The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1868-11-12
The Presidential Election.

The great quadreunial contest for the
Presidency is ended, and Gen. Grant is
the victor. The soldier candidate has
beaten the statesman; the representa-
tive Of centralized despotism aha has de-
feated the representatiyelofe ivl liberty;
the man of life. longs experiences ia civil
affairs, with broad and comprehensive
views of'statesmanship, is set s aside lies for
one who is but child in, intellect, IN
all that relates to the grave and welghty
matters Of State. Be itso = As in duty
bound. we bow to the mandate Of the
people. But we hayeglong since learn
ed to scout the adage, :" Von pop''h,
coz De-" as the very quintessence OF
demagoguery. We shall not, however,
despair of the Republic, because we are
a steadfast believer in that "dlylnlty
which shapes our destinies, rough new
them how we will" Dark and lower
ing as are the clouds which gather upon
our political horizon-cheerless and un-
promising as is the prospect before the
country, we are not 'unmindful OF the
fact. that it is possible for the Al wise
DISPENSER of human events to evolve
GOOD from evil. Four years ago, the
prospect was equally dark and forbid
ding. Andrew Johnson, who had gone
down to Tennessee, las Saul went to
Damascus, breathing out threatenings
and slaughter, was, suddenly elevated to
power, and good men trembled with
apprehension lest this fierce fire brand
should spread wider the flames of
.dictiye prosecutions and death But
strangely enough, his e. eyes were opened
and he has stood firm ever since, like a
rock in mid ocean,. breaking the force
of the waves of radicalaggrcssion. May
not General Grant do the same 2 True,
we have but little cause to expect such
a result. We have supposed that Gen.
Grant would deem it his duty to do no
more than to execute the behests Of a
yindictive radical revolutionary Con
gress. But, now that he has reached
the goal of his! ambition, he may not be
the plastic servant of that body which
his former conduct has led us to believe.
The National Intelhgc',cer says: . as
tits possible that General Grant may, on
taking the Presidential chair, remember that
he is the President of a whole people; the SOL
emn oath which he will be called on to take on
that day NAV be to him "a real and deep res
nonsibiiity the names and characters OF Wash
inoton. Of Madison, Monroe, and the other
great patriots whoshave filled this high office,
NAV crowd thick upon his memory, and he may
feel an honorable ambition to quit that chair
with the love, the respect, and the 'veneratien
of all his countrymen. Such thoughts may
come with the position, and If they shall guide
his conduct they may bear nobler harvest
than the bitter fruit of an hour Of passionate,
frenzied, political struggle. We should pc
among the first to hail such spirit, and shall
only be too happy to admit, along with the
American people, in such anevent, that what
now seems to US a great public calamity has
been transmitted into blessing. 1t liberty, the
Constitution, the Just rights of the white race,
and peaceibe restored, we shall be only too
profoundly rejoiced to take note whether the
hands by which this has been accomplished are
of our own or an adverse party. go. %