Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-11-19
wHFRE ARE WEI

WHERE ARE WEI
Grant being elected almost unani
mously, and the situation accepted by
all predetermined people, little re-
mains to be said on the subject, unless
we 20 back and look into the causes that
eliminated in his overwhelming success.
A little retrospection, just now, might
be profitable, as teaching a valuable les
son for the future. The National Dem
ocratic party to which We have given our
adherence has been scattered to the
four winds, and may never again be
brought together under that name. But
there will always be two parties-the
administration and the opposition-as
long as we have Republican form OF
government. The minority, by ceaseless
vigilance, regulates indirectly the policy
of the party in power, which otherwise
would become utterly reckless and OBJ
noxious, and cause deep-seated enmlty,
if not finally revolution. But whenever
a minority party, or factions OF parties,
become so impatient for Office as to
surrender the principles by which they
have been guided, the confidence of the
people is lost and dissolution is immi-
nent. When they resort to questionable
means to secure the spoils OF office, their
integrity and self-respect must be sur
rendered. We do not apply this to the
masses OF the Democratic party, for
they we're true and honest, and not one
in thousand ever thought OF personal
advancement; but the leaders have com
mitted great mistakes, which all can see
now, and which they might have fore
seen would place them in false posi-
ton. Previous to the election the Ma
tional and State committees, and the
other leaders, sent forth their addresses,
full of stirring advice, by the roam, but
not a word Of comfort or counsel has
been heard since, and the high privates,
and corporals, and other non'commis-
stoned officers begin to ask, Where are
WEI" ard Where will our captains call
us next?" 1t looks like we are in the
woods as usual, and that every squad
will have to take care OF itself
until some general plan is adopt
ed. But how did we get here2
Seymour carried 80 electoral votes as
follows: Delaware, 3; Georgia, 3; Ken
lucky, IL; Louisiana, I; Maryland, 4;
New Jersey, Z; New York, 33; Oregon, 3.
Greeley carries Florida, 4; Georgia, IL;
Kentucky, u; Tennessee, II; Missouri,
Is; Maryland, 8; Texas, 3. Total, 10.
1t was expected that the Democrats
would hold their own everywhere, and
make large gains in the North and West.
The Liberal Republican movement,
headed by Carl Schurz, Trumbull, Fen
toa. Banks, Governor Blair, Rice, Sum
ner, and Farnswortb, was boosted Of as a
Democratic accession, and that was the
ruin Of both. The Democrats only held
their ground in the South, and that by
Il diminished vote. In the North and
West, where victory was expected. all
was lost. The Baltimore Convention
did exactly what Grant could have
wished - surrendered Internationally
aud marched over on the Cincinnati
platform. The Liberal Republican
movement was smothered out by ike
embraces of the Democracy. If let
alone it might have done something
creditable, but the Endorsement of the
Baltimore Convention was the same
TO the Northern masses as to write
" Ku-Klux after the name of a
criminal. Itwas political small pox
written on the Cincinnati wigwam, and
the sponsors OF the fair little bantling
soon found it and themselves in a quar-
antine, from which they only emerged
weak and emaciated after the 9TH of No
vember. The Southern people have two
things yet to learn: First, to expect
nothing from the Northern Democracy,
which fails ingloriously to take care Of
itself Second, to take no leading part in
national politics, for they cannot do SO
without being misunderstood, and hav-
ing false construction put upon their
intentions toward the Government. Op.
portunites for redress and for taking a
part in national affairs cannot come at
once, and will only be postponed by such
mistakes as were made in the late cam
paign. The Democratic party threw
away its own strength and killed the
Liberal Republican movement. There
is no prospect Of an early reorganiza-
ton of national extent; certainly not
before the next Congressional election.
Meanwhile, the rain will fall on the lust
and the unjust, and cotton will grow az
well as ever, if worked-if worked, we
say; but weeds will grow without work
while grumblers sit in the shade or loa
=rennd the eeFaers complaining Of hare
times.
The Rev. Gilbert II. Robertson, for
nerly pastor of the Chestnut street
Presbyterian Church Of Louisville, wa,
formally deposed and excluded from To,
church By the presbytery in that city