The union Democrat., 1869-01-09
Was Cenxr... Ender.ed.

candidly discussed and caudidlv answered hy
the Springfield Repablic1a, one Of the fore.
most and most independent of Eastern radi-
| cal organs. In its issue of November 4th il
saws:
The result Of the election yesterday, though
II was all the Republicans could have asked,
was not triumph Of the Republican party as
distinctive organization. Aud il
the victory was not achieved by the Republi-
can party as q political organization, in its
own strength and by the prestige Of its name.
no more does it give that party, as an organ
zation, new lease Of power. The
| resul; of the election does not indicate a pop
ular approSat even of the general policy OF
Congress. The election was carried in spite
of that policy. Had thar simple issue been
presented. we very much. fear every one OF
the four Middle States would have pronounced
against it,
| 1t may seem grabbed and cross-grained, in
| the first rejoicings over the victory, TO thrus,
forward such considerations. But it was never
| OF more Importance that the true meaning of
the country should be understood. Congress
may assemble in few days under the
emergency created by the carnival of crime
at the South. At the longest it will meet in
few weeks. Upon it's temper depends very
much. Representatives have before this
shown strange facility. or fatality. in mis-
apprehending the wishes of the people. They
must not do so now. If they imagine that
the elections are token of particular admir-
alton for them; it they think that they can
begin again where they left off last April,
alarmed at the popular discomfort and the in
creasnG danger of losing the election ifthey
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 off so easily the
next time. \ X 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 is
sues and, now, if the leaders and managers
of the Republican party-the men who live
by it and think they own it-wsh to keep it
in the control Of the Government, they must
make it attractive to those who look for hon
esty, integrity and efficiency in administra-
ton. 1t is not difficult to gather the senti-
ments of the men who have turned the scale,
this time, in favor Of the Republican party.
and who must be looked 10 hereafter to keep
it in power. In voting to sustain the recon
struction acts against the mad designs of the
reactiorists, they have not decided against Il
change in those acts, but quite the contrary.
They desire an Immediate amelioration oil
them in their most offensive features. The
acknowledgements OF any class, or the exclusion
of any State, for acts done in the rebellion
never wise, has grown to be simply stupid
The limited disfranchisement imposed has
done harm, and only harm. 1t has rot as
sured the control of a single State into loyal
hands. 1t has lifted the disenfranchised into
undue and unsafe Importance, and given them
title of respect among their fe,low-citizens
Towards the General Government it has simp.
ly served to annoy and exasperate all classes
and make violence and negro intimidation
seem something like fair reprisal. Unouali-
fled negro suffrage is another feature that will
not bear examination, and must be modified,
but the circumstances of the situation are so
difficult and peculiar that an immediate change
is not practicable. All that can be done here
after, ALL indeed, that is desirable to be done.
is to introduce throughout the country an ed
ucational test, impartial with respect to color
and sex, BY which the suffrage will be limited
to persons of some intelligence, whether
white, black, red or yellow.
But it is in matters of revenue and expen-
diture that the sense of the country is most
positive, and its resolution taken. We
CANNOT 20 on as we are.' Ine country Is loos-
ing strength too fast, and the poor are be-
coming too thoroughly impoverished. Wheth-
er rightly or wrongly. the people will accuse
the party in power Of these evils, the causes
of which they may not see, but the effects of
which they can most bitterly feel. Mr.. Sey-
mour was right-the financial issue is to be
pressed; and the Republican party must
meet it with courage and intelligence.
a SPURIOUS NAPoLEoN-AN ExTRAoRDI-