The union Democrat., 1869-01-16
The New Precedent by Which 10 Carry
Eiections

OF the 1000 Democratic votes in Louisi-
ana, saws the Cincinnati Eaqairef, the Rad
icals have only thrown ont 10000. leaving
a small remainder o. !, 600. which is easily
overbalaneed by the trifing vote for Grant.
This process gives him the State.
The vote of Georgia. which Seymour car
ried by 10000 majority, is likewise, we are
informed, to be rejected. 1t is proposed,
also, by the same party. to di>franchise New
York, with her thirty-three Electoral votes
In TACT there Is no guarantee that the votes
OF all the Democratic States for Seymour and
Blair viii mos 0saha-sam1sarily y disposed of in
the same manner.
In the Congressional elections we see the
same practice. Julian (Repuhlican) was de-
feated for Congress in heretofore Repuhli-
can district, which had Republican major
ity of h900. But he obtains the certificate
of election by his friends throwing out a ward
in the Republican city of Richmond. which
gave two hundred majority against him. In
Pennsylvania the notorious Covode was de-
feated NY small majority by Henry d. Fos-
ter, Democrat but by rejecting enough votes
cast for Foster, Coyode receives the certificate
of election.
We need not refer to the cases in the nres-
ert Congress, where Messrs. Brooks, Voor-
hees, G. W. Morgan and John d. Young,
of kentacky, and other Democrats, elected
by hundreds and thousands of maiorities.
were turned ont of their seats in the House,
which we're given to their defeated competi-
tors.
If we could only induce our Republican
friends to recognize that rule ought to work
one way as well as another, we should te
tempted to acquiesce in this rather unique
method of carrying elections. We Demo
Gratis have been endeavoring, for some years,
to obtain National success, but. owing to
want of votes, have failed. But if the game
of success can be won simply by rejecting
enough OF our opponents ballots, We stand
fair chance, only provided we can find as
reckless and unscrupulous men in our organ
lzation. which we greatly doubt.
III the tewest votes can win in the instan-
ces above mentioned, then why should they
not elect all minority candidates? The only
trou ble is that our whole elections would de-
perd on the political character of those who
counted the ballots. They would be sort
of political aristocracv, who, once put in
power, would make it perpetual. and thus
carry all elections for all time 1t is practi-
cally so now. 1t is u matter of congratula,
tion to- the GraHt organs that there is such a
ready aequieScence in the result, and that no
one purposes to disturb it. We accept the
great cnmpiment-for compliment it is-in
behalf of the Democratic parry. But could
we have reciprocated the compliment if :he
Grant party had succeeded =? Does auv one
believe it who is conversant with tbe nefa-
rious acts of that organization What they
are doing now in the rejection of Seymour
States and Congressman we'll indicates how
much worse they would have behaved if Sew
mour and Blair had carried all the old south
ern and border States. in despite of negro
acknowledgements and white disfranchisement.
Tuis would have elected Mr. Seymour bv
three majority in the Electoral College AL
though they might thus have been chosen
over fraud. usurpation and violence. they
would have been forcibly resisted in their ef-
forts to tale their places. 1t was with this
ulteror project in view that they nominated
General Grant. who was the actual head of
the army, which they believed be would eur
pley to sechre these unholv ends.
1t was the presontiment of the future that
secured fDr General Grant several of the great
Northern States, whose votes elected him.
Many of their peopie were timid and faint
hearted. and. rather than see civil war in
the country. they preferred to let their opno-
nents succeed. The honest election of Sey-
mour and Blair might bring on an armed
opposition from the unscurpulous Ead;cal
faction. But the election of Grant and Col
fax would not be forcibly opposed either
North or South. 1t vas bv such fears, un-
worthy in their moral aspect, but not unwor-
thy of those whom they suspected, that the
Democracy were beaten.
If the page of impartial history is ever
written, it will be so chronicled.