The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-17
The New York state EIection--1 s61 and
1SGS.


The result of the State election in New
York last fall astonishcd everybody From
| the general falling off of republican majorties
in the early elections and the turning over of
two or three States to the democrats it was
evident that an apathy prevailed among the
republicans growing out of dissatisfaction
with the violent measures of Congress and the
admitted incompetency, extravaganza and
corruption pervading the government But
there was no anticipation anywhere that New
York, after the steady republican majorities
she had cast almost uninterruptedly for years,
would be so completely reyolutionized as to
give as she did, on full vote, rousing fifty
thousand democratic majority. The sweeping
character OF their victory was probably the
worst misfortune that could have befallen the
democratic party. II checked the growing
desire for reorganization and combination of
all the conservative elements in opposition to
radicalism, inspired the old party leaders and
politicians with false hopes, gave renewed
life to the secession element of the South and
the copperhead element of the North and
induced the belief that the loyal people ofthe
| Union were prepared to forget all they had
sacrificed and suffered and to entrust the life
Of the nation in the hands of the men who ha d
so recently endeavored to destroy it.
| If the democratic leaders had been far see
ing statesmen instead of mere narrow-minded
ward politicians they would never have fallen
into this fatal error. They would have known
that the great change in the vote of New York
was entirely disconnected with national ques.
tons, and could not be accepted as evidence
that the people who had steadily supported
| the and poured out their wealth so freely
! for the protection Of the nation were prepared
| in the first Presidential election after the sup
preston of the rebellion, to restore to power
the men who had for four years offered every
possible obstruction to the Union cause But
they were blind and obstinate and are now
paying the penalty Of their folly The fact is
that the election in New York last fall was con-
troled entirely by two interests strictly local
! and temporary in their character first the
anti-liquor law interest, and next, the anti
Fenton interest. The radicals at Albany had
INDUCED, as they always do when in power, in
sumptuary legislation. They sought to con-
troll the appetites and recreations of the masses
| by laws restricting the sale of liquor and lager
and providing pains and penalties for any per-
son who should violate the Sabbath by selling
! glass of beer to thirsty man. They passed
| one law for the cities of New York and Brook
| lyn and another law for the rest of the State
| making fish of one portion of the citizens and
flesh of another. At the same time Greeley
| Wendell Phillips and other ultra radicals were
! opposing and denouncing General Grant the
conservative republicans, who were Grants
friends, were insultingly kicked out of the State
Convention, and the State ticket was made up
wholly out of the Fenton radical ranks.
The election of 1867 was fought i'm New
York upon the issues thus formed Every
German and Irishman who rebelled against
the oppressive and absurd License law joined
the democrats at the polls without regard to
politics and voted for their candidates. The
friends of Seward and Weed in the Custom
House, the Post Offices the Internal Revenue
Department and in every school district in the
State voted against the radical ticket The
Grant men everywhere either remained away
from the polls or voted with the democrats.
1t was all this that ran the republican vote 10
New York city down to twen,y-six thousand
and that carried the democrats into power in
the State by fifty thousand majority.
The election of 1868 in New York presents a
very different aspect The democrats last
winter, after securing majority in one branch
of the Legislature and possessing the power
90 force from The other branch ard from the
Governor valuable modification OF the Metro
polian Excise law which would have removed
all It's oppressive and offensive features,
betrayed their friend. and obstructed any
alteration OF the law in order that they might
retain il as political capital for another cam
paign. The liquor men. however, are hard to
deceive q second time. and il is now mpossi-
bic to revive the wbiskcy and lager beer
excitement of last fall. especially when the
great champion and patron OF free lager is a
candidate for Governor on the republican
ticket Grant is now the nominee for Prcsi-
dent. aud Greeley, Phillips and the radicals.
as well ~ all the conservative republicans in
the state. are giving him an ardent support.
The elections in Vermont and Maine have
shown his great strength. and the elections in
Ohio. Indiana Pennsylvania aud Iowa will
put his success beyond the shadow Of doubt.
Every Seward and Weed politician in the
State who last year voted against the Fenton
ticket will this year vote aud labor for Grant
, and Griswold. The Germans, who were hum
t bugged last year on the lager question and
who have again had to pay their exorbitant
license fee, will vote for Grswold, the Gam
: brnus of free lager who will give them
e speedy relief. la this city alone the republican