Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1871-11-24
The Political Outlook.
We copy the following from the St. Mary

We copy the following from the st. Mary s
Beacon Of last week:
Now that the smoke of the late political
battle in our county has cleared away, the
dead been buried and the manned disposed OF,
the question occurs, what has been accom-
plished and decided by the contest? Before
entering, however, upon this inquiry, eve
rise to remark" that we never before knew OF
sharply contested election the result OF which
was not or celebrated by somebody. In
the present affair and up to present writing,
not cheer or a quaver has disturbed any
mans slumber. The convention men, OF
course are sadly out of tune and much in
cined to silence. This was to have been ex-
pected. But the triumphant independents
are also at fault with their music and are OF
grave and gloomy countenauce. Can it be
that our friends have been just a little too sue
cessful? And the Radicals, too. They, also,
are of sorrowful aspect and resemble much
afflicted mourners at funeral. What can be
their grief? We know not and we insist up
on nothng-except that we never before knew
of a sharply contested election the result OF
| which was not sung or celebrated by some
body.
But the question occurs, what has been &C
complisbed and decided by the late combat ?
The alienation of Democrat from Democrat,
the breaking of our party into hostile factions
this much has certainly been accomplished.
How long this state Of affairs will continue,
nobody can now tell. Weknow that it ought
not to continue for twenty-four hours, but we
don't know that it may not continue for years
and result in the greatest calamltles to our
county. Nevertheless, We still hope for the
best. The Presidential election of ~ will
necessarily bring US once more together. Ex-
listing asperities will then have lost much Of
their present bitterness and will have become
toned down into something like moderation.
Is it expecting too much to hope that the in
dependent members of our party may then be
able to realize the danger from division and
the necessity for union, and may have the
courage and the public virtue to retrace their
steps before the present schism in our party
has had time to ripen into permanent estrange-
ment? We certainly hope so. With regard
to conventions for purposes of local mamma
ton, that question has been settled, at least
for years to come, and settled against conven-
tons. But some system of party concentra-
ton is absolutely necessary to recover power
from, and keep our county out of, Radical
hands. This is acknowledged by everybody.
Is there any system that we can all agree up
on and which we will all stand to aud honest
ly abide by when we haze agreed upon it p
The real difficulty is not about the system
almost anybody can suggest that-but about
political faith and honor. When we all make
up our minds to respect party as we would
private obligation, and when We can persuade
each other that We mean to do it, then the
main, indeed, the only difficulty will have been
overcome, and then and not till then will we
be able to do without Radical aid in the pro-
duration of office.