The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1870-11-17
From the st. Louis Republican, Nov. 1o.l
THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THE DEMOCRACY

The result OF our State election has given
the hnal proof, if it was ever needed, OF the
sagaclty OF the Democracy in choosing the
particular part that it should take in the State
canvass. When the party resolved to with
hold its banner from the field, to hold no
convention, nominate no ticket, announce no
PLATFORM and take no organized action as u
party in the contest, the decision was SO eN-
traordinary that it is no wonder a few of the
stanchest adherents protested strongly against
what they declared to be an act of humilia.
ton, and what under any other circumstances
than the very unusual ones that invested the
question would have been Il confession of
weakness. But the truth is, that every care
full consideration showed that Radicalism had
left to the people but two choices-submissio
| to its authority, or revolution. 1t defined
the voters and it counted the votes and the
cruel experience of two State elections had
proved that when it failed to manufacture a
majority by one process, it would resort
without shame and without scruple, to the
other. With the absolutely certain fact star
ing it in the face, therefore, that majority
Democratic nomination, even with Il majority
OF hundred thousand behind it, would
mean a Democratic defeat, the Democracy
declined to put up q State ticket In this de-
cision, the leading advisers OF the party, from
lected at all, have been taken. concurred
heartily with the instinct of the people; and,
though there were few good Democrats
who questioned the wisdom of the action,
the overwhelming opinion in its favor made
an observance of the resolution easy. Every
phase of the canvass vindicated the prudence
of the decision, and now the result of the
election reveals the immense advantages that
are traceable to it. The passive Democracy
won triumphs at every stage of the contro-
versy between Brown and McClurg The
split at jefferson City was the first victory:
the concessions extorted from Gov. mcclure,
under the stress of battle, We're the next the
liberal Interpretation Of y registry law eN-
pressly framed not t. be liberal, was the next
the virtual adoption Of northumberland be
fore the canvass was halt ended, was anotl-
Ell; and the election of Brown and the Liberal
State ticket is the crowning achievement of
the brilliant series. The tumbling of the
walls of Jericho before the blasts Of Joshua's
trumpeters was not more signal than the
tumbling of the laboriously fortified fabric of
Radicalism in Missouri beneath the moral
power of the passive Democracy To-day. |
there is not a disfranchised voter in Missouri. |
The letters which Mr.. Drake and his party
forged in 1865 and 1866 and placed on a
number of the people larger than Mr.. brakes |
whole party in the State, fell from the limbs
Of the victims on Tuesday last. Full &c, 900 |
voters are ready to be added to the number
heretofore credited to the State The De |
moclacy, then, have defeated their old en-
envy, Charles ID. Drake; have overthrown
the radical party; have delivered the dis
frannhised from bondage; have inflicted a
blow on the Administration at Washington |
and have done something to weaken the en-
tire policy Of the party which that Admins
tration represents We do not mean to de-
tract one .lot OF title from b. Graft Browns
noble share in these achievements; but the
estimate of his part in the work may be left |
to be stated elsewhere than in this connection.
We are claiming for the Democracy of Mis-
souri, their just share in the multiplied con-
quests tthe last two months, and Mr. Brown,
we are sure, is as little disposed to deny
these claims as Democrats are to ignore his
One thing more is needed to give logical
completeness to the beniicent revolution in
Missouri, of which the election Of Brown is
an exhibition. The Democracy ask one
more concession to the people, new Con-
stltution. They do not wish to live under
Mr.. brakes law, after having rejected Mr..
Drake himself; they wish to see the benign
ideas that triumphed last Tuesday embodied
into an appropriate constitutional law; and
they wished to see the reenlranchiscd afford
ed the earliest possible opportunity to enjoy
their restored liberties by participating in the
work of framing that law This is the up
permost subject in the minds Of the people,
and it will be, we imagine, the first to which
the new Legislature will address itself.