Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-06-13
The Oregon Election-The First Response
.E to GEN. Grants Nomination.

The election in Oregon indicates that
the name Of Grant has no magic to
change the verdict against the Republl-
can party that is written IN the mind OF
the whole people. 1t also shows that
the deep conviction Of the dangers of
radicaism to the country-the convic-
ton that made itself felt at the polls in
California, Connecticut, Pennsy lvania,
Ohio, New Jersey and New York, and
gave those States to the Democrats by
good maiorities---is deep conviction
still; that it has not worn away with
time, and that nothing whatever of pro-
mise for the better is felt in anything
done by the Radicals in the period that
hrs elapsed since State last recorded
the Judgment of its people against that
marty. Within that time have come two
great party events-the impeachment
and the nomination of Presidential
candidate. impeachment, it IS suffi'
ciently notorious, has deepened every
where the conviction that the domina
ton of the Radical party is not consist
ent with the safety of our institutions;
but how it might be with the nom
ination of Grant no man could posi-
lively say. Party men of one side or
the other, and all who pretend to be
weatherwise in the political atmosphere,
could predict to their own satisfaction
lust what would come to pass; but the
ruth is that no one can divine the secret
currents of peoples thoughts-no one
can accurately estimate the hidden
forces that yet seem to move the whole
mass of the nation by electrical unanim-
ty to the same result. But the ballot
box tells all. The seam crops out at an
election and the mind Of the people is
shown. Hence the significance OF this
| election in Oregon determined with un-
,ouiyocal clearness for the democrats
;sbt on the heels Of the nomination of
Gr'>nt by the radicals Grant, to put 1t
=, IL liehtest, is not so great man, not
NAME so thoroughly satisfactory to the
aaonIe that they will venture another
- years of radicalism to have him.
he is too evidently only the gliding OF
tbe pill, and the people thrust him
side. And this is settled, not on the
sropments or declamations OF partisans,
not on the forecaslings of those who be-
lave that Grant will be beaten because
nav hone IL. but il is settled on that only
nositive source Of Information under our
system-a test at the polls, an expert
mept before the people, the honestly de-
Iiyered vote of great State. .rs
The growth and progress OF such con-
victions in the public mind as have pro
duoed the Democratic triumpbs OF which
This in Oregon is The most noteworthy
nothing can now arrest, and the inevi-
table consequences will be complete
| change Of power Hitherto the same
1 change has occurred Ia much the same
wav. Scott was once expected TO walk
| over the Presidential course somewhat
| az Grants adherents expect him to walk
over IL nov; but this promenade ended
| in a great disaster. Grants seems very
\ likely 10 end in the same way. This
steadv. constant but undemousirative
change in the minds oi the people re
solts from the general feeling Of the
necessity Of saving the Constitution rom
! he assaults Of the political desperAdioe.s
| sho fnd Il an obstruction 20 their
| schemes. People hardly realzec the
pecessity for constitution. They have
bssrd thediscussion one vaysDdanoiher
over coustiniional points, aud have
| S;v.n Ettle attention. They have heard
m. dsclsrsfiou Of the Radicals that they
Tould govern "ouisids the Constitution,