The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1868-06-16
The Oregon Election.
From the New York Herald.

-s.-- From the New York Herald.
The, election in Oregon indicates that the
name of Grant has no magic to change the ver-
dict against the Republican party that is written
in the mind OF the whole people. 1t also shows
that. the deep conviction of the dangers OF Radi-
calism to the country--the conviction that made
itself felt at the polls in California, Connecticut,
Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey and New York,
and gave those States to the Democrats by good
majorities- a deep conviction still that it has
not worn away with time, aud that nothing what
ever of promise for the better is felt in anything
done by the Radicals lii the period that has clap
sed since State last recorded the Judgment OF
its people against that party. Within that time
have come two great party events-the lmpeach-
Inent and nomination ola Presidential candidate.
Impeachment, it is sufficiently notorious, has
deepened everywhere the conviction that the
domination Of the Radical party is, not consistent
with the safety of our institutions; but how it
might be. with the nomination OF Grant no man
could positively say. Party, men Of one side or
che other, and all who pretend to be weatherwlse
in the political atmosphere, could predict to their
own satisfaction just what would come to pass;
but the truth is that one can divine the secret
currents Of peoples thoughts-no one can &C
curately estimate the hidden forces yet seem
TO move the whole mass of the nation by elecr :
cal unanimity to the same result. But the balJt
box tells all. The seam crops out at an elect on
and the mind of the people is shown. Hence
the significance of this election IN Oregon deter
mined with unequivocal clearness for the Demo
Gratis right on the heels Of the nomination of Grant
by the Radicals. Grant to put it at its liz htest
Is not SO great man, not name SO thoroughly
satisfactory to the people that they will venture
another four years Of Radicalism to have him.
He is too evidently only the gliding OF the pill.
and the people thrust him aside. And this is
settled, not on the arguments or defamation of
parlsans, not on the torecastings OF those who
believe that Grant will be beaten because they
hope it, but it is settled on that only positive
source OF information under our systeni--a test
st the polls, an experiment before the people, the
honestly delivered vote OF a great State.
The growth and progress of such convictions
in the public mind as have produced the Demo-
cratic triumphs Ut which this in Oregon is the
most noteworthy, nothing can BOW arrest and the
inevitable consequence wall be a complete change
OF power. Hitherto the same change has occur
red IN much the same way. Scott was once ex-
pected to walk over the Presidential course some
what as Grant adherents expect him to walk
over it now; but his promenade ended In great
disaster Grants seems very likely to end in
the same way. This steady, constant but un-
demonstrative change i'll the minds OF the people
results from the general feeling OF the necessity
of saving the Constitution from the assaults Ut
the political desperadocs who find it obstruc-
ton to their schemes. People hardly realized the
necessity Tor constitution. They have heard
the discussion one way and another over consti-
tutional points. aud have given little attention.
They have heard the declaration OF the Radicals
that they would govern outside the Constltu-
ton and hardly realized what it meant But
when they see the acts Of these men ust what
it all means, when they see law and civil govern
ment tramped down In ten States, and great
section OF the Union ruled by military despot
when they see the whole power Of great branch
OF the Government used to destroy the Exccu-
tive, and to strike down the Supreme Court, they
naturally consider what result the success Of
these Efforts would produce; and the fear to con
tinue the Government in the hands of such a
party changes the vote of every thinking man
1t is change that goes silently and appears
only in it's consequences, as Is the case with al
great operations of the national interest In that
great explosion of national purpose which follow
ed the firing on Sumpter appeared the thought
of many months; aud it was so magnfeently
unanimous only because every man had deter
mined what mustb dome and was ready-be
cause the rational thought was prepared like
mine of gunpowder and waited only the match
In election after election. following one anothe
in different States, We now see the growth.ant
progress of q great change, and it is clear that
counting on this the party that avas itself of th
great fact in the right spirit viii best utilize
Tor the national welfare. 1t Is change tina
points towards positive assertion of the supre
macy Of Law in the Government, Of which prin
ciple Chief Justice Chase is the conspicuous rep
rescntativc, and it is therefore change that mus
make him President of the United States.