Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1870-11-11
The Autumn Elections.

scone to discover the enormous Democratic
gains which the October elections were to
reveal Indeed, those elections show a
very remarkable Republican tenacity, for
it is precisely in the elections of the Sec
ond year of an Administration that its
party strength seems to be usually at the
lowest ebb. Differences and disgusts may
then be INDUCED without too serious con-
sequences. But such causes of division
seem to have been singularly imperative
in the Republican ranks. No Administra-
ton was ever more caustically opposed by
its enemies or more firmly and plainly crit
icised by it's friends than that of General
Grant. But the fact revealed by the cleo
lions is one of the most gratifying to every
friend of the popular system, for it is that
the conviction in the public mind that the
Administration is honest and faithful is its
strongest fertilization. The autumn elec-
tons are the distinct declaration of the
people that the President and his Cabinet
mean fairly They do not always do the
wisest thing, perhaps, nor always appoint
the best man, but they have the honor and
real welfare of the country at heart, and
therefore they can be trusted.
This is verdict which must be espe-
cially grateful to the President, who came
to his Office with no particular familiarity
with politics or politicians, but with a
very sincere resolution to provide an hon
est and economical conduct of public af-
fairs. Hor honest and economical it has
thus far been is shown by nothing more
than by the readiness and eagerness.wlth
which the Republican orators and papers
turn to the financial condition of the coun-
| try, proving by the amplest and simplest
statement of facts that the public revenues
have been faithfully collected and saga
| ciously expended, while the heavy burden
of taxation has been materially lifted. An
Administration which has steadily di,
minished the debt while it has
reduced taxation need not feal
the most searching criticism, il
1 it's attitude at home and abroad has also
been honorable and dignified. Indeed, 9
| very serious Republican loss in the cleo
tions of this year might have been antici
pated without implying vital distrust oil
| the Administrations The ordinary causes
of declining vote of which we have
spoken, with the reaction of feeling that
must, of course, follow the accomplish
ment of reconstruction, the weight of un-
avoidable taxes, which were sure to be en-
/ phasiZed by Democratic misrepresentation
and differences as TO financial systems and
measures, might have been expected to re-
duce very largely the Administration vote,
and the actual result of hearty support and
| sympathy is all the more agreeable.
| But we do not forget the other reason
which will long continue the Republican
ascendency in the country, and that is the
profound national distrust of a party which
has plainly revealed the quality both of its
| patriotism and its honesty. The people
know that the Democratic party to-day is
| substantially the same as when it palliated
/ causeless rebellion and derided national
| loyalty and the whole country sees to day
government By the Democratic party in the
| city of New York, and the support of the
| party in that State for Governor of a gen
tleman who connives at electoral frauds,
and who signs bills which the organs of
| his own party denounce as infamous, and
signs them at the bidding of men whom
their own party associates describe as cor
ruptionists of the Ring. Patriotic voters
naturally ask why they should assist par
ty which yesterday tried to destroy the
government to control it to-day; and eco
nomical voters ask why they should help
into greater power a party whose leaders
their own friends publish as shamelessly
corrupt. The autumn elections are the be-
ginning Of the answer to these questions.
They who have counted upon a rapid
dissolution of parties are evidently mista-
ken. Existing parties cannot be dissolved
until there is a general conviction that the
paramount issues are changed; and the
error of some Republicans whose hearts
are set upon certain measures and reforms
is that in their eagerness they accept a
formal and doctrinal view of the situation.
If the only question of Importance, for in
stance, were the method of taxation, the
parties might fall to pieces But the very
| fact of their steady cohesion should sug-
gest that in the public mind there are ques-
tons even more important. And this
general conviction will increase rather than
decline. The real cause of the unbroken
party organizations is, that the old issues
are not only not renowned by the Democ-
racy, but they are constantly reaffirmed
I The chief point in those issues is the
amendments and the new colored vote.
The elections show that that vote is, as it
should be, unit for the Republican party
But this fact will not win the Democratic
party to acquiescence in the validity of the
amendmen s, but will merely imbitter its
hostility. To insist that the whole subject
Of reconstruction, therefore, is settled is
sue is to accept theory for a fact The
country has not done So and the country
is right-Harpe,'s Weekly.
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