The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-11-10
The Democratic Defeat-The Cause
nr

4
stead.v CHARLES DOB.
| The Democratic Dcfcat-The Cause
OF lt.
The manly American citizen appears Ia
better advantage on the day after an election
than any other day In the year. IL the
popular verdict is on his side, be takes bis
Share OF the credit OF a victory which, In
one way or another, he has helped to win.
| III the judgment OF the majority be against
him, he commonly consoles himself with the
reflection that his side made the best fight
possible; that it deserved to win, and that
ultimately the cause for which he has been
contendng will prevail. There ought to be
no room in the heart OF citizen OF the Re-
puhlic for rancor or bitterness because OF a
decision fairly reached through the ballot
boxes. On the contrary, it is among the
obligations Of good citizen, when the ma
| iority Is against him, to even to seek Tor q
reason TO Justify the conclusion reached by
the msjority--for when Its judgment Is as
sailed, even to The extent OF throwing dis.
credit on IL, an attack Is made upon the
vital principles on which a government
through aud by the people rests. IL does
not follow, by any means, that the minority
should surrender anything for which it has
been contending. The firmer its faith Is in
ITS cause, the more ready will the minority
be to assume either that it has Jailed in
making strong and full presentation OF its
principles, or that the mai0tity choose to
decide the election on other issues than
those presented by the minority.
The cause which brought about the re.
suit Yesterday appears TO us to-day TO lie
upon the surface. The Democrats have
apparently failed to carry single northern
State with the probable exception OF The
State of New Jersey. Even in New Jer.
sey, 1T this writing, the result is close and
doubtful. There is a significance, however,
in the fact that the Democrats appear to
have done better in New jersey than IN any
other Commonwealth outside OF the group
of so-callcd southern States. 1t will be
follv to say that the tariff issue en-
tered into the contest, and that the
election went against the Democrats because
Of it. If the word tariff had never been men
toned during the canvass there is no good
reason for believing that the outcome OF
Yesterdays contest would have been differ
cnt from what it is. Iowa, Kansas, Colo
RADIO, Nebraska, California, and several
other States which might be named. were
certainly not Influenced against the Demo
Gratis by consider ations into which reyis-
ion of the existing tariff cutters. Yet the
Republicans did relatively better in those
States than in New Jersey or Connecticut,
or even in Pennsylvania-States which, on
the Issue OF protection as against free trade,
would vote for or against either OF the
existing parties, according to the side 1t es-
poused on what would be probably con-
trolling question with the citizens OF the
States named. Tue tariff discussion was but
q furry in the late canvass. The Republic.
cans doubtless turned it to advantage Tor a
time, and they may have gained greatly by
il IN Indiana and Ohio in October, but as
soon as the mechanics and the manufactu-
rers bad time TO think it over, and 10 recov-
er their balance, they found no difficulty in
reaching the conclusion that they had moth
ing TO fear from either party through any
radical change at this time in the revenue
system OF the country. Neither party is at
present in q position TO deal with the ques.
ton OF the tariff and before either attempts
any innovation, il Will seek such sup
port as il can obtain through full and
discussion OF the subject.
Enough has been said about the tariff ques-
ton, however, 10 bring it forward in our
politics. 1t may become controlling issue
in the not remote future, but as soon as it
becomes 20 a change in the personnel OF the
existing parties will become inevitable.
The election in Vermont was, in its way,
qrite IS significant as any OF the State con-
tests which followed 1t. Those who IA
yored the nomination OF General Han
cock believed that he would secure a |
large incidental and personal support
from those citizens who had served
with him in the ranks Of the Union army
during the war, and Vermont has IFS full
proportion OF this class Of citizens. They
believed also that the North was ready and
eager for a full reconciliation with the
South on the terms on which ii could have
been secured, and through the success OF
the Democracy under leader who was GER |
tain uot TO relinQuish any legitimate result OF
the war. The election in Vermont showed |
an increased Republican majority. Ii dis
pelled the hope INDUCED in by HancOck's |
frieods that the veterans OF the war could be |
relied on 10 very great extent to show their |
appreciatiOu or affection for each other |
their ballots. The Vermont cleo
ton went long way toward proving that
the North was not prepared TO accept the
fuIl restoration Of the South in the Union, |
with the right, conceded to other sections,
TO shane It's political action as it pleases. |
without a1ording Just ground for CRITICISM
or fault finding.
What Vermont indicated has been demon
strstcd by the general result Of the election |
held throughout tue North yesterday. We
do not believe that there is anything resem- |
bling hatred felt by the people OF the North |
toward those .of the South. We do not |
think the North is averse to conceding to
the southern States a full restoration Of
all Their rights in the Union. There Is
no use, however, in trying to evade |
the conclusion that large and potential
class of intelligent northern voters are not |
willing TO give the South controlling in |
fiuence in the management OF the affairs OF |
the Federal Government at this time. Apart |
from the popular vote, the active and con- |
trolling political force within the Demo |
cratic party, had it succeeded yesterday, |
would have been furnished by southern |
Party, in its action. must
be controlled by majority OF
lis members, and through caucus OF Demo-
cratic representatives at Washington the
South would seem 10 control. This was
" bat was feared by the class OF men we
have referred 10, and this class OF men de-
,ided the election against the Democrats
yesterday.
There would have been no apprehension
If the South il 1t could be shown that the
strength of the Democratic representation
rom the North would Offset the influence OF
he Democratic South, il it chose to confront
iothern Democratic sentiment. But 1t was
made certain, long before the people were
.aiied upon to vote for President this year,
hat the South would be the controlling
)ower in the Government II the Democrats
,ad succeeded. This control would be tenn
,ered ouIy by southern wisdom and mode
alton, and we are bound to confess that the