the light break
ing through the cloud We subjoin a short
extract from Sun editorial which can be re-
lied on more fully, as the Sun is not extreme,
| though decided and outspoken on the side OF
popular freedom:
'Thus it seems that if there is thus far less
demonstrativeness than usual on the surface OF
affairs, it is not the result Of any want Of pop
ular interest, but that perhaps profound con-
seriousness Of the seriousness and vitality of the
questions at issue indisposes men to deal with
them as partisans or to express their emotions
so much in words as in action. 1t is certain
that the nomination of General Grant has not
thus far added any strength to his party In
those States where elections were held just be-
fore the Chicago nominations. and when his
name was identified with the radical ticket, and
even where, as in Connecticut the ticket bore
his likeness, it had no effect, except that the
democratic majority was increased instead of
diminished. So it has been in Oregon. And
as to Kentucky, the Chicago nominations only
seem to have had the result of adding forty
thousand to the democratic vote. IF, as we
have said, the name of Seymour has not been
received with more reclamation of words than
that Of Grant, the votes show that his nominal
ton has not injured his cause. But names
have nothing to do With this contest. Men are
felt to be as nothing in comparison with the
principles which they represent and the conse-
quenees that may follow the contest. The re-
suits in Kentucky and Oregon are perhaps but
successive pillows in that current of reaction
against the misfule and excuses of radicalism
which manifested itself in the elections in New
York, California, Connecticut, Pennsylvania,
Ohio, etc. The name of General Grant has
failed to arrest that current, and the name of
Mr.. Seymour, if it has not given it fresh
strength, does rot seem to have retarded it
The most illustrious names are only of interest
as they symbolic ideas and principles
Brick Pomeroy has statuette Of Gen. Butler
with spoon on his shoulder He has placed
this statuette in front of his office and written
under it in large letters.
Thief, Robber, Woman Insulter.''