The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-10-20
The Result in the state.

|
The Sinking "new departure" and
the suggestion of CHASE by prominent
newspapers and politicians as the Dem.
ocraiic candidate for President, had a
most material demoralizlng influence
upon the party. and so completely dis
gusted thousands of Democrats that
they could not be induced to attend the
polls. They would not vote against
their party but could not be induced to
do that which might be construed to
favor such miserable schemes, and
therefore staid at home. Even many
of those who went to the election did
not work with their accustomed energy
and cared little for success.
Mr.. WILLIAM A. WALLACE does not
possess the peculiar ability necessary to
the proper conduct of a close campaign,
| nor does he generally possess that con-
| ildence of the party or of tho people
that is necessary to success. lie is es-
teemed "smar" politician, whittier
from point TO point for the sake of sue.
cess, cunning worker looking to art
| for success rather than the establish
ment of correct principles or appeals to
the sober reason and judgment of the
people. We do not propose to discuss
his merits, but only to give the true
reasons for our defeat. What we here
state regarding him is one great cause
(of itself sufficient cause) of our defeat.
lie has been often tried in the same
position and the trial has resulted in
uniform defeat, excepting accidental
| success in 1867. 1t Is acknowledged that
the chairman of 1S60-70 contributed
little to success, yet the party did much
better in those years, practically with
out leadership, than it did with Mr..
WALLACE's lead. He Raises the most
powerful antagonisms without provid-
ing for defence against or successful at
tack upon them. In the recent cam
paign the Democratic press of the State
begged for the Information and proof,
which could have been obtained with
proper effort, that would establish the
recklessness, extravaganza and corrup-
ton of the administration at Washing
ton, yet their demand was treated with
contempt. Instead, a serious effort was
made to get on to the Radical platform,
and practically to convince the public
that the whole political effort was only
to obtain the offices
The conduct of certain Democratic
scoundrels in New York city, who in
office robbed the people, was of course
held up by the Radicals as an off set to
the plundering of their own officials,
and to large extent was received by
the people as such. Sober reflection
will dispel this illusion, for there is this
marked difference between the parties,
to wit the Democrats will discard and
punish their official scoundrels who rob
the people, while the Republican party
will sustain theirs and will again put
them up to be sustained at the elec-
tions
Through the means of the offices they
hold and the robberies they commit
upon the public the Republicans are
enabled to raise an immense fund for
election purposes. During the late
campaign, much of this was expended
in inducing Democrats in nearly all our
strong counties to become volunteer
candidates, and thus divide and weaken
US. This game has worked largely to
the advantage of the Republicans, and
70 hApnnpra ia
escaped its consequences. Here in Co.
lumbia, we have an exception, but it
was the firmness, intelligence and pa
triotism Of our party here that made it
an exception. This game cannot be
played again, for peoples eyes will be
opened to it.
In Philadelphia, from six to ten
thousand votes and possibly greater
number are counted against us that
were never polled by legitimate voters.
There the people are not allowed to
elect their election officers, but all are
appointed by the board of Alderman of
the city, a majority of whom are Radi-
Gals. Although they are required to
appoint one Democrat in three of the
officers, they select such as are incom-
petent, or would not be acknowledge
by the regular Democrats as belonging
to them or are petty villains that can
be bribed to do any thing. With Off
GERS selected in this manner, of course
the vote can be made to appear what
ever the Radical magnates will it to be.
Even fairly disposed Republicans ac-
knowledged the wrongfulness of this
plan, and promise to assist in amend.
ing it during the ensuing Legislature.
We have thus pointed out what we
conceive to be the main reasons for our
defeat. Other causes of less conse-
quence aided too. The "new depart.
ure" folly causes us the loss of the SEN
ate, having almost solely produced our
defeat in the Cumberland and Franklin
district. We gained largely there last
year because of the negroes voting.
This would of course recoil when we
rellnguished opposition to it. The loss
of that Senator will enable the Radicals
of the Legislature to make such Con-
gressional apportionmentas as they please,
They will please to rob us of at least
half the representation in Congress to
which we are entitled.
The best and most worthy, and in the
end most successful soldiers, are those
who are never discouraged by defeat.
The majority in the State is but small
per centage against us. Give US new
men at the helm-give US able leaders
| who will look to the interests of the
country alone-men who have no self
ish purposes to subserve, and who will
thoroughly investigate and expose the
actions of the Federal officials, and
prove to the people the wrongs that are
being perpetrated upon them by the
laws adopted by the Radicals, as we'll
as by the separate action of the Radi-
cal officials, and fully expose the Injury
being done to the country through them
and tho danoers to which their actions