The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-09-14
The Presidential Campaign.
JILL % me- POPULAR TIDE.

From the New York Herald.l
The Vermont election of Tuesday
last was as much trial before the
people of the strength of Grant and
Coltax on the one side, and Seymour
and Blair on the other, as if they had
been directly voted for; and the result,
from our observations on these pre-
liminary local elections of many years,
indicates the drift of the popular tide
throughout the country on the main
question.
We are prepared for similar result
IN Maine, some nine days hence, and
for corresponding Republican sue
cesscs In the October State elections
in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana.
In the event of such successes, no
doubt will remain as to the Presiden-
tial issue IN November. The cleo
ton Of 1868 will be substantially the
election of 1864 over again, and the
success of Grant in his first heat may
be even moro decisive than that of
lincoln, in his second election.
Ali the facts before us, and all the
signs Of the times indicate an over
whelming triumph to Grant and Col
fax. In the State elections of 1867
there was a manifest popular reaction
set in motion against the excuses,
shortcomings and bluuders of the
party in power. The Democracy had
only to fall in with the spirit of this
movement in order to retrieve their
mistortunes of the last eight years
They had 4 splendid opportunity Of
fercd them in July to flank the Re
publicans, and an admirable candi-
date at their service in Chief Justice
Chase, candidate competent to carry
of the Republican balance of power
In every State; but the National Dem
Oeratic Convention threw this golden
opportunity away, and fell back into
the old Copperhead grooves of their
Chicago anti-War and Southern Rights
expounders. Not only was the Chase
movement of the progressive Democ-
racy secuted by the Tammany Con-
ventiOn, but rejected so treacherOusly
and coutemptuously as to drive over
at once to General Grant every honest
and Independent supporter of the
claims and cause of the Chief JUS
tiee. at
Half a million of votes were thus
stupidity thrown away. We may say
too, that the tOrtuous course pursued
by Nj. Seymour to secure his own
nomina hon-by pretending that he
did rot want it, and could not take,
and by protesting to be the chief en-
gineer Of the Chase movement, by
speaking against Pendleton's plat
form aud then accepting it-has di.
minished his friends and increased
his enemies, even in his own party
camp. Certainly by withdrawing as
candidate, and by declining and pro
testing, and then by accepting, Will
tears 10 his eyes, what he had de
nOunced, and with all the affectation
Of injured innocen> :, he has add et
nothing to the genera. public estimat
of his character as a sGNeming politi
clan.
His nomination gave 10 strength
to the cause; but when 90 1pled will
the platform of PendletoL on tn
finances, and of Blair on Southern
reconstruction, it became a deaC
weight to his party. 1t changed tn,
whole complexion of the politica
field. 1t was a movement backward
not only to the Democratic situation
of 1864. but back to the constitution
Of 1860 and the Southern expounder
there IF.
Pendletou, on the finances, may b,
more than half right; but coup lie,
with BARS letter on reconstruction,
the position occupied by Seymour a!
the Democratic candidate is accepted
by the Union party of the war as al
appeal to the ballot box agains
Grant ia the battle field. And again
the scandalous course pursued by tn;
ftnnnNr Is Of m i
press in the personal abuse of Gen
Grant has operated and is operating
Immensely to his advantage. TIL,
people will not countenance an unius
and outrageous pers ecution ofa faithful
pubic servant. In the cause especiall
OF such q champion of the Uniol
through struggle of life or death
such faithful servant as Genera
Grant, they will Indignantly turl
against his detamers, and render
Judgment which they will rememher
though they may have forgotten al
similar lessons of the last fortv YEAR
In conclusion, the political sitns
ton from the standpoint of the Yer
mont election seems to be this: I
the nomination of Grant by the R.
publicans they did much toward
placing the Presidential contest O
the issues of the war for the Unto
and the Democrats have done Il
rest, in their ticket and platform. ar
in their leaders and managers, jou
nails and orators conducting the cal
vass. From the signs of the time
therefore, the Presidential election
1868 will be repetition of the ele
ton OF 1864. The result of the comil
Maine election, however, will thro
a stronger light upon the subject.