Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1880-11-12
WHATTHE REPUBLICAN VICTORY
INVOLVES.

1t is clear, in the first place, that
the Republican party, after its TWEEN
ty years of administration, has not
forfeited the conf lenee Of the COM
try. It's principles are those to
which a majority Of the people sill
adhere, and its policy is that which |
they desire to see executed. Il has
made mistakes, it has sometimes fall !
en- short of its own ideals, and it has |
Of necessity failed to satisfy those
who have demanded the impossible. |
But its record in the emancipation Of
the slaves, in the preservation Of the
Union, in the maintenance of the
national credit, in the accomplish
ment of specie resumption, in the
protection of American labor, in the
defence of the rights of the citizen
and the purity of the ballot-box has
given it claim upon the support of
the people which could not be ig-
nored. It has represented the brains,
the integrity, the patriotism and the
liberty-loving instincts of the people
in the past, al the popular will ex-
presses a desire for the continuance
Of it's administration.
With equal distinctness, the result
of the election voices the popular
distraSt of the Democratic party.
The argument which that party has
made for ga change" would have
been a valid one, if it conld have
been shown that the change would
be in any way beneficial The argu-
ment had in It's favor the unwilling
ness which many people felt to have
the control of national affairs re-
tanned too long in one set of hands
If it could have been shown that
there was only an even chance that
the prosperity of the country, the
national credit and the material in
terests would be as safe in the hands
of the Democrats as they are in the
hands Of the Republicans, the people
would have voted to make the change
desired. But they have had no liking
for change which would put the
control OF the nation into the hands
Of the section which sought it's life
which would give over the finances
to the party which has advocated in
fatiou and fought resumption which
would have the national credit at the
mercy Of the party which has pro-
posed to tax the Government bonds
and to pay them in paper; and which
would precipitate disaster upon bust
ness and material interests by its mad
schemes. A change of this sort
even to accommodate some hundreds
Of thousands Of hungry oifice-seekers
the people have declined TO make.
Beyond this, the popular verdict is
seal Of condemnation upon the dast-
ardly methods pursued by the Demo
cratic leaders. The Democratic can
vass has been canvass Of villification
and sland er, from the start it has
dealt in vituperation and abuse, in
falsehood and forgery, and has not
scrupled to commit any crime which
promised to aid its cause. The Dem
ocratic party is now allotted period
for sober reflection, which it is to be
hoped it will improve. Four years
ago it gained majority in both
houses OF Congress, and narrowly
missed electing its President. The
two years ago, the elections for Con
grossmen showed that the tide of
popular feeling was settled against
it-and now the sceptre of power,
which was almost within its reach,
eludes its grasp. There never was
party which sacrificed great oppor-
tunity with such jaunty indifference;
there never was party which, when
confessedly on trial before popular
Judgment, conducted itself with such
wanton disregard of its obligations.
1t has now abundance of time for
meditation. Perhaps, by the time
that another Presidential canvass
opens, the Democratic party will
have acquired some convictions, and
will be able to present some issues.
AT least it may learn that personal
detraction, SANDER and forgery are
not the best weapons which a great
party can use, when it appeals to
the people.
So much as to the significance Of
the election now as to its conse-
quencea. One of these is the contin-
uance Of the Republican policy. as to
the finances, the tariff and the nation
al credit. Another is the assurance
that the incoming administration
will be on the same high level as the
outgoing, and that the expectations
justly aroused by the policy of Pres
ident Hayes will not be disappointed
by the policy of President Garfield.
The ideal perfection will not be at
tanned the impracticable will not
be realized but President Garfeld's
administration will be clean, pure
and honorable, and as free from job
berry as President Hayes has been.
A third result will be the cementing
Of the Republican party. The "inde-
pendents"-men who were misled by
Ti!den's reform pretentions and dis
appointed with Grants administra-
tlon-are back in the Republican
ranks, where they Of right belong ;
and the course of Gen. Garfeld's adj
ministration will be such as to retain
their support. Finally, the "solidity"
of the South will disappear as po-
litical factor. Nothing would have