Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1868-10-23

party has been able, in the late elections,
to contest every inch of ground against its
opponents, and in spite OF their most siren
nous efforts. to come within few votes OF
beating them in an enormous poll Of many
hundreds of thousands. Indiana we have
either redeemed from the Republicans or
have come so near it that there is scarcely
any perceptible margin in the strength OF
the two parties, although the Republicans
had large majority in that State, and al
though it is the home of the candidate for
Vice-President, one of the most popular
men in the party. In Pennsylvania, we
have carried It's chief city, next to New
York the most populous In the country,
and a change of few thousand votes
would have given us that great State. In
Ohio, the Republican majority is but trl-
fe compared with what it used to be lew
years ago. For party that was so conf
IDENTIFY and sojeeringly pronounced dead
this is very handsome show. But our
gains were not as great as the party de-
sired and deserved.
In inquiring why, having come SO near
success In these elections. we have just
missed it, two reasons appear, In the alb
sence of either Of which our triumph would
have been certain. These reasons are such
as to show that u majority of the people
are really on our side, and have been re-
PEELED from our support by things having
no proper connection with the merits OF
the canvass. If the military prestige of
General Grant had been out of the scale
we should have succeeded or, that re-
naming, if the peryersions of General
Blair's position had been out of the scale,
we should have succeeded. 1t would be
paying Dor compliment to General Grant
or to the judgment OF the party that Ioni-
mated him, to say that his popularity has
not been worth to the Republicans of
PENNSYLVANIA half of the meagre ma ority
| by which they have carried the State. Put
| half of that small majority On the other
side, and the two parties would be equal
If that small number of votes are due to
the popularity of General Grant-and 1t
would be ridiculous To suppose the con-
trary-the election, had it been decided on
the issues, would have been in favor Of the
Democratic party. The same remark will
apply to the other States. On the Demo
cratic principles, pure and simple, we
should have succeeded. We have been
beaten by reasons quite e1traneous to the
questions in issue.
We could easily have overcome the pop
ularity of General Grant, if another point
had not been raised to divert attention
from the issues. The position of General
Blair and some of the Southern leaders
has been industriously perverted and mis-
Represented, and an impression produced
that the Democratic party is virtually
pledged to overthrow the new State gov
ernments by force. This SANDER has re-
PEELED more than votes enough to have
! turned the balance in our favor. The mar
row escape Of the Republicans from great
defeat is not due TO their principles, but to
the military prestige of Grant and the as
pensions cast upon Blair. In simple CON
test of principle we should have succeeded
and we may succeed yet, if We can remove
or reutralize these adverse influences,
which have really nothing to do with the
merits of the public questions.
Can this be done It is grave question
fraught with the most momentous conse'
quences. We commend it to the attention,
to the most earnest reflection, Of the recog
nized leaders of the party. We have still
nearly three weeks for action =; and where
so slight counterpoise would suffice tC
turn the scale, prompt action-if it be ju
dicious as we'll as prompt-will accomplish
wonders. If, in review of the whole sit
uation, it shall be concluded that mistakes
have been made, it is better that they
should be corrected now, than that the
country should be dragged through foul
more weary years of strife, to be redeemed
then by measures of the same kind thai
might, by magnificent exercise of pluck
be as easily adopted now. Whatever 6
sagacious forecast may perceive to be the
proper course for the Democratic party
four years hence, if it should be beate1
now, had better be pursued at once. The
time has come-the hour has struck-whe1
we must turn our faces resolutely to the
future This is a young country, with
} hQfnro oh ina no
ton can grasp a majority of our voters art
young men Astounding In hope, enterprise
ardor, activity; and the country being il
the dawn of new era, when all minds are
filled with expectation and excitement
that party has the best chances Of grea
future which is most in sympathy with th'
youthful, irrepressible energies of the ma
ton. A growing nation, like an improving
; individual, has always something to learn
{ a political party which does not advance
E with the nation, and enter into the fnlnes
. of it's expanding, exuherant life, is on tn
dechvity which descends to decadence an(
, decrepltude. The Democratic party is full
, of vigorous, youthful, aspiring elements
similar elements in the other party ar,
yearning to join it, if we will but have tn
s boldness to, build bridge on which the,
, can cross. The Democratic party canno
: die; its vitality, its invincible tenacity O
life, the sanguine confidence with which j
gathers energy from defeat, bespeak grea
: destiny still in reserve.
Q If our leaders should be convinced b.
: the result of the late elections, that SOM
q mistakes were made by not following thei
original judgment ; if those who disagree,
> with them in opinion now see that the
S misjudged if there is any impeachment t.
J. success which can yet be removed by nobl
= daring, or selfsacrifcing virtue, or boil
stroke of policy, now is the hour for &C
ton 1t would be an infinite pity If, whe
n we are so very near success, We should fa
y to win it by the lack of little bold
+ ness. L'audace, pauo1ace, toWoae's paa
- dace Our principles have not bee
rejected in these elections Their
IS is no call to change them. All other ele
l. ments of the canvass are light and trivia
: compared with the success of our princ
~ pies. 1t requires some greatness of soul
" act bold part in an unexpected crisis
Is when everything hangs upon a swift an
l. courageous decision. In this hour, whe
Y the party stands with one foot over tn
brink of peril, and the other on the edg
of victory, the capacity of few men t
IS form great resolution, may shape tn
i destiny of the country "We speak a
q unto wise men judge ye what we say