Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1869-10-28
The Autumn EIection..

| Dreams, not elections, go "by cOn.T.l-
ries, +" and the yehemence with winch
the Democratic papers declare that the
elections in Pennsylvania and Ohio dc
not show that the people sustain General
Grants administration, proves their con-
sciOusneSs that that is their exact signl-
! ficance. If ldr. Packer had been elected
Governor of Pennsylvania, the same
papers would have loudly assured Us
that Pennsylvania condemned the Re-
| publican principles and policy. II Mr.
Pendleton had been elected Governor OF
Ohio, we should have been told that the
Massachusetts of the West repudiated its
ancient faith and embraced reputation.
Such result would have been hailed as
the tardy repentance of the country
the more striking because exhibited IN a
Republican State-that the candidates
of Tammany had not prevailed last year
against the candidates OF the people
Indeed, the prOdigious lessons that
would have been drawn from the most
attenuated Democratic maj0rIties IN
those States are incalcuiable. But, as
tie majoritieS turned out 10 be Republic
can, the Democratic papers assure Us
that they mean nothing however, least
of all an approval OF the Republican
principles and administration; and We
are informed that the decisive defeat ol
Mr.. Packer in Pennsylvania and OF Mir.
Pendleton in Ohio has demonstrated
their great popularity almost as fully as
il they had been elected.
If the Democratic party can IA ten
upon such huskS OF comfort, oi course no
one will complain. But the Democratic
leaders meanwhile know quite as well
as everybody else that the elections i'll
Ohio and Pennsylvania medn precisely
what they meant last year when General
Grant was elected President. They
mean that the American people are still
honest; that they intend to pay their
debts without any kind of swindling;
that they think it is quite time to ac-
quiesce in issues that the war settled by
the last resort; and that they do not look
for better conduct of public affairs to
the party whose methods are shown i'll
the system of electoral frauds in the city
of New York and in its municipal man
agement. They show, moreover, that
the natural reaction, the inevitable per-
sonal disappointments. the innumerable
private griefs, that follow every Presi
Dental election, the unlimited and un-
scrupulous slander that has been uttered
against the President, the sneers, the
derision, the foul insinuatiOns, which
are so easy to clever pen, have totally
failed to affect the great public heart
that trusted the General in the field and
with gratitude and confidence called
him o the Presidency.
. So emphatic and significant verdict
is not to be argued down or sneered
away. 1t reveals that kind of tenacity
which it is supposed that republic can
not possess, and which, amidst the uni
versal skepticism of Europe and of mul-
titudes of Americans, was displayed by
this country during the war. 1t is the
indication of the clear perception in the
public mind of the fundamental princi-
Piles upon which alone the peaceful pro-
gress and prosperity of the country can
be secured. AS the New York Tribune
truly says, the result should chide the
croakers. 1t should show still more
clearly the. vitality of tho Republican
party, and of the conviction deeply seat
ed in the popular heart that it is indeed
the party of the people. 1t asks for no
privilege nor exclusion. 1t favors no
class, and proclaims and secures fair
play. The result ofthe October elections
in Pennsylvania and Ohio should make
every Republican surer and bolder,
firmer to demand the constant elevation
of the party standard. and even more
trustful than ever of their fidelity to the
truest interests of the American people.
AS for Iowa, her Republican fidelity is
as sure as the law of gravity.-[ Harper's
Weekly.