Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-11-11
The Autumn Elections.

Z In would take very powerful micro
scope to discover the enormous Democratic
gains which the October elections were to
reveal. Indeed, those elections show q
very remarkable Republican tenacity, for
il is precisely in the elections of the sec
ond yehr of an Administration that its
party strength seems to be usually at the
lowest ebb. Differences and disgusts may
then be indulged without too serious con-
sequences. But such causes of division
seem I'd have been singularly imperative
in the Republican ranks. No Administra-
ton wds ever more caustically opposed by
its enemies or more firmly and plainly crit.
icised by its friends than that OF General
Grant. But the fact revealed by the cleo
tions 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 fortifcation. The autumn cleo
hons 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 a 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 q
very sincere resolutions tppfpVile mn hon
est and economical cpndpetf sof public at-
fairs. How sfohest and Economical II has
thus far been is shown by nothing more
than by the readiness and eagerness with
which the Republican orators and papers
turn to the financial condition of the connf
try, proving by the amplestv and simplest
statement of facts that the public revenues
4 have been faithfully collected and saga
ciously expended, while, the heayy burden
of taxation has been materially lifted An
minished the debt While : IT., has
reduced taxation ysneed mot; fear
| the most searching %, criticism, If
its attitude at home md abtoad has also
: been honorable and gdigniied.s Indeed, a
very serious Republican loss in the cleo
tions of this year might have been anticii
pated without Implying a vital dishust OF
!, the Administration The ordinary causes
of declining vote of which we have
s5oken, 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 a1lt
measures, might have been expected to re
! duce very largely the Administration vote
and the actual result of hearty support anC
sympathy issall the'more agreeable. 'A -
i But we do not forget the other reason
which will long continue the Republican
ascendehcy IN the, country, and that is th'
/ profound national .distrust of q party which
has plainly revealed the quality both of 1t!
y lspatriotism and its honesty. The people
know that the Democratic party to-day i
substantially the same as when it Palliate'
causeless rebellion Aand derided nationa
1, loyalty and the whole country sees to da,
/ government by the Democratic party in tn
city of New York, and, heNssippoTt OF thl
party in that Statefot Governor of q gen
tleman who connives at electoral frauds
and who signs bills which the organs o
his own party'tienounce as infamous, AM
signs them at the bidding of-ff1en whom
their own party associates describe as cor
4 ruptionists of the Ring. Patriotic voter
I naturally ask why .they should assista par
ty which yesterday tried to- destroy tn
government to control it to-day; and eco
nomical voters ask why they should he'll
into greater power party whose leader
their own friends publish as ,shamelessl
corrupt The autumn elections are the be
ginning of the answer to these questions.
They who have counted upon rapi
dissolution of parties are evidently mistS
ken. Existing parties cannot be dissolve
] until there is a general conviction that tn
. paramount issues are changed; and. th
error of some Republicans whose Heart
are set upon certain measures and refornl
, is that in their eagerness they accept
formal and doctrinal view of the situation
: If the only question Of importance, for il
stance, were the method of taxation, til
, parties might fall to pieces. But the yer
| fact of their steady cohesion should sut
' gest that in the public mind there are que
| tions even more important. And tn
' general conviction will increase rather tina
|. decline The real cause sof the nnbroke
Il party organizations is, that the old issu'
2 are not only not rsnonneed by the Demo
: raey, but they are constantly reatfirme
/ The chief point in those issues. /, is Il
+ amendments and the new colored vot
s The elections show that that vote is, as
d should be, unit for the Republican part
f But this fact t,will not win, the Democrat
g party to acquiescence in the validity of y
n amendmen s, but will merely imbitter
/. hostility. To insist that the whole subje
N of reconstruction, therefore, is o settled
a sue is to accept theory for a. fact I
II country has not done so and the coilnt
m is ight.-Haqper'sJW JWeehly.' v y 49,