Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1880-10-16
Comments of the Press,
THE OCTOBER ELECTIONS.

Northern "brethren' are not only
bitter writers, libelers and SLAM
derers of the Southern people, but
are our enemies. They would not
allow the Southern people "to co.
Like Pharoah, they hardened
their hearts and forbade US to
move a step; but, unlike him.
they have not been overwhelmed
in the Red Sea. Popular preju-
dice and invincible ignorance
still rule the people by whose bay
onets the States of the Union were
pinned together. They will Meth
er allow us to be their equals out
eide of the Union nor within the
Union. We are still enemies. We
offered ia 1872 to elect the prince
of Unionists and Abolitionists
president, and his own section re-
pudiated him. In 1876 we elected
a distinguished New Yorker pres
ident, and he was not permitted
to take his seat. In 1880 we pro-
pose to elect the most accomplish
ed officer in the Federal army to
the high Office, and the people Of
the North band themselves to-
gether as bis and our deadly ene-
mics. More in sorrow than in
anger do we say these things.
Deeply do we regret it that we of
the South are to continue to be
aliens and strangers in the land of
our fathers We confidently count
ed upon success in Indiana, and
because of that confidence in the
result in Indiana entertained hopes
of carrying Ohio, our theory being
that both states would go the same
way. The result, as we have al
ready said, is evidence enough
that the Northern people look
upon us of the South as enemies.
They have solidified the North as
an offset to the solid South. Let..us
trust that the wrongs of recon-
struction days are not TO be re-
peated.
News and Courier Dem Charleston.
Happily, the Democracy is not
unused to reverses, and the defeat
of Tuesday will spur the party to
renewed efforts during the next
three weeks in every state in the
Union. In the new phase which
the presidential struggle has now
assumed we cannot afford to take
the risk. Hancock will be likely
to need every electoral vote that
the Southern states can give him.
But, even If Ohio and Indiana
should vote in November as they
have voted In October, there are
other Northern states which may
have as unpleasant a surprise in
store for the Republicans as Maine
gave them last month. Senator
ConkliDg has told us only within
the last week that the result in
Ohio and Indiana, whatever it
might be, would not be decisive of
the November contest; that New
York remains the pivotal state,
and that the party that carries
New York will elect the presi
dent. We are seldom enough in
accord with the magnificent Sena-
tor, but in this case we are will
ing to accept him as a prophet.
Wing Dem Richmond.
We are not Of those who are
disheartened by this result of
Tuesdays election. 1t is only the
reconstructed and craven spirit
that is crushed bv disaster, espe-
cially when that disaster, so far
from being irreparable, can be
remedied by the redoubled efforts
to which it should be a spur and
incentive. The affair in Indiana
was but mere skirmish with
many personal and local issues to
effect it, that will be absent in
November, and lacking many of
the factors which may lead to
very different result in the main
battle for the presidency. Bnt in
any event, even if Indiaoa be con-
coded as certain now for Garfield
and Arthur, the presidential field
to be contested is so wide, so di-
verse in its interests, with so great
a multitude of cOmbatants whose
movements it is utterly impossi-
bic TO forecast, that there is every
thing to reward energetic and
daunIles5 eXertion. Besides, if
our cause and our men are as good
as we held them to be, they can
not bus prove largely influential
in determining the decision in
Novembcr-a decision by no
means referred by the people of
the United States 10 a local cleo
ton in Indiana.
The State Dem Richmond
1t is neither a surprise nor a dis
aster for rs, because we never mad
the least hope OF carrying the