The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1868-09-16
SEYMOUR.
GRANT.

| OeOrSla. Kansas ........ I
Indiana. lib Massachusetts, IL
Kentucky ......I Michigan ........
Louisiana. z Minnesota. 4
| Maine. Z Nebraska ~.
Maryland. I. 49,. New Hamshire. 4
Missouri .......l1 North Carolina. ;. 8
Nevada ........ Ohio. 1883. "a
New Jersey -. Rhode Island /. !. q
New York. ...33 South Carolina 4
Oregon ..l....... 8 Tennessee =. IL
Pennsylvania. 20 Vermont :, ;. {
Wisconsin ....... s West Virginia.. {
Total. ...l64 Toaal. -. .*l3s
*This table omits the States of Virgin
ia, 10; Mississippi, Z; Texas,6.
If, on the contrary, the Republicans car
ry both Maine and Louisiana, or should
they carry Indiana, the main result would
still be unchanged.
The State elections will probably to a
considerable extent influence each other
the floating vote always running more OF
less with the prevalent tide, but as the sue,
cession happens to fall, encouragement is
likely to be pretty evenly distributed
Thus, the first State election-that of Yer
mont, September will of course be a
Republican success. California, on the
following day, will as certainly show til
umph for the Democrats. The Maine
election, September IA, will be much more
interesting and significant I; because it can
not be counted as a foregone conclusion.
The Republican majority of27,60O in 1866
was reduced by 16 900 votes in 1867. ii
the process of reduction is still going on
and this Democratic leaders sanguinely
hope and strenuously claim-the Republi-
cans may find their last years majority OF
1,600 entirely dissipated in November.
After the Maine election comes month
which will doubtless witness the hardest
work of the canvass. The four States oil
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Iowa,
hold their election on October Is, the same
day. Iowa will, without doubt, go for the
Republican ticket, but Indiana is uncer-
tain Mr., Hendricks strength is very great,
but he has majority to overcome-that OF
the last election of '66-of 1900. On the
other hand Mr.. Lincoln's majority in '64
was $4,000, and it remains to be seen how
far the reaction has proceeded here as well
as elsewhere As regards Ohio, opinions
are naturally very much divided. The
wish, in political matters so potentially ia
Their to The thought, produces decided con-
victIons that are highly antagonistic. To
the impartial observer it seems suggestive
enough to perceive that the Republican
majority of 10000 in 1864 was less than
10000 in '66, and had dwindled to 1900
Tin '67. From present appearances the
| election in Pennsylvania will be closer
than in any other State. As to New
York, scarcely any but strong partisans
now question that she will go for the
Democratic candidates by a heavy majority.
The violence and bitterness the Radical
leaders, their want of generosity in dealing
with and speaking Of the South and their
curious deficiency in tact and practical
craftsmanship, are mainly responsible for
a sweeping reaction that many wise and
patriotic thinkers find reason to regret.
BY identifying themselves with the cause
of universal negro suffrage, the Republican
party have become pledged to stand or fall
by principle which it is clear the Ameri-
can people are not prepared to maintain.
We have always believed, and in these col
umns have frequently expressed the belief,
that this was the rock on which The Re-
publican party would strike and SILVER, and
successive events have strengthened this
persuasion. Whatever may be just or ex-
pedient for the future, there are at present
too many voters in this country, not too
few and there are tens of thousands Of in
telligeEt men who thoroughly believe this,
although they are not always quite as ready
as they should be to avow their convictions
Justice to the blacks is a very good thing,
but .he nation is evidently not yet ready
to assent either to the necessity or the pol
icy ofsecuring that justice at the cost of
the liberty of the whites: The election
last year in Ohio. the election we have just
witnessed in Kentucky, indicate in the
clearest manner the strength and determi-
nation of the popular will on this subject
A revolution is in progress which, all
bloodless though it may be, promises to be
resistless in extent and efficacy. The peo-
Pile are saying to the Radical extremists in
language not to be misunderstood "Fhus
far shall you go, but no further. Freedom
for oil b0ndmen we agree. to and insist
upon, but we will not agree to precipitate
and indiscriminate bestowal of the best
cherished privilege Of American freemen
upon the most ignorant and degraded of
the community. We demand that you
pause here until decent space be given to
preparation, and until the deliberate sense
of the whole community shall have been
thoroughly tested and fairly expressed"
Hypocrisy always sooner or later begets
bitterness, and there can not be doubt.
that, However honest and admirable the
motives of many Republicans, there have
been SOME among their most conspicuous
leaders and Spokesman who have thought
more Of reinforcing and parpetuating the
power of their party than of assuring the
welfare of the negroes. Against this class
Of men, whether politicians or journalists,
there has grown up i'll the last year or two
an intense popular hostility which has led
to not a little violence of expression, and
which threatens greatly to heighten the as
perity of the Presidential contest. If, as
is now claimed, the blacks in considerable
numbers should vote the Democratic tick
ct. the sincerity Of o certain class of Re
publican politicians will be put to crucial
test. On the other hand, the candor of OPP
ponents of negro suffrage. who like The