Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1872-08-08
NORTH CAROLINA.
RESULTS OF THE ELECTION

even yet doubtful-the contest being
so close that nothing but an actual
count viii tell which party has carried
the State. The following editorial from
the Cincinnati Gazette gives fair view
of the situation. Later news than this,
however, gives us but little encourage
ment, though the result will be Re-
publican gain of over 1900:
1 At this writing those that pretend
i to calculate upon advieeS are talking OF
majority of from 1000 to 5000, and of
having elected five Democrats out of
eight congressman. Too large a part
I of the State is yet to be heard from to
allow any trust to be placed in these
figures. But If we were to allow what
they claim, is it a Democratic victory,
and what is its significance as to the
presidential election?
| The latest general election in which
the contest was squarely between the
two parties was lii 1868, in an election
lof State officers and Representatives to
/ Congress. The Democrats carried the
State by a majority of 4,9o5, rl 'cted five
out of the eight Congrcae.iie:,, .llI car
ried both branches Vi tlle Gc:ierai All
Isembly, electing thirty-two Democrats
to eighteen Republicans in the Senate,
and seyenty-fiye Democrats to forty
leight Republicans in the House. This
IshOWed that North Carolina Isl Demo-
cratic State, This showing was not at
all changed in 1871. AS natural con-
sequence of, Democratic CONTROL, the
party undertook to revise the COnSti-
4 tuition of the State to get rid of the con-
[dltions imposed in the reconstruction
They put the question to the popular
vote. 1t was regarded as revolutionary
measure, which might bring in the is
Isue of a new reconstruction by authori-
'lty of Congress. Many of the more sub
4 stlntial inhabitants, who were tired of
lagitation, and who feared a new dis
turDance from this, voted against the
revision. Thus the revolution was de-
lfeated by Democratic votes. OF course,
all the Republicans voted against it.
Their votes and those of the conserva-
tive Democrats defeated thismalignant
Ischeme. .s@
Thus there was every reason to set
down North Carolina as Democratic
State. And Democratic Legislature
had had the opportunity of legislative
and a congressional districting to
strengthen theDemocratic chances. If,
i then, the Democrats have carried the
State, ,as they claim, what does it prove I?
1t proves that they have barely, or not
'lquite, held their own. 1t proves that
the Republicans have held their OWL;
that the white Republicans are faithful,
and the colored have stuck by their
friends. What does thatsignify for the
general election? All that the Repub-
licans need to secure victory is to hold
their own as they have done in North
Carolina. On the other hand, the sole
reason why the Democratic party NOM
mated Horace Greeley was that their
defeat was certain unless they could
,fdraw more than the Democratic vote.
fThey have not drawn more in North
Carolina, where the circumstances were
as favorable as in any Southern State
probably the most favorable. Accord
!. ing to their own reason for nominating
Greeley as their candidate, the result
in North Carolina foreshows their de-
feat in the presidential contest.
Nothing to break the force of this
result can be predicated upon the cleo
tioneering exertiOns. Both parties
have worked energetically to carry the
State. The Democrats have the ad-
vantage of the possession of the Legis-
lature and the prestige which that
lgives, and of the local offices. The Re-
publicans had the influence of the ma
tional offices. The only means the Re-
publicans had to influence voters was
by appeal to reason, through public
speeches, and by circulating reading
matter. But the effect of these is liiH-
ited in a State where education is so
little diffused, and where q sectional
hatred, intensified by civil war, binds
one party together in feeling which
recognizes the political contest as a
Ipart of the war in which they fought.
On the other hand, the. Democratic
managers, believing that victory in
North Carolina would be accepted by
the unthinking as a sign of general
victory, and would cause Republican
caaDges to Greeley, have made desper-
ate exertions to save the State, and in
this the corrupt gang of Tammany poll
, ticians, who are those that are nearest
to Mr.. Greeley, have brought to bear all
the money they could raise, and the
other means which they are familiar
| with. ~ aet.l. s.s.,1..,i. y
FL: Yet they. have not more than. held
j their own in North Carolina, if they
have done SO much as that. aGreeley's
bargain and sale, and Summers treach-
erous advice, have had no effect, in
!, North Carolina. The Republicans,
white and l,eolored, stand fast with
their party. All the Greeley, and Con-
, Iservative. and Ku-Klux Establishments
: have made no impression on the Re-
/ publican ranks. IfNorth Carolina is a
criterion, next November will find
Horace Greeley a disgraced traitor, and
the party which used him gnashing its
] teeth at him. .ft
The GAINESVILLE, Ohio, Enterprise,
which has been for several years on the
independent list, and which occasional
Il fo,,r,d ;,,f<~ LoI