The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-09-12
}3olitiral.
More Signs of the Times.

~
The Bound Table, published in New York
CITY. like the New Yook Herald, criticised the
action of the Democratic National Convention
severely. and withfts characteristic d0gmatism,
assured the Democracy that they had insured
the election of Gen. Grant. The editor OF that
very able publication, however, has, like the
Herald, been watching the signs OF the times
and the drift of public sentiment since the
nominations were made, and has seen reason
to revise his conclusions. In the issue OF the
22d inst, he says;
Our conviction was freely expressed at the
time of the New York nomination that In select
ing Gov. Seymour for their standard-bearer the
Democrats had set the seal to their own defeat
Did We Judge merely from indications on the sur
face. this conviction might remain unchanged.
We have however, become persuaded that there
is powerful under-current of popular dissatls-
faction with radical rule and radical measures
which is gaining rather than losing strength
with the passage of time, and that, consequently,
the chances which at present we estimate as
nearly even, may incline in November, in a vic
torious degree, to the Democratic side.
The writer thinks that the ''efforts of Radi-
Gals to affX to the Democratic cause the stig-
ma of disloyalty" meets no sympathetic re-
spouse from the "great body of the people"
The Subject of reconstruction" he thinks the
grand obstructive principle or measure in
the campaign. and says:
Substantially speaking, those who believe in
and would perpetuate universal negro suffrage
will vote solidly on one side and those who dis
believe in universal negro suffrage or would
leave it to the regulation OF the states themselves
will vote on the other
Of the general policy of the Radicals, the
Round Table says
But the outrageous plumbers of the party in
power in all things relating to this momentous
subject, their utter want of anything like settled
or permanent policy, the enormous injury they
have inflicted upon nearly every business interest
in the country by their procrastination, their I'M
certanties, and their ignorance, undoubtedly
have persuaded thousands of sober-minded men
that on this ground alone any possible change in
administration would be change for the better.
Most certainly, no conceivable party or policy
could be worse than those that, by refusing to
reform the civil service have refused in time OF
unprecedented public burdens to save the coun-
try sxty-6ve millions of dollars a year; and who
ny COuHlNduCc Will WHISKY ITduuS, nave
impoverished the Treasury to an amount equal
to more than half the entire present annual rev.
enue. Now, all this cheating, imbecility, and
folly may be inseperable from loyalty and hatred
OF Copperheads and disinterested love of negroes
but If they are, being of very palpable injury to
the national interests, while their inevitable I'd.
1uncts of but theoretic advantage, it seems
exceedingly likely that practical people may
prefer, apart from all other issues, to rid them
selves of the whole load of such good, bad, or
doubtful qualities together.
Recurring again to the subject of reconstruc-
ton, it says:
But the election Images upon reconstruction,
to which all other questions however import
ant, are evidently to be reckoned as subordinate
The republicans, well knowing their most vul.
nerable side deprecate this view of the case with
refreshing simplicity The issue OF reconstruc-
ton, say they, is closed by events. Reconstruc-
tion is thing accomplished. Hence it is mad
missable, or at least Improbable, to discuss the
wisdom of the process In other words, a pre-
MUM should be offered for all future time to en-
courage rancorous precipitste, and unconstitu-
tional legislation with the promised result of
vitiating every established element of the United
States Government and insuring its early over
throw.
The utter failure of the nomination of Gen.
Grant to inspire enthusiasm has attracted the
attention of the Round Table, and it says
The remarkable unpopularity of Gen. Grant
meanwhile appears to increase from day to day.
Whether it is that the people instipctively real
lie the improperly in republic of placing a
military as chief ruler over territory hvpo-
thetcally free, but which his sword has Just sub.
dued, or that the Commander-in-Ch Chiefs personal
characteristics beget constantly augmenting
dislike, it is certainly true that for no military
man ever presented as a candidate for the Pres.
1dency in this country has there been so little
genuine enthusiasm. The weakness of some
parts Of the Democratic platform and the ridic-
ulous indiscretions of some Democratic speech
makers are perhaps more than counterbalanced
In noxious efficacy by Gen. Grants utter want of
magnetism, and the mistrust or dislike with
which he is regarded by the people.
The conclusion arrived at by this calm OBJ
server is thus expressed
From present indications we arc led to believe
that the three great states of New York. Penn
sylvania and Ohio will throw themselves into the
scale fer Seymour and Blair; and, should thew
do So not all the hosts of New England, backed
as they may be by the west and south, by voters
black or white, constitutional or unconstitutional
Will avail to prevent the Republican forces from
kicking the beam.