The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-03-10
THE RESPONSE OF rHR. PEOPLE.

The elections of last year were response
on the part of the people of the so-called
loyal States, to the reconstruction policy of
Congress, involving, at that time, only an
anticipated elevation of the blacks to posi-
ton of political supremacy in the South. If
the charges then made by the Democrats had
not been founded on deductions SO clear that
the popular intellect could not refuse to
accept them, they would have been regarded
as nothing more than the ordinary utterances
of partisan opposition. If the country had
not thoroughly comprehended the inevitable
results of the congressional policy, and as
thoroughly condemned it, there would have
been no reason to abandon the party which
was in the majority and which claimed to
nation" But the consequences of the recon-
struction policy were so clearly foreseen that
the current of opinion was turned violently
against the party by which that policy had
been contrived. The effects on the public
mind were seen in the elections occurring
during the year 1867, from the opening DEM
oeratic victory in Connecticut to the closing
triumphs in New York and New Jersey. This
expression of opinion was protest simply
against the plan of reconstruction devised by
Congress-against negro supremacy, military
despotism and practical disunion. If
Congress had regarded these warnings,
and receded from the Objectionable
plan which had been adopted,
it is possible that the Republicans might
have recovered their lost ground. But the
radicals had committed themselves to this
plan of reconstruction, not only as a measure
of public importance, but of party necessity.
The logic Of the situation required them,
therefore, to go forward; because to go back
would have jeoparded that supremacy which
they had resolved to maintain in spite of pub
lie opinion expressed through the voice of the
majority. Such a course implies, on their
part, continually widening departure from
the wishes of the country and a continually
augmenting opposition on the part of the
public. 1t involves final collision, in one
form or other, with public opinion; because
it leads, necessarily, to the adoption of ex-
pedients for suppressing the will of the
majority. just as the people last year fore
saw the consequences of the reconstruction
acts to be negro supremacy, military tyranny
and perpetual standing armies, they now fore
see the consequences of radical party policy
in the erection Of a permanent congressional
despotism, contrived by legislative strategy,
and supported by force. Just as last year the
people responded to the reconstruction acts,
by overthrowing the Republican party in the
elections, they are now responding to the
radical party policy, by electing Democratic
candidates in all the cities and towns that
hold elections. The effects of the Stanton
Grant controversy, and of the fiagitious i'm
parchment of the President, are seen in the
results of more than dozen elections in as
many cities and towns at the North. For
example, in Troy, N. Y, Democratic mayor
has just been chosen by 1850 majority-a
gain of 1900 over last spring Utica goes
Democratic by 4S7, gain of $50 /; Rochester
by SsS, gain of 492 Elmira by 200, gain
of $50. In Lansingburg, Corning Fulton,
and other towns in New York, and in Port
land, Me-, there are large Democratic gains.
All this shows that the division between the
Republican party and the people is growing
broader and deeper and it indicates that if
that party succeed in maintaining their power
they will have to devise some method of sup
pressing public opinion at the North, as well
as at the South.