The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-11-12
Democratic Victories.

The signal triumph of the Democratic party
on the 3rd of November, in nearly every por-
ton of the United States, has surprised the
entire country. Some were cautiously predict
ing increased success for the Democracy, and
the more astute members of the opposition
were prepared for Democratic gains, but the
most sanguine Democrat in the land was not
prepared for the overwhelming victory and
complete revolution in public sentiment which
the result discloses. The enemy are routed
ahorse, foot and Dragons and as the smoke of
the battlefield clears away, there is revealed
terrible panic in his fight from the victorious
hosts.
What has produced this mighty revolution
in politics? Not the enunciation of any new
dogmas, nor the declaration of any change OF
policy on the part of the Democrats True to
its principles and maintaining its ancient faith,
the organization of the Democratic party has
been kept together under defeat, disaster and
repeated calamities, and it now becomes the
medium through which the American people
have placed the seal of condemnation upon
Republican arrogance and insolence. The
masses were discontented and dissatisfied, and
were resolved upon change of rulers. The
Republican party had demonstrated an unwil-
liDgness or inability to restore peace, tranquil
ity and prosperity to the nation, especially in
its management of the Southern States, where
the grossest abuses of republican government
were perpetrated, and the instruments of these
fragrant outrages upon liberty and local self
government were upheld by the Federal ad-
ministration, represented by a Republican
President and Republican Congress. After
repeated warnings against the continuance of
this state of affairs, the Republican party has
been thoroughly tried and found wanting The
leaders of that party assumed to hold an un-
limited lease of their power, and did not dream
that change would come in the next ten
wears. Hence, they disregardcd every mani
festation of public opionion, and endeavored
to magnify their own Importance to the coun-
trv until it was necessary to administer stern
and unyielding rebuke, in order to preserve
the essence of liberty and maintain the govern
ment of our forefathers.
A third term for President Grant was regard
ed as menacing and distasteful, not in conso-
nance with the genius and spirit of our insti-
tutions. Further disquietude in the South and
active interference with its affairs was looked
upon as destructive to the business interests
and material necessities of the country. The
great questions of currency and cheap trans
portation had been ignored and postponed to
strengthen the partisan power OF Republican
leaders. Add the repeated disclosures OF cor
rupt measures in Congress, and the failure to
investigate and punish frauds OF the greatest
magnitude, and we have a succinct statement
of the causes leading to widespread dlssatlsfac'
ton and discomfort among the masses. Ihe
Republican party, which had been deemed es-
sential to the perpetuity Of the Union and the
preservation of freedom, fastened its own de.
struction, and struck the blows resulting in its
downfall and ultimate extinction.