The Weekly Washington telegraph. (Washington, Ark.) 1871-18??, 1872-03-27
THE DUTY OF THE HOUR.
What Is Required of the Opposition to
Defeat Grant.
From the ST. Louis Republican.

The partial and precarious victory
gained by the Democrats in New
Hampshire last year, was annulled by
the result of Tuesdays election in that
State. Governor Weston Democrat
whose plurality over the Republican
candidate one year ago was sos, is
now beaten by Straw CRepublican) by
plurality Of 1920 or AGO, large
enough to be a real majority of the
whole vote cast. The Legislature is
Republican by considerable majority.
New Hampshire, therefore, after show.
ing a disposition to become Democrats
ic, has lurched back into Republicans
ism.
Tho lesson confirms a very impor,
tant and obstinate fact in American
politics, which has been sufficiently
proved before, but which some Demo.
Gratis seem Incapable OF recognizing,
viz; that a popular reaction from Re-
publicanism to Democracy, is not a
probability, and perhaps, not even a
possibility. 1t is unnecessary at pres
ent to inquire into the causes of this
fact, and to analyze that Northern
sentiment in which they have their
origin. 1t is sufficient to recognize
the fact itself, as proved, not only by
the New Hampshire election, but by
the late elections in New York, Con-
necticut apd California, in all of which
States the Democracy have been de,
feated and unseated. The election of
Governor llaight in California, in 1869,
was called reaction to Democracy; so
was the election of Governor English
Of Conneeiicgt, in 1870; so was the
election of Governor WESTON in New
Hampshige, in 1871. Vet all these
three Democratic Governors have been
beaten for reelection, and the incipi.
ent resction which their first success
was imagined to promise, has been
utterly ehaced. The people are unmis-
takably dissatisfied with the Republi,
can policy as illustrated by the present
administration, and are fully ripe for
movement to overthrow it. The tran
sient Democratic successes in California
in 1904 Connecticut and New York
in 1870, and in New Hampshire in
1871, were indeed an incipient reac-
ton against Republicanism, but here
their insignilicance stopped they are
not reaction to Democracy: if they
had been, the reaction, instead of vast,
ing itself in 50 short time, would have
extended till majority OF the States
had hean placed under Democratic
auspices. He, therefore, who conf
IDENTIFY predicts that the great reaction
must come and ,oH come, and who
stsbbornly stands in his tracks for it to
bring the country round to his feet, is
like the man who waited by the river
side for the stream to flow away that
he might cross. Two facts clearly re-
vealed by the result of the New Hamp.
shire election may Visely be set up as
landmarks 10 guide the plan and con,
duct Of the Presidential canvsss-two
facts which must be recognized and
CONFIRMED to, aud not quarrslled with;
and they are these: First, that public
sentiment is prepared to react against
Republicanism; second, that it is not
prepared to react directly to Democra,
cy. These are the two conspicuous
lights on the field of our national poll
tiles, and in the actual appreciation
and Improvement of them lies the So
LUTON Of the problem of the defeat of
Grant.
The power which the New Hamp.
shire election shows that the President
still yields, in spite of the effective
and damaging assaults on his personal
policy by leading members of his own
party, does not surprise US. We have
never underestimate his strength; on
the contrary, we have been so careful
to admit it, to point out the sources of
it, and to demonstrate the formidable
Disadvantages which would attend
strict Democratic contest with him