The Ottawa free trader., 1880-07-31

cisively Republican. The Republican candi
date for governor had, indeed, been elected in
1856, but in 1853 Douglas defeated Lincoln IN
the senatorial contest, and not until 1860, when
Lincoln was candidate for the presidency and
the Democracy hopelessly divided, did the state
SWING fairly over to the opposition. Since then
1t has steadily adhered to the new allegiance,
and has come to be regarded as firmly and re.
liably Republican.
We believe the time has arrived when Hi
nois may be redeemed; brought back to the
faith IN which she was born and grew to great
ness, the faith of which she was one of the
staunchest supporters for more than forty
years. \ combination of circumstances such
as has not occurred since 1860 tavors this poll
tical redemption. The Democracy have nom
mated an exceptionally strong ticket Certain
ly, so far as the two leading names are con
ccrned, there never has been such q ticket
nominated by any party since the state was or
ganized. Lyman Trumbull and Lewis B.
Parsons would honor the governor and lieu
tenant.g .governorshp far more than these offices
can honor them. They are so far above thelI
competitors in ability and reputation that any
comparison would be insulting. The immeas
urable Inferiorlty of the Republican nominees
is frankly admitted by the Republicans them
selves. The Democracy have nominated an
exceptionally strong national ticket. Hancock
and EngllsL have already developed an amount
of popular enthusiasm in all sections OF the
country which, If II continucs-as there Is
every reason To believe it will-assureS their
election 10y an overwhelming majority. In H.
linois as everywhere else, Garfield and Arthur
have dropped like the wettest of wet blankets
and in Illinois, to a greater extent than any
where else, the clements of discOrd and demor
allzatlon produced by these nominations are
dong their work. The bulldozing policy OF
Logan in behalf of the third term made a
breach in the party which isnot likely to heal
while the defeat of Grant at Chicago by a
movement which the delegations disfranchlsed
at Springfield practically led, has intensified
and embittercd the family quarrel until recon.
ciliation, at least during the pending cam.
paign, is simply impossible. The Logan or.
gans have already begun to threaten the so.
called "rebels" with his vengeance, and If
these threats are carried out, or their execu,
ton even attempted, the family quarrel will
become fight of the tiercest and ldeadllest
sort. On the other hand, the Democracy are
united, harmonious, and more confident OF
victory than they have been since 1869.
Such is the situation. 1t could not be more
encouraging, and all that is necessary to make
the future fulfil the promise of the present is
Thorough organization and systematic work.
by the state and national tickets the weakness
Of the Republican candidates and, the division
IN the Republican camp. These will contrib
ute largely to Democratic success, but are not
sufficient of themselves to secure it. The Re
pubicans have the prestige and the power
supremacy. They cannot Pc beaten by the
disadvantages which the combination Of cir.
cuhstances has created; but they can be beat.
en- if these disadvantages are supplemented by
Thorough Democratic organization and syStc.
matte Democratic work. The material upon
which the organization and the work will op,
crate is at hand. There are hundreds of Re
publicans IN every county who were originally
| Democrats, and who drifted away from their
old anchorage during the war, or during that
long period after the war when the Democracy
were in an apparently hopeless minority.
Their tastes and tendencies are all Democratic
and when that party presents such splendid
candidates as Hancock and English and Trum-
bull and Parsons, on platforms worthy of them,
these tastes and tendencies can be effectively
utilized by the proper efforts. IT only half OF
the Republicans who were Democrats, or Of
Democratic procivitles, in 1860, can be
brought back to the old fold Illinois will re-
turn to her first love IN 1880. Such an oppor
tunity for political revolution is seldom offered
twice in the same generation. Let 1t be i'm.
proved to the utmost by those who have waited
so long and patiently for it-St. Louis Repub-
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