Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-11-17
rbe Late Elections.

The rfsnIts of the recent et ctione Al
most OF the States OF the North nave oe-
mopstrated, but too painfnlly'tne oePlora-
IJe foct that the masses Ct the people IN
a.. ,o,.tar are either content vi h the
,:i.tration of Grant and his far-reach.
mo usurpations of despotic aud military
mower, or Indifferent TO the groWicg teLd
encies to centTaiized absolutism, or toe
weak to Withstand the ~ideiy IHmife1 in
fuence3 of official patronage atd tPollf
In either case, the inference IS OF dlretu
import. In either case, tho evIdeI ce9 OF
degeneracy are such as to PresaGo the wors
of evils to our Wanted Republican syrtt N
of government, and TO confirm the teach
ings of history, that the road IL easy IRON
one extreme of popular folly to another
Franco, more than once, has 1uoEed witt
appalling desperation, from point to point
of extremes, and run through all the gra-
cations of government. Our own people,
orce the freest on earth, seem almost to be
ready for the yoke of the desrot and the
triumphal car of the Military Dictator.
PERHAPS it would be too weak yielding
suits of these elections settle the next
Presidential election, but we are cons.rain-
ed to declare that they point to the con
tinuance in power CT the bad men who no"
rule the country TO it's ruin. 1t is the part
of manly prudence 20 look the situation
fully and squareIy in the face. and we con-
fess that, unless some great impulse shall
eeize the popular heart and nerve The
popular will, we see little present prospect
of rescuing the government from the
clutches OF its enemies.
How far the manifest indifference of the
that have been made upon the Constitu-
ton, to the bold strides of imperial power,
and to the suferings and wrongs Of the
Southern people, ought to sway our action
with reference to Federal politics, and to
participation in Presidential campaign,
is matter for grave deliberation. 1t is a
question upon either side CT which much
may be said and the solution whereof We
leave, so far as we are Individually con-
cerned, to the better judgment of those
who may be commissioned to speak for the
party with which we act.
Whatever else we do, or want to do, how
ever. our duty is imperatively enforced
upon US by the late elections, viz closer
attention to our own local politics, to our
own internal condition as a State and peo-
pie, and less looking forward to external
aids.-less reliance upon that distant
"moving of the water " which is to flow
in and then float us out on the clear open
sea of national safety and peace. Let us
turn TO our o,cn household! Let Us $50 long
as we may be permitted to do SOY see to it
that our own political hearth-stone is clean
and garnished. While bad and designing
men rule the nation, let us strive to make
our State blest with virtuous rulers and
honest government. Let US drive, or try
10 drive incompetency land venality from
the high places in our midst. Let us
mark our detestation of the unworthy |
demagogues and recreants who have sold |
themselves for pelf. Let US build high the |
land marks of Republican liberty within |
our limited Jurisdiction, and, if stricken |
down by the violent hand of centralized |
power, it Will not be o,U crime. Let
as foster cur industrial interests,-im- |
prove, SO far as possible, our national
-" watch the heavens and
plough the earth" and in so doing, we will
be all the better fitted for any call to duty
or any appeal for help in more extended
field of action