The daily gazette., 1874-11-14
For the Gazette.
The Recent Elections.


The Recent Elections.
NEWARK, Del, Nov. 18th. 1874. {
Mr.. EDITOR 1T is seldom that q
political revolution, like the one which
has jr.st taken place, occurs in our
midst. 1t eclipses, in many respects,
the memorable campaign of 1s4O, which
as is we'll known, resulted in the over
throw Of the Democratic party and
the election of General Harrison, the
Wing candidate, to the Presidency.
When, therefore, these revolutions do
occur, they are full of the greatest DO.
litical significance-=h Significance en-
hanced by the fact that the ballot-box
the supreme arbiter between the
people and party in power-is the
instrument by which these results are
effected. No administration which
has become corrupt, can hope to es-
cape the inevitable rebuke of tins great
bulwark of our system. The people
may bear much IN tho lingering hope
that corruption will work its own
cure; but there is limit beyond
which endurance ceases to be virtue.
The time of that limit for the Repub-
lican party has arrived. The "hand-
writing on the wall' appeared at the
October elections in Ohio and Indi-
ana, and was followed in the Novcm-
Der elections, by an overwhelming de-
feat of the party In power. 80
The causes Of this defeat arc mani
fold and obvious SO much 30, in fact,
that the respectable portion Of the Re-
publican party united with us in order
to bring about change. The general
corruption of the Administrator the
obnoxious Civil Rights Bill, the out
RACES perpetrated upon the people, not
only in Louisiana, but also OF the South
in general, the "Third] Term" qucs-
on-strengthened by the near ap-
lproach of the Presidential election of
l878-all contributed to bring about
l the great Democratic victory from
Massachusetts to the Gulf Of Mexico.
Even Massachusetts--the stronghold
of Republicanism, without q Demo
cratic Administration of any sort; /
believe since 1834-has deserted the
purifying mass of its own party, and
declared, through the ballot-box, its
repudiation of that party in the admin
istration of Government affairs. 1t is
gratifying to know that the home of
the great ebster--the expoundeT
and defender of the Constitution
has vindicated his efforts in behalf Of
that vital instrument. s. r D..
| Even Republicans-since the elee.
tion-seem to acquiesce cheerfully in
the defeat of General Butler And
brightly, too for it should be regarded
by all honest men as triumph of theil
Iprinciples, and by all corrupt men ai
an instance of the fate with which
sooner or later, they must meet. Its Z
,, pity that q man OF Buffers ability
for he has ability, which, If rightfnllJ
directed, would be of service to hi
country-should have allowed it to b,
so perverted. But he has, in all probi
, bility, gone to that political ''bourn,
from which no traveller ever returns.
The defeat of General Dix is regarded
in different light. The men of hi
own party cannot more willingly ap
9 lpreciate his worth than the Democ
racy, But, running upon ticket ant
/ lplatform which endorsed the acts o
q the government, the old veteran wen
down in the general crash. As gen
eral rule "birds of feather flock I'd
tgether," and the exceptions, If there b
, any, are apt to be overlooked. 30
was with Gen'l Dix. .. ..
Such are the facts. The Democrac
are now in possession of o majority i
Congress on joint ballot, fairer sho,
lat least, in the Senate; and tn
. greater portion of the State Cover
= lments. The transition has, indeed
- been sudden and this question natu
:, ally arises What use will the Demo,
= racy make Of its elevation to power
= This question is of more than ordinar
importance from the fact that in LEI
than two years hence, we shall b
called upon to elect President.
= the interval between that period an
q the entrance upon power of the Fort.
v fourth Congress, ample time will
y afforded the people of judging wheth,
the Democratic party should or shoul
y not be continued in Office. "By the
i fruits ye shall know them" The r
- sponsibility, then, which rests upc
y us as party must be apparent to al
y And should corruption show itself du
!. ing Democratic administration. Il
- great mass Of the Democratic par
should be themselves instrumental
removing the party from power. Al
they would, I think, do 1t. Let VIII
Twas said of Cartlage's favorite so
=. never be applicable to our party: "E
knew how to gain victory, but n
IA how to use it," The lesson to Il
$ Democracy, about to assume contr
:. of an important branch of our cover
" mental system, is contained in Il
recent reverses of the Republican ps
II ty. II they will heed it, as we'll as Il
a. a. warning voice Of history, they W
find that in order to retain possessi'
i'd of power, they must act honestly, &C
nomically and for the public good.
- am not one of those who think th
honesty, In its relation to politics,
one of the "lost arts" If those {
trusted with Office are honest, thu
acts win be honest; and none but su
!, men should be elected to office. Al
a If such man should treacherous
IN hannma anrrrrnt altar 1,so alantsap s.