The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-10-27

To show our readers what others think. we OK
tract the following frotn the Cintoh pemocrat,
one OF the ablest Democratic papersin tho state,
to-wit: .HNI |c ~ |K.. |n'
"The State has gone largely Radical
even exceeding the expectations OF
the leaders Of that party. There must
have been deep-seated cause for it.
What that cause was Is for us to find
out, and avoid IL in the future. 1t was
not the great popularity of the Radical
candidates, for they were comparatively
obscure men until advertised and pulled
by their papers. Nor was 1t the unpop-
ularlty of the Democratic candidates,
for McCandless and Cooper were all
| that could be asked on the score of pop
ularity. This brings us to the popular
method of throwing aside these results,
that of charging unparalleled corrup-
tion," i" federal patronage" &C., ON our
opponents. Neither will that reach 1t.
Federal patronage unquostionably
had potent influence, aud money
literally, aye, profusely uscd-did very
much to help the result but to account
for IL in this way is to ignore antoce.
dent facts showing the progress of De.
mocracy, and presupposes n corruption
on the part Of the people that does not
exist, and this We say in no extenuation
of the rascals who can boandsre bought,
for they arc painfully numerous. Tho
people arc all right. The trouble is,
they have been badly treated by party
managers. They would not stand it, and
hence came the stunning rebuke in the
result of the late election.
Before the State Convention met,
Democracy was u unit. Its morale was
splendid, and steady advance upon
the majorites and positions of tho Rad.
icals made it bouyant with hope and
sanguine of success. The delegates met
in convention. There few men full
of personal ambition, but without
craftsmanship, committed the fatal
mistake of passing the so.called ninth
resolution, "deprecating the discussion
of questions" which, up to that very
day, the press and speakers of the party
had been pronouncing AS unparalleled,
bold invasions Of the Constitution and
Of the rights of the States, forced
through by fraud, chicane, and military
authority. At one fell swoop these
men sought to wipe out the education
of years and to hush discussion that
heretofore they had been zealously
ready to keepup. What absolute folly! 1t
seems almost a verification of the pro.
verb that Whom the gods would de-
stroy, they first make mad!'
Prior to this we were sailing
smoothly with the current of public
favor, and Extensively charging home
upon Radicalism. In a day the course
was changed, and dgainst the current
we had to assail. The morale of the
party was seriously impaired, our pop.
ular candidates were carrying dead
weight, and we were but weakly on the
offensive, if on it at all, and the contest
eliminated very naturally in a severe
defeat.
at becomes us now to meet it like
men who know how to organize victory
out of defeat. That spirit wins. To
do it, we must discuss the causes
of the result, remedy them, and
organize fresh for more vigorous and
determined charge upon Radicalism.
Drop the hated ninth resolution and its
concomitants, the cause of our defeat
let unity be restOred-let our measures
and men be conspicuously free from
guile or lack Of principle-take up hon.
est and capable men for Office, even
down to the lowest municipal position,
(for the strength of the whole rests upon
tho integrity of its parts,) avoiding
party hacks (for they are standing
se)-battle against corruption in
every fortnight against federal inilu. |
ence in State eatlairs-struggle unshrink. |
ingly against military domination
maintain a strict construction of the |
and insist upon keeping
power in and with the people and out
of the federal head-war for the equality
of the States-beware of doubtful men
let your platform be plainly Demo-
cratic, and trust no man who equivo- |
Gates, who will not stand openly and |
'quarely upon it-organize thoroughly |
or the campaign of 1s72-and we will |
be back again in the old line of march,
ull of elan, moving on to victory The |
of the masses are Democratic, |
md if we are wise in management and |
svoid such blunders as the last, we will |
nave their votes and Democracy will |
again control public affairs.