Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-08-09
VICTORY IN NORTH CAROLINA.

dpDCdIS W OC ho douDI tIfttt tllC
republicans have carried North Carolina
by some seven thousand majority. The
large area of the State and imperfect
means of communication render the trans
mission of returns slow, but enough is
known to warrant the conclusion that vic
tory perohed upon the republican banner
in the hard fought and important contest
of the 3rd This is sockdolager for the
democrats The New York riot was q
heavy blow TO the democracy, the exposure
Of the frauds upon the city government
was damaging. but the defeat in North
Carolina is the worst Of all, for it exposes
their weakness at the very point where
they reckoned themselves strong; that is,
in the southern States.
s. In 1868 the republicans carried North
Carolina. electing Governor Holden by
more than eighteen thousand majority
In 1870 the democrats carried the State,
selecting the Attorney General, the highest
officer voted for on the State ticket, by
upwards of four thousand majority, and
electinga large majority Of the Legisla-
B ture. As is well known the democrats
impeached and removed Governor Holden,
and were aiming in the late election to
call o convention to overthrow the present
constitution. The reckless use which they
made of their power no doubt aided their
downfall, for although there is an actual
republican majority in the State, the dem
ocrats might perhaps have maintained their
ascendency this year, through the division
of the republicans, had the latter not been
compelled to unite through fear of the
evils the democracy were preparing for
the State What with Ku-Kluxism and
inefficient political management on the
part of the republicans, there was small
hope of a republican victory. The result
is better than the most sanguine anticipa-
ted. 1t required greater effort to wrest
the power of the State from the democrats
than would have been necessary to keer
it. Thanks to the democracy they have
taught the republicans Of North Carolin,
the cost of wrangling among themselves
and at last forced them to act together an,
win victory in preference to having thu
constitution destroyed and rebellion ram
pant again.
With this victory in North Carolina tn
democratic prospect for 1872 is one Q
Egyptian darkness. 1t indicates that tn
leading republicans of the southern State
will drop their chickering's and contention
in presence of the issues involved in tn
Presidential struggle, unite all thei
strength at the polls, black and white, ant
thus united, if they can have an approx
nation to fair vote, we know they arr
irresistible. What has been done in Nortl
Carolina may and win be done In nearly
all the southern States. The republican,
have the majority, the only difficulty is to
unite the elements and get a fair vote. II
is as important to the republicans Of every
southern State that a republican President
be elected in 1872, as it was to the repub-
licans of North Carolina to succeed at this
election. The election of democrat
would be death to reconstruction laws and
constitutions, and work the reinstatement
OF slavery and the master spirits and ideas
OF the rebellion. Fair warning has been
given in North Carolina OF the plans of the
democracy, and that is sufficient to insure
their defeat in the entire South in 1872.
i =.