Smyrna times., 1873-10-29

Is IT REACTION ?-Since the October
elections we have been looking over our ex-
changes to learn the lessons those elections
taught-it is always presumable that State
elections teach lessons" The Republican
papers learn their lesson from Pennsylvania,
where the Democrats, 80 far from being
successful, hardly made fight. They merely
ballotted to cover a decent retreat. The
Democratic organs learn their lesson from Ohio,
where the Republicans, though not totally
repulsed, were by no means victorious. There
fore, both parties are happy.
But Ohio has the main problem, for the
Democrats at least. That discouraged party,
sickened fiom hope long deferred, tried to
achieve success last year by accepting Repub-
hcan doctrines and nominating Republican
candidates. They came to the conclusion that
if such doctrines and such men were good for
Republicans to win with, they must be good
for Democrets to win with. But the sequel
did not justify the conclusion. Even since last
November there has been pretty free talk
about a Democratic funeral, among sick and
disappointed Democrats. But now that talk
has stopped. The party is convalescent. The
Ohio Democrats are about to restore it. They
are about to purge it Of its new departure
ailments. The Democratic organs of this
State, that so unceremoniously deserted the
Straight-outs last fall, are now the loudes
champions of the faithful faction that they
laughed to scOrn year ago. Allen, one o.
the straightest of Straight-outs, has been elec
ted Governor by the Democrats of Republi
can State. The moral is plain; it is encour
aging; it is this-Straigh ghtouts must win. l
means BourDons to the front; it means
reaction; means that we must drop thu
tidal wave" war cry aud say reaction" here
after. That's the slogan now-''Reaction!
But We don't all interpret the same lesson il
the same way While the Democrats ar
rejoicing over Ohio and shutting their eyes t.
their habby condition Pennsylvania and Iowa
we pick up our New York Herald and it show
that as an unvarying rule the minority part,
always brisks up in the off year" in politics
1t was so in old Wing tunes, and it was fron
this cause that that party so frequently had
majority in Congress to offset the Democrat
President. And we look at our Tribune, In
longer Republican organl and we find thi
paragraph:
"The experience Of the past dozen year
has shown that a very little success
sufficient to demoraze the Democrats an
sufficient as wei 70 put the Republicans o
their mcttc .tr.eve their blunders and NOR
than maAe good their defeat. One needs bu
to look back over the political record Of tn
past twelve years to discover the truth
this statement. Between the Presidentii
elections of the last twelve years the Demt
Gratis have gained some notable victories.
every case they have been intoxicated an
their opponents have been sObered by then
1t may safely be said for the Republican par
that it does not fail to profit by the lessons
defeat 1t means to keep in power, and &
that purpose means to reflect the popul
will. 1t is wise in its day and generatio
which its opponent is not The meaning Of ii
Ohio election is plain enough. A great maj
thousand Republicans, disguised with the
party and ashamed OF its record, have refus
to vote for its candidates In consequence d
Democrats have secured the Legislature, q
United States Senator, and possibly q
Governor. AS an event in national politics
has but the most trifiing significance.
We think this a fair view of the case o.
place Che more importance to il because it
not from partisan standpoint. 1t may be W
enough for our Democratic cotemporaries
crow, but 10 is also well enough for them
look to IL that they are well out of the WOO,