Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1870-11-26
Extraordinary Results.

The elections Of the last TWO months Tor
members Of Congress and State officers may
be set down, in Their results. as the most extra
ordinary in the annals Of the country. The
l5th amendment to the Constitution Of the
United States enfranchisel not less than 700,
900 negroes, and tits fair @ presume that nine
tcuths Of these voted the Radical tickets.
In Maryland alone there were $4,000 freed
men registered. In the % counties Of West
Virginia there must have been not less than
1000. In all the Southern States there were
large numbers.
Yet, in spite Of this immense acquisition,
aud the active efforts Of two hundred thousand
ofice-holders-not 10 neu'.gn tire influence Of
the President in lnsnacing portions ofthe coun-
try with the 'milttary-the Democrats and Con
servatives came near carrying majority Of the
House Of Representatives. Certain It is that
they have majority Of the electoral votes
This affords cheering encouragement: for the
great contest Of 1872.
The New York EseniRy Post, iRepubScan
in reviewing the circumstances and results Of
the late elections, aptly asks: If the people
are satisfied with Grants Administration, why
DO they vote against it q It gives the MAORI
lies pro and con in 1868 and in 1870, and
states that in Missouri Grant received in 1865
nearly $4,000 majority. This fall the ticket
10 which Grant openly and in every way gave
lis influence was beaten about 1900. That
Is change against Grant Of about $4,000
votes. II says the Posi- we compare these
returns, we shall find some very melancholy
results. For instance in Alabama, tdcTe has
JcCn a change Of over 6 ,eo0 votes; in ArGan-
sas the change amounts 10 more than 5000
votes; North Carolina changes nearly over 10, =
600 West Virginia 1000, and 50 on: all
against the Republican party. To q thought
fnl Republican it must seem pulling thing,
that while the people are thus delighted with
the course Of the administration. they vote
against it wherever it shows 4 particularly
strong desire for support. In Missouri Gene
raj Grant interftred In tie canvass in the most
vigorous way, in favor Of NcCurg, who ran
as an ~open aud defiant protect.ouist aud
the administration candidate: aul rs result
Missouri, which gave Grant IN 1868 nearly
$4,000 majority, now casts 1000 against the
administration candidate
Why is il continues the FpsH that in
States ike Ne York aud Missouri, in Congress
sioual districts like these we have mentioned
the administration candidates are beaten 1t,
would seem that the people are not SO well salts
fed as the politicians whose business it Is to
fatter the President have asserted. The peo-
pie want something more done than the admin
istratioD is doing 10 collect tie revenue aud
pay off the debt is 10 doubt crsd;able. Com
pared with what Andrew johnson did, it seem
ed year ago an immense achievement. We
were drowning, and here came General Grant
and held out our chus over the waters elge-
and for a while We were very grateful, and did
no: much mind the griuds,oue he kept at our
noses. But TO have always tue water up to
our necks, to have always the grindstoue Of
taxation at our noses, is not satisfactory, 10
matter what the Presidents latterers say
Gratitude. in this as in other cases, is a lively
sense Of iayors 70 come and the people have
made up their minds-uugrateiul IS it may
look-that they must have something more. -
They want the taxes lowered they want the
tax system rearrauged they want to see i'll
dustry reyiyiug they are Disguised at General
Grants subseryiency to notorious hack politi-
ticans, monopo,ists, and political traders of all
kinds; they see with jealousy bis open interior
ence in elections at the distation of these per-
sons and with disgust lis support Of men
VIGOROUSLY unfit for public trusts