The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-04-08
cosEEcrIcUr.


shows that there is DO ebb in the tide of pub
lie opinion which has been setting so strongly
against the Republican party for the last year.
Connecticut was the first State to show the
influence of the great Democratic reaction
against radical tyranny; and Connecticut now
puts the climax to a series of political victories
unequaled in the history of the country, when
We consider the circumstances under whish
they have been won From position of
almost hopeless numerical inferiority in 1866.
the Democratic party has become dominant
throughout the North. In 1866 the only
States carried by the Democracy were Della
ware, Maryland and Kentucky. Every one of
tie original so-called free States was under
radical control. Every Northern governor.
and every Northern legislature were elected
by the Republican party.
The fierce passions Of the war seemed. in
that fatal year, to have gained greater inten-
sity than ever. 1t was then that the radicals
contrived their schemes for maintaining their
power, and for assuring themselves against
the fluctuations of public opinion by devising
plans for nullifying the voice of any possible
adverse majority 1t was then that they es-
tablished the system of military despotism
through which they purposed first to suffo-
cate the South, and, finally, to subjugate the
North. 1t was then that they discovered the
necessity of enfranchising Southern negroes,
and DISTINGUISHING Southern whites, in order
to make certain of the seventy electoral votes
of the South in the next presidential election.
1t was then that they resolved to usurp
and concentrate them in the hands of
vindictive majority of an ernesculated Con-
eress. 1t was then that they invented the
plan of reconstruction which they have for
more than a year been striving to carry into
effect, but which seems to be far more of q
torment to its contrivers than to its victims.
Defying the obligations OF the Constitution,
ridicuhng the recognized principles of public
liberty, trampling on the rights of the States,
they answered every appeal in behalf of con-
stiturionA government, by naughty refer
enee to the popular majority which had pro-
nounced in their favor ut the elections. The
election Of 1SC7in Connecticut was the first in
TINA ion that they had miscalculated the tenn
per and exceeded the wishes of the people on
whose support they relied. 1t was the first
symptom of a rebellion against radical ty-
ranny, which soon became general through
out the North. 1t was the first pr0alnciG-
miento Of the people against the Republican
party. From that time, up to the present,
the reaction has been gaining strength. Sue
cessively California, Pennsylvania, New Jer-
sey and New York, pronounced by popular
majorities against the policy of the radicals;
whilst in Ohio, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Maine,
and even Massachusetts. their power was
exposed to the severe shocks of an ex-
cited public opinion. And now Connec-
ticut repeats the vote of last year in
still more emphatic tones. The result
may be regarded as settling the status of Con-
necticut in the presidential election, and,
what is still more important, as demonstrate
ing that the Democratic party OF 1868, is even
more powerful than the Democratic party of
1867. That is to say, taken in connection
with the elections Of the last twelve months,
it shows that the Democracy are strong
enough in the North to elect their candidate
for the presidency next November.