Wilmington journal., 1869-08-13
Election Day.

Election Day.
We are certain that the quiet and orderly
conduct of our colored citizens during the
excitement of the election held yesterday
is the cause of much congratulation upon
the part of the white people. How much
interest has been felt in the result we know
from the warm canvass that has been had
If the two wings of the Radical party il
this county have the least regard for each
other, politically or personally, they GER
tainly have not exhibited it either IN the
speeches of their orators, or the mottoes or
caricatures of their tranSparencies, or the
open expressions of their private conver-
sations If the Radical officials of this
county are not rOgues and scoundrels 1t is
from no want of denuEciations as such by
former supporters. Yet, in the midst OF
all this abuse and feeling, We have Wit
messed professions march and counter
march through our streets, interfering
with the meetings and proceedings OF the
opposing faction, without collision and
without unnecessary molestation. And we
desire hero to record onr high apprecia-
tion of the conduct of the Price party on
Wednesday evening, when their meeting
was unnecessarily interfered with by the
supporters of French. 1t was proof that
those who controlled that wing of tho
party were wclI-dispOsed, law-abiding
citizens. The advice given to his adj
herents by Price was dccorous and manly.
and won for him tho sympathy of hum
,lreds Of the best citizens of Wilmington.
Such conduct, under snch circumstances,
will be remembered to his credit long
liter the excitement of the present canvass
has been forgotten, and both the eandl-
dates have sunk into merited oblivion.
1T might be well to inquire into the cause
Of the good conduct of our colored people.
Surely i'll formor elections they were dis
posed to be riOtOus even to violence. Our
white citizens found it necessary to pro
vide for the protection of their rights and
their lives. We are clad to say that ample
preparation was all that was required.
since then, with each succeeding election,
there can be no cause for complaint. We
have yet to hear of the first unusual viola
tinn Of tho peace on election day in ON
city. We read of election riots in Now
York, in Philadelphia, in Louisville, in
Charleston, in Savannah, and in many 9TH
or less important places throughout the
country, bnt with us it has been different.
This change, for change there has been,
results from some we'll established cause,
and we are satisfied that it is in eonse.
qucnce Of the loss of influence over the
colonel people by the miserable carpet
baggers, who formerly held them in more
abject bondage than ever their masters
exercised over them while slaYes. The ne
groes of New Hanover, to-day, have little
or no confidence in such men as Abbott,
French, Estes and Rutherford. Even
those who followed them in this election
were rather controlled by strict party dis
cipline, and a preference for block candi-
date than from any regard for the opinions
of their white associates.
Indeed, whatever may have been the re-
suit of the election On yesterday, the doom
of the carpet-bagger has gone forth. Wher
French Il Co. gave up the nomination OF
Rutherford they awkwardly acknowledged
the end of their reign. We are satisfied
that Estes would not have resigned but fol
the expectation that Rutherford was tc
succeed him. And although the Price fac
tion was committed to the nomination o
an unpor rular and unworthy man, yei
French 4 Co. dare not nominate the most
popular, if not the most worthy, carpet
Dagger in the county. In giving up the
point the brotherhood of carpet baggers
signed their political death warrant. It is
a consummation most devoutIy to be
wished"
We believe the honorable course pursued
by our citizens has done much to en-
courage return upon the part of the
blacks. We have yet to learn of the frs
gentleman in this community who has
made the least concession to the overbear
ing spirit of party which has controlled
the State, county and city. A few crea-
tarea, indeed, have bent their necks to the
political storm, but they yet wallow in the
filth and MIRO into which they plunged fol-
selfish purposes. If the whites have exer
cised but little political control over the
blacks, they have not lost their respect
and confidence, and, to-day, the benefit ot
this influence is felt in the marked good
conduct of these people. 1t will increase
and honor and principle will yet accom-
plish what policy and cowardice would
have failed to DO.
Virginia POiItics and Politics Generally y
The exact position of politics in Virgins
IS troubling the politicians and press O.
the North no little. The Radical party
while positively refusing to acknowledge .
defeat, are unwilling to claim victory
They cannot bring themselves to the fact
that their party has lost tho control of the
State, or that some reconciliation betweer
the opposing wings cannot be made. and ,
defeat In substance converted into n vic