The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1868-11-12
A Radical Paper on the Result.

The Springfield (Mass.) Republican
of the day after the late Presidential
election, thus discourseth to its party
friends on the result of the contest:
"The result of the election yester-
day, though it was all the Republicans
could have asked, was not triumph of
the Republican party as distinctive
organization. - And if the
victory was not achieved by the Re-
publican party, as a political organi-
zation, in its own strength and by the
prestige of its name, no more does it
give that party, as an organization, a
new lease of power. The
result of the election does not indicate
popular approval even of the gen.
eraf policy of Congress. The election
was carried in spite of policy. Had
that simple issue been presented, we
very much fear every one of the Mid
die States would have pronounced
against it. -
4 = 1t may seem grabbed and
cross-grained in the first rejoicings
over the victory, to thrust forward
such considerations. But it was never
of more importance that the true
meaning of the country should be un-
derstood. Congress may assemble in
few days under the emergency Gre
ated by the carnival of crime at the
South. At the longest it will meet in
few weeks. Upon its temper de-
pends very much. Representatives
have before this shown a strange facil-
ity or fatality in misapprehending the
wishes of the people. They must not
do so now. If they imagine that the
elections are taken of particular admi-
ration for them, if they think they can
begin again, just where they left off
last April, alarmed at the popular dis
content and the increasing danger of
losing the election; if they allow
themselves to be persuaded that now
the campaign is over, it will do to
take the screws off the expenditures,
they make great mistake. They will
not get:of SO easily next time. ri
That party is dead and gone, and even
its name is likely to perish. There is
certain to be recast of the political
elements, according to the new and
live issues and, now, if the leaders of
the Republican party-men who live
by it and think they own it-wish to
keep it in control of the Government,
they must make it attractive for those |
who look to honesty, integrity and eff
ficiency in administration. 1t is not |
difficult to. gather the sentiments of
the men who have tnrned the scales, |
this time, in favor of the Republican
party, and who must be looked to
hereafter to keep it in power. In vot-
ing to sustain the reconstruction acts.
against the mad designs of the reac-
tionists, they have not decided against
change in those acts, but quite the
contrary. They desire an immediate
amelioration of them in their most
offensive features. The disfranchise-
ment of any class, or the exclusion of
any State, for acts done in the rebels
ion, never wise, has grown to be SIM
ply stupid. The limited disfranchise-
ment has done harm and only harm.
1t has not assured the control of sim
gle State in loyal hands. 1t has lifted
the disfranehised to unsafe import
ance, and given them title of respect
among their fellow-eitizens. Towards
the General Government it has simply
served to annoy and exasperate all
classes, and make violence and negro
intimidation seem something like fair
reprisal. Unqualified negro suffrage
is another thing that will not bear ex-
animation, and must eventually be
modified but the circumstances of
1he situation are so difficult and pecu-
lar, that an immediate change is not
practicable. All that can be done
hereafter, all, indeed, that is desirable
10 be done, is to introduce throughout
he country an educational test, impair
ial with respect to color and sex, by q
which the suffrage will be limited to i
PERSONS of some intelligence, whether {
black, white, red or yellow. ..95-3 i,ea c
But it is in matters of revenue and L
that the sense of the a
country is most positive, and its reso- b
ution taken. : r. We cannot go C
IN as we are. The country is losing 9
trength too fast, and the poor are be- !
oming too thoroughly impoverished. b
rightly OF wrongly, the peo- s
lie will accuse the party in power of Il
hose evils, the causes of which they I
annot see, but the effects of which p
heyacan most bitterly feel. Mr.. .Sey- e
lour was right-the financial issue is tt
oabef pressed: and the Republican a
arty. must meet it with courage and p
Intelligence. 7oEj 5reHe53ls sG .si.ia q
Curious Termination of a Murder Trial. "
A murder trial met with a curious tt
IN ] in Henry county, Illinois, HI