Litchfield enquirer., 1869-03-18
THE STATE CAMPAIGN.


 
 It is less than four weeks to the frs, Monday in April; time enough for the work to be done if set about in the righ, spirit. It can hardly be expected that the republicans will be as enthusiastic as the, were last fall; not that the issues are un important, but after so great triumph people are apt to sit down and rest Still 1t would be a very grave blunder for the republicans of Connecticut to suppose that because the Congress is safe in any event, and can hardly be effected by the event ot our election, that, therefore, there is nc necessity for exe-tion. With circumstan- ces so much in our favor it would be shame full not to use them. And first, in our three thousand majority of November we have strong advantage ground. Next, we have positive platform while our oppo- nents offer nothing but negations and abuse. In President Grants inaugural which endorses every resolution put forth by the state convention we have tower of strength. Its frank, manly utterances have already commanded the respect of patriotic and honest citizens of both par ties. Democrats who believe in paying the debt and sustaining the credit of the gov ernment, cannot but contrast the timld, non -committal, half f-hearted resolution of their own party platform with the outspo- ken honesty of the inaugural and the re- publican Ii resolutions. All who desire economy in administration and efficiency in the collection of the revenue must know that General Grant means to give both, and that he has. hitherto succeeded in car rying out what he intends. It is diff cult to know on what issue the democrats are go- ing into the contest. They have as yet of fered none. So lately as November they supported Seymour upon Q platform which he had denounced in advance as dishonest and ruinous to the best interests of the country if carried out. Have they chang ed their financial policy since then? We cannot answer, for their platform is non- committal. It may mean anything or nothing. Two years ago they expressed much anxiety less Congress should pass law affecting the suffrage in Connecticut. That danger if it ever existed, has passed. By the fifteenth amendment Congress has remanded the whole subject over to the states where it rightly belongs. Negro suffrage is we are told by the party jour with all due respect for our cotemporar1es we are constrained to say it is no issue at alL The next legislature will, in any event, have republican majority and our opponents know it. It is impossible to become very enthusiastic in fighting the inevitable. Beside which, there are many democrats who are at heart delighted at the prospect of seeing long and tedious controversy ended and who would be sor- " should the amendment fail. Negro suffrage is, then, clearly, no issue. The republicans have been charged with favor- ing it in every campaign since the rebel lion commenced. Two of the democratic candidates for Congress have voted to en- franchise the colored citizens of Connecti- cut and have never, to our knowledge, re- tracted their opinions upon the subject. It is difficult to believe that party which puts forward gentlemen whose views on the question arc so we'll known, consider the defeat of impartial suffrage an issue of great moment. The real quesion, then, before the people of Connecticut for their verdict, is whether they will support the the administration of the President they they so lately helped to elect. The demo- cratic convention pledged their party to support General Grant and for the last week all their journals have been making him the theme of the most partisan and scurrilous abuse. It is very evident, there fore, that the democracy of Connecticut do not intend to support the administration, and it is all the more incumbent upon the republicans to see that the state stands by the man its vote helped to elect. In this we have every reason to believe we will be aided as we were last November by many democrats, who, if they will not vote with us, will at least stay away from the polls. Stripped of all disguise, the issue upon which the democrats are going into the contest isia very simple one. It is merely this: Whether Messrs. Babcock and Dixon shall shall be sent to Congress in accor- dance with bargain made by corrupt ring. But for the first of these gentlemen MT. English would not be candidate and the election would have been allowed to go by default. To advance MT. Babcock's fortunes. the governor of Connecticut de- scended from his high station to mix in political intrigue and joined himself with those whom at heart he despises. It is for the people of the state to say whether they will countenance by their votes, the impu- dent scheme of petty politicians, or en- dorse an administration which will give the country peace and prosperity distns.