The Caucasian. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1874-1875, 1874-10-31
Significance Of the Lat4 Elections.
IFrom the Baltimore (Md.) Suu.]

j The significance of the late cleo
tions in Ohio and Indiana seems to
have proved a difficult problem ror
the party press to solve. Not only
do democratic and republican pa
pers take different views of the eau
ses which have led to recent results
lin those States as well as same 9th
er portions of the country, but even
Journals of the same political pro.
fessions are found drawing diane
trically opposite conclusions from
the same state Of facts A collec-
ton Of the "opinions Of the press
upon the "recept elections" would
therefore, throw but little light up
an the subject. The one patent
fact which Is more apparent than
anything else is the remarkable vi
tality which still animates the body
of what has been SO frequently pro-
nounced the moribund, if not de-
funt democratic party. Despite of
a long period Of enforced absti-
nence from the flesh pots of Office
despite of repeated reverses ans
much abuse and i'll repute-despite,
too, of what some people persisted
in regarding as the deliberate act
OF telO de Sc perpetrated in the nom
ination of Horace Greeley for the
presidency, the democratic party is
not only still alive, but ''alive and
kicking" This shows that when
the President in his message last
December felicitated CoRgress upon
the gradual extinction of party
lines, "particularly in the agricul-
tural regions" he was somewhat
premature in his congratulations.
1t further shows that the time is
not ripe for the formation OF new
parties, and that the new battles
will probably continue to be fought
out under the old party names. The
probabilities are that the year 1876
will see the old parties again ar
rayed against each other as in
times past. The truth is that is
sues may change and men may
char &c with them, but there are
certain cardinal principles applica-
bic to the construction of the feder-
al constitution which are coeval
with the instrument itself, and
which, despite of many short com
ings and some Inconsistencies, the
democratic party processes to have
handed down from the foundation
Of the government, and to keep in
tact to this day. These principles,
particularly those which relate to
the powers of the federal govern
mcnt over the States, and to the
true canon of constitutional con-
struction, have been lately grow
ing again in popular favor as the
need of returning to them as bar
riers against u>urpation and cen
tralization has been more and more
preSsingly felt. Beyond this and
the evidence furnished of increas-
ing dissatisfaction with the rcpub-
lican administration Of affairs,
there is nothing specially marked
abont the late elections. The re-
publicans have gone into the State
canvass in different States heavily
weighted with the Louisiana bust
ness. the Arkansas business, credit
mobilier and back pay. People
have grown tired Of hearing merit
claimed for the investigation OF
abuses and scandals which the par
ty in power itself originated. Even
npOn the currency question men
have probobably voted not so much
as their imitation theories or hard
money preferences inclined them
as to mark their disgust with the
failure of the republican majority
in the two houses Of Congress to do
anything. The elections indicate
not so much, therefore, CONVEX
sion OF the people to democratic
principles, or their Abandonment of
the republican platform, as their
willingness to accept a change in
the hope of reform and their pref
erence for sound practice over any
platform. They are very far from
loreshadowing necessarily return
or the democratic party to power,
unless the warning should be SO far
lost upon the republican party and
improved by the democratic as to
make the chances of an honest and
faithful administration of the gov
eminent upon strictly conservative
and economical principles more
probable under the rule of the lat
ter party than of the former.
| L. Our people "don't scare
worth cent? when Kellogg, Pack
ard & Co., send soldiers up to
frighten us. We have seen them
before. We don't blame the SOL