The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1868-12-26
[From thost. Louis Republican, 9th.l
HOW III WAS DONE.

II cannot be denied that the Radicals
managed their canvass in the late elec-
ton adroitly. We willingly accord their
leaders fhe praise they deserve. All con.
yersant with the aspect Of political affairs
on the day OF Grants nomination consid.
cred the prospects for triumph of the
Democracy exceedingly favorable. The
Radicals, since tho close OF the war, had
persistently opposed the settlement of
national difficulties on constitutional and
equitable basis. They had, with lavish
hand, squandered the public revenue on
the idle and worthless negro Of the South
They had neglected legislation in which
the great masses Of the people were deep.
ly interested. Lastly, they had forced
negro suffrage upon an unwilling people.
aud thereby filed the land with dissen-
sion. In the elections 10 the fall Of 1867,
as we'll as in the spring Of this year, their
national policy was apparently repudiated.
So at least it was construed by oil con.
yersant with politics. Under such cir
cumstances it is certainly singular that
they should have achieved triumph this
fall. While it cannot be denied that the
Democracy committed some errors, and
that Gen. Grant personally commanded
strength, the real cause of the Radical
victory must be sought, FIRST, in their per-
sistcnt assertion that they would restore a
perfect peace to the country; aud second,
in support Of tho great capitalists Of this
country and Europe. The Radicals had
disturbed the very foundations of civil
society in the South, and brought the
country TO the brink of anarchy by their
experiments, and were well aware that
this alone would be sufficient TO destroy
their Presidential prospects. What is
their course In the first place they
put the phrase Let US have peace in
Grants mouth Then they torture an
an innocent expression used by General
Blair into threat Of a new war. The
work is complete. They have the key
note Of the canvass. From ten thousand
stumps rcsouud the words :. Let us have
peace" aud "a triumph Of the Democrats
will cause new war" This was the is
sue they kept before the people. They
would not debate the measures Of Con.
gress they would not discuss the plauks
Of their platform. The country, by the
vote Of last Tuesday, has not decided in
favor Of single issue which the Repub
licans, or Radicals, dis,inciiveIy call their
own. l. it a verdict that the rcconstruc
ton acts and the Congressional policy
have proved successY Look at thu
speech delivered by Ben. Butler ths
night after his election, wherein hc
threatened a neio reconstruction for TIA,
State of Louisiana, which, with Georgi;
and Alabama, has gone back to rebelism
By going Democratic Is the verdict il
favor Of forcing negro suffrage on tho
SOUTH or in favor Of impeachment o
the President? No; it is not There i
moi a measure Of the party in powe
which, if submitted By itself 10 the pco
pie would not be crushed beneath an ava
ianche Of negation. Brag, gentlemen, o
the popularity Of your candidates; prid,
yourselves upon having touched and play
ed upon the universal desire for peace
boast, If you please, of having by tn,
trick Of diplomatic language, secured th,
support of the moneyed men of tho Eas
aud abroad but do not claim that the re
suit of the election is an approval and in
dorsement of the course Of the RepubIi
can party or its leaders aud representa-
tives, for most positively such was not tn,
case.