Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-12-29
SOUTHERN POLITICS.

The news from the Georgia election re-
presents that the democracy have carried
the State. First reports from southern
elections are usually colored in favor of
the democracy. and perhaps later intelli-
gence may put different aspect upon
things in Georgia. But Judging by what
we have seen Of Georgia politics and poll
tics generally in the southern States, We
shall not be surprised if the democrats
have in reality carried the State.
Aside from the system of terrorism and
fraud SO successfully practised by the dem
ocrats upon the poor and ignorant class of
voters in the southern States, it is appar-
ent that they excel the republicans largely
in the wisdom and political management
needful for success. The old, trained poll
ticians of the rebel school work as unit,
pull together, subdue individual freedom
and personal ambition for the present in
order to achieve larger gain in the per-
manent establishment of their party. In
this respect they have set an example
worthy of imitation by the northern States.
This steady, earnest, unwavering pushing
of their cause is not easily resisted. Thare
is no doubt that the republicans had a ma
jority in all the southern States, but &C
cording to appearances that majority has
been FILTERED and stolen away in the
most of them, but might have been saved
under better political management. The
republican leaders there have lacked
breadth of vision, forbearance, the ability
to WELD the power to make their organ
ization effective. In their anxiety to Sc
cure some personal advantage of tenn
porary character they have overlooked the
vastly greater advantages that would re-
suit to them from the better establishment
of their organization. Their personal
quarrels have rung over the nation and
entered the halls of Congress. Scarcely
n southern State has been free from fights
within the republican party that have been
disgraceful and demoralizing, ending in
rout and ruin to all concerned and giving
victory to the enemy. No doubt they
have been tremendously cheated at the
polls by the democracy, but this they
might have checked and defeated with
union among themselves and thorough or
ganization. Perhaps some of them sup.
posed that a party will run itself, without
work. each man going his own way, Civ.
ing his friend two blows for every one he
gives the enemy, and SO they have drilted
10 destruction. With able leadership the
negro vote was certain to be republican
in all the South, and with the republican
party well established it would have
been constantly reinforced by add
tons from the North, which would il
. few years have reconstructed the coun
try on the better basis of the North.
Whatever the result in Georgia may b,
at this election, the effect of the election il
the southern States this fall and some O.
the northern ones likewise, will be of :
wholesome character upon the republican
party at large. They will show us oul
weak points and enable us TO strengthen
them against the Presidential contest. Il
Is not only In Georgia, Tennessee ant
Virginia that we need the lesson, bnt il
all the States, wherever the elements o
disintegration are at work. The posi-