Vermont daily transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1868-1870, 1868-08-13
The vital Issue Of the Election.

Under the head which we use to this
article recent number of the New York
.Su,, has an editorial Of more than ordi-
nary thought ana merit. 1t commences
by bringing before the reader the fact
that for the past forty years series OF
revolutions in Mexico and the States OF
Central and South America have sub
iected the Republican form of Govern
ment to no little reproach on this con-
tinent, and made it boy-word among
the missionaries of Europe. 1t asserts
truly that "the most frequent cause OF
these disturbances has been the unwil-
lingness of political factions, headed by
turbulent leaders, to submit quietly to
q defeat at the elections" especially
those involving choice of chief magis-
trates. The fruits of this condition of
affairs have been that life, liberty, and
commerce, manufactures, mining, agri-
culture education, and business and i'm
provements of all kinds have anguish
ed" and the growth and prosperity of
those countries have been brought to Il
dead stand still. The article further
contrasts the quiet and stability of this
republic, up to recent date, with the
turbulence of those spoken of, and then
continues thus:
But, if the turbulent and revolution
airy elements in our own Southern States,
which assume to lead the Democratic
party in the impending Presidential
contest, are not utterly crushed out by
the people in November our old-time
orderly acquiescence in the results of q
national election must ere long give way
for the introduction of the system tina,
prevails in Mexico and Central and
South America. In 1856, the Democratic
leaders beyond the Potomac threatened
that in the event of the choice of FIRE.
mont they would not submit to his adj
miiiistration, but would appeal to the
sword. The great majority of our citi-
zens then regarded this as empty gas
conade but when, in 1860, on the elec-
ton of Lincoln, they attempted to re-
verse the decision of the ballot-boX by Il
resort to the battlefield, we saw that
their declaration of 1856 was no idle
threat. The SpanishAmerican mode
of retrieving the loss of a Presidential
campaign has been once tried by the
Southern Democracy. The experiment
has cost the nation seven thousand mil
lions of dollars and one million of lives,
and has entailed upon us and our pos
terity debt of three thousand mil
lions of money, with its necessary ac-
compartment of remorseless taxation
putting the democratic theory of Gov
eminent to the severest tests ever en-
dured by any people in all history.
Not accepting IN quietude and sub
mission the scathing retribution that
fnllnua1 H. "a T. praot ~ riDln N " n hose
eX-rebels and misunderstanding as
they do through the generosity of Gene
raj Grant, whom they pursue with thciI
malignant hate, and through the elem
cncy of the Government, of which they
have proved themselves so unworthy
again threaten that in case they suf-
fer a defeat at the polls in the coming
autumn, they will, needless of their re-
cent discontinue, once more appeal
arbitrament ofarms: while, on the other
hand, they declare, with marked EN-,
phasis, that if they are successful in the
pending struggle, they will, under the
protection of the Administration, anC
in spite of recent amendments to the
Federal Constitution, and of the new
Constitutions of their several States
and of the enactments both of Congres;
and their Legislatures, restore the los
cause Dy lorclpIy reSulnlng ana eNefclS
ing all the rights they forfeited by the
rebellion.
The main question, them involved il
the present contest, and by the side o
whose colossal proportions all matters
concerning reconstruction and finance
dwindle into significance, is whethe
our citizens will tolerate in this country
the SpanishAmer.c can mode of setting
aside the legitimate result of Presiden
tial election, either by the defeated mi
nority on the one hand, or the trium
plant majority on the other, resortine
to violent measures to retrieve the losse
of the former or redress the grievance
of the latter.