National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-08-10
TIE NORTH CAROLINA vIcToRY-H0NoR
TO WHOM HONOR Is DUE.

The result in North Carolina shows q
change, in round numbers, of about thirty
thousand votes from the Democratic to the
Republican party in that State. The fall
elections for Congressman last year resulted
in an aggregate popular Democratic ma
joriy of about ten thousand, and it is safe
to estimate that the Republicans carried
the State against the constitutional conven-
ton last week by from twelve to fifteen thou
sand. This unexampled revolution in the
political aspect of State-and Southern
State at that, in which the Democrats
had full control of the election apparatus
is so remarkable as to require explanation.
While every one who reposed any conf
dence in the intelligent discernment of the
people of North Carolina expected the de-
feat of the Democratic revolutionists, no
one anticipated such an overwhelming vic
tory for the cause of good government.
There were influences at work which, it
was feared, would aid the Democracy in
retaining its hold upon the prejudices of
the masses of the people and induce many
of them to vote for the convention, because
the popular idea was that the present con-
stitution was framed with an especial de.
sign to secure the much hated supremacy
of negroes and carpetbaggers. Besides
this there was q natural reverence, very
strong with the Conservative people Of the
Old North State, for the customs and laws
of the olden-time, to which the Democrats
proposed to speedily return in the event of
their success. These influences, and others
that we have previously explained, formed
the mainstay Of the Opposition, and the
bulwsrk against which the Republicans
pointed their efforts in the attempt to in
duce 10000 white voters to join the 80, 900
blacks of the State for the preservation of
the reconstructed constitution.
1t should be understood that North
Carolina is more fortunate than many other
Southern States in the possession of q
large element of intelligent and educated
citizenship in the ranks of the Republican
party. Such men as Judges Settle, Reid,
Rodman, Bynum, Buxton, Moore, Rus
sell and Csntwell, Governors Holden,
Caldwell and Brogden, Hon. Samuel F.
Phillips, R. e. Badger, Oliver Dockery, and
host of other leaders, withstand comparison
with the greatest and best in the Demo
cratic ranks. The result is that to be q
Republican in that State is to be sustained
in ones political belief by association with
some of the best ''native blood" Not
only this, but the so-cslled carpet bag
gers" are men Of exceptionally good
character, and have won the unwilling
respect of their opponents by years Of
honest devotion to the best interests Of the
people among whom they have taken up
their residence. Among these are such
men as Messrs. Keogh and Ball, of Green's
boro', French and Canady, OF Wilmington,
and Others, too numerous to mention, who
are entitled to consideration as public
spirited citizens, whose solid worth. would
enable them to deserve, If it did not win,
the respect Of any community. 1t is to
these men and their numerous associates
of equal responsibility that the party owes
its reputable name, and to their efforts that
it has never been disgraced by the gen.
eral character of its management
But the innumerable details Of the cam
paign, the shrewd manipulation of men,
and the adroit movements to counteract
the plots and plans Of willy and expe-
rienced enemy, were under the direction Of
master minds. In truth, the campaign was
the first one ever conducted in any South
ern State by the Republicans on those prin.
ciples Of thorough discipline and complete
organization which are necessary to keep
the ranks of political organization intact
and TO develop the full strength of the ad-
herents to well-defned political principles.
There were certain discontinued and pre-
sumptuous persons who are mainly RESPONSE
bic for the repeated failures OF previous cam
paigns, and who attempted at the beginning
of this one to obtain control of IL, but for
tunately their efforts miscarried, and the
State committee, with rare discretion. re-
tanned Thomas B. Keogh, ESQ.,, of Green's
boro', as its chairman and executive head.
Firmly reliant upon the PRINCIPLES of the