The Portland daily press., 1880-11-09
(New York Journal of Conmerce.)
The Election

The Republicans have achieved very sig
nal victory. The Democrats have been de-
feated throughout the entire Northern States,
the local exceptions being insufficient to quail
fly the general success of their opponents. 1t
may be said by heated partisans, smarting un-
der defeat, that there have been frauds, bribe-
ry and oppression, to produce this result. We
concede that all which official power and the
lavish use of money could do has been done to
secure this great victory for the dominant par
ty. But there is something more than this;
the victory has been gained and the defeat in
ficted by the honest counting of votes; and
the country may be congratulated that the
newly elected President may take his seat
with the FEELING of satisfaction that over and
above the votes that may have been unduly in
huenced on either side, he has been fairly
elected by the suffrages of the people. Even
If il is found that taking the whole country to-
gether the numerical superiority in the popu-
lar vote is on the side of the defeated cand-
date, it is still evident that a very considera-
BILE majority of the people of the Northern
States are unwilling to institute change of
administration or to trust the Democratic lead
ers with executive authority, and that General
Garfield is fairly entitled to his inauguration
We have several times protested against the
offensive manner in which the campaign was
conducted. Many of the Republicans like
Mr.. Chittenden of Brooklyn, (whom we re-
buked at the time for what seemed to us
great impertinence), assumed that all the vir-
tue and patriotism of the country were on the
side of that party. But still greater offense
was committed by Democratic speakers and
writers in personal denunciations of the char
acter of the Republican nominees. There was
nothing TO Justify such vituperation. On the
day after General Garfeld's nomination we
spoke of him as man of honesty and ability
who had served the country faithfully in the
field as soldier, and in Congress as states
man. We made the statement in good faith,
and we honestly believe that he has no more of
the frailies and inirmites of our common hu-
mainly than may be set to the account of 9TH
ers who are suffered to pass through life with
unsained reputation.
We hope that the dominant party will soon
have a working majority in both branches of
Congress that they may be held fairly ac-
countable for the management of public af-
themselves from the charges heretofore justly
brought against them by exercising noble
magnanimity toward their brethren of the
South, to whom they owe nothing directly for
their present triumph. There is no good rea-
son why even for political effect there should
still be any show of hostility against the people
of the Southern States; and if the hand is now
held out to them in fraternal kindness, there
will soon be no complaint of a ''solid" party
vote in that section of the country.
And we desire also to urge the victorious Re-
publicans to consider some of Their party
measures which have given just cause of Of
Tense to moderate men in every organization
The reaching out from Washington of the
hands OF the General Government to make its
power felt IN local affairs where the State and
municipal authority is amply sufficient for all
purposes of good may have originated in the
honest desire to correct supposed abuses and to
exercise proper vigilance in the maintenance
of public order and credit, but it has alarmed
not few of those who are warmly attached to
the better methods adopted by our fathers. 1t
would be gracious concession to this deep
seated sentiment for the dominant
party in this their hour of triumph to repeal
these offensive features # their former legisla-
ton, aud Ghus remove this constant source of
irritation, ll-feeling and we'll founded distrust
If these measures are taken. the new admin
istration may prove great success. When
the chosen leader was nominated we said, with
what we believe to be our accustomed fairness
and impartiality: "We shall certainly not be
discouraged if mar of honesty and ability
like Garfield is called to the White House. II
the Democrats at Cincinnati will give us
man of equally high character the people of
this country may breathe more freely in re-
gard to their political future than they have
and without trickery or fraud General Gar
field will be chosen President by an over
whelmng majority of the electoral votes. He
is thus in a position where he and those acting
with him can do much to concilate and tran
uniliye the country aAd laad it to high degree
Of prosperity without danger Of impair
ing their party strength or injuring their po-
litical futures. For ourselves, although we de
sired different result for reasons we have
heretofore frankly stated, we wear no party
chains, and we shall give, as is our wont. a
cordial support to all that is just and honorable
and can be fairly approved in the incoming adj
administrations