Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-10-22
The Elections.

while adverse to the Democrats, were 81
closely contested under unfaVorable cir
cumstanccs that it will lend new Vlgor TO
the Darty ut the North. In pennsylvania,
Gr,rv, Radical, is elected Governor by
less than four thousand votes, against
majority of twenty eight thousand eight
hundred and ninety eight for General
t;RA.T eleven months ago. An unfertu-
nato division of tho Democrats in Phila-
delpllia caused Radical gain in that city
greater than the majority by which the
entire State is carried. A dreary success
sion Of Radical losses is returned through
ont the State, and the Telegram, Radical
organ, saws in commenting on the result,
in the language of distinguished gen.
cral, zone more such victory and we are
undone."
In Ohio General HAYS is reelected by
less than ten thousand votes, against a
majority of forty thousand SIX hundred
and seventeen for General GRANT. The
Legislature is close, the House being
claimed by the Radicals and the Senate by
the Democrats. In neither State, and es-
Decially in Pennsylvania, there was not
much excitement, and neither party polled
their full strength.
There were circumstances which operated
i'm favor Of the successful party which
could not have been avoided, and causes
which initiated against the Democrats
which might and should have been pro-
vidcd against. Tho Radicals, of course,
had all tho Influence and patronage OF the
Administration. General GRANT travelled
through IL portion of Pennsylvania, and
members Of his Cabinet entered III person
INTO the canvass, and other officials, at the
head of important and influential bureaus,
spent weeks on the stump. Public money
was spent without stint, for the Influence
Of the Administration depended upon the
issue and the result was purchased. Never
IN the history of American politics was a
President more interested III the result OF
elections. and General GRANT has even
now but little to boast of in the feeble en-
dorsement which he has received from these
States.
Governor Packers nomination was not
altogether acceptable to his party, and
while his character, ability and personal
influence lent strength to his canvass. he
was unpopular with the mining interests
of the State, and was burdened with Oldand
etfete issues by reason of long though
honorable connection with party politics.
His advanced age prohibited him from
entering into the canvass with the Vlgor
Of his younger competitor, and could not
attach to him the sympathetic and enthu-
aiastic support of the youthful Democracy
of the State. In word, he was not the
candidate that either the times or the con-
dition of the party demanded.
The original mistake made by the Dem
ocracy of Ohio was in nominating General
ROsECRANZ, who was not a citizen of the
State The subsequent nomination of Mr..
PENDLETON was personally very popular.
He is deservedly the idol of the Western
Democrats, but he was the father of what
is known us the ''greenback ISSUE" and
made the canvass upon this purely nation
al question, ignoring all local and State
matters. Upon this question the Demo
cratic party is divided, and even in Ohio
it is not a unit. Then the accident to Mr..
PENDLEroN, which prevented an active
of the great aid OF his personal popularity.
He could not mingle with the people, and
the enthusiasm which his elcQuence, his
manners and his influence always create
were lost in the election. His unprece-
dented vote and ma ority in Cincinnati
and Hamilton county demonstrate what
these were worth, and what would have
been The result had he been able to can
Yass the State.
In surveying the field, whiie our hopes
have not been realized we have no reason
for encouragement. With the Union re-
constructed. and the South in the hands
of the Conservatives, rs recent elections in
Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia, and pros
poets in West Virginia, Mississippi and
Texas, ali indicate will soon be the case,
the Democracy can enter the contest in
1872 with TIL most favorable chances of
success. Radical majorities, which now are
counted by hundreds, wero a few years ago
numbered by thousands. Dlsorganized
and almost disbanded by the war, the
Democrats have depended more upon the
over-confdence and lethargy of their OPP
ponents than upon their own discipline
and labors. They have waited too much
for 'reaction" and not sought enough to
bring it about. Coming SO near success
by these tactics we look for victory when
a more vigorous policy is adopted.
These elections settle almost the only re-
manning Internal issue left as the result Of
the war. In the future, with no Southern
food left to feed the prejudices of the
Northern people, they will turn their at
tention to questions of finance. of bonds
of Tariffs, of taxes, and the party in power
no longer able to hide its shortcoming