The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1882-11-08
YESTERDAY!
Thirty Millions of People Express
their WIZ

serve the actions OF men. and prescieLce
to discern the consequences which flow
therefrom.-what a wonderful spectacle
must have been presented TO them yes
terday. a. thirty million, 81 people, IN
80 States; from the icy..h.lls OF Maine
and Montana 10 the orange groves OF
Florida and the cactu. plains 81 Texas.
assembled around the bal.ot-b"Xes.
the urn OF Fate.-to decide the Nations
riUt All the day. from sunrislng 10
sunsetting. the tramp OF the multitude,
and the rattle OF ballots dropping in the
boxes. went on. at more than a million
81 voting places, Could al the tickets
be gathered high in air. and allowed to
iutter down upon earth. the whole globe
would be wrapped in a snow-storm OF
bits Of printed paper.
The Urn of Fate We called the
Ballot-Box; aud il it not: Upon It's
decision depends the future OF the
American Republic, and upon the sue
cess of this last greatest effort At self
government may depend the future OF
the human race. Certain il is that the
act of voting for State and Federal Off
cials carries a far weightier responsible
tv than most persons attach to 1t. The
ballot-box is the Urn of Fate. but there
Is no watchiul Deity to guide it decls-
ions. 1t is a mere machine. The vote
of the most ignorant and besotted
African. or other foreigner, counts
equal in power and decisiveness with
the vote of the most intelligent among
the grandsons Of those who died to
found the American Republic. Bribery.
Fraud, Vindictiveness, and every vile
quality find the ballot box as open to
them. as to Patriotism, honesty. and
noble aspirations. Like a mighty Drag
net, the polls receive all classes and
conditions of men reckless OF the mo-
tives which actuate their action yet
how great the consequences OF the out
come. When the Drag-net is landed.
when the urn is opened "A Single slip
Of paper may make or mar the NdttOni
4 single vote may turn the balance ola
State, and thereby turn the National
Electoral College and thereby change
the entire policy and future Of the Ma
ton! Or. a single vote may turn a
county, and lose a Congressional Dis
trict, and thereby change the majority
in Congress. and thereby affect the
Legislation upon which the prosperity
OF the land depends!
These views, of course are familiar to
all thinking persons; but all Of us do
not carry them out to their legitimate
morale: namely, that, if the votes Of
good and bad men have equal weight,
then it is the solemn duty of good men
and we~ll-meaning citizens, to make sure
that their vote is cast, if for nc other
reason han to offset some ~scOundreF'S
rote; and thereby assist in making the
utterance Of the Urn Of Fate a patriotic
one!
HOW DID THE ALTON DECIDE?
Thirty-six States voted yesterday.
We 90 to press at noon, and as the
election is a very close IL in many
States. we must await another issue to
give the complete details.
1t will be remembered that five States
voted last month; viz: Maine, Yer
mont. West Va, Oregon, and Ohio.
In these elections the Democrats made
a considerable net gain The changes
by census apportionment took one
member from the Republicans in Maine,
and two in Vermont, but gave them n
in West Va. They also lost 8 in Ohio,
and | in Ala.,-making a net loss of II.
The Democrats gained | in Ala. and 9
in Ohio.
The next House will consist of 325
members. as compared with 293 in the
present Congress. In the present House
t. e Republicans have lis members and
the Democrats 100; there being 10
Greenbackers and ~Readjusters, who, for
all practical purposes, ay be ranked
with the Republicans and five vacan
seats. OF the 81 members already
| elected to the Forty-eighth Congress,
IL are Democrats and 10 Republicans.
as compared with - Republicans, s
Democrats and , G~recnbackcrs in the
present Congress.
The United States Senate is at pres
ent Republican by 80 to 81, counting
with the Republicans Senators Davis
and Malone. Of the % Senators who
retire next March. II, including Mr..
Davis. are Republicans. Twelve of the
vacancies have already been TILED or
are to be filled by Legislatures OF known
political complexion, leaving fourteen
Scholarships to be decided i'll Colorado.
Delaware. Illinois. Kansas. Massachu-
sets, Michigan. Minnesota. Nebraska.
New Hampshire. New Jersey, North
Carolina. South Carolina. Tennessee ami
Texas. Should the Republicans hold
their own in the Legislature whice they
now control they will have the next
senate.
Thtee weeks ago tie Farmer and
Mechanic wrote the prediction that the
Democrats would carry North Carolina
by not less than 8. 800, but would lose a
dozen or more members of the Legis a
ture, two Judges and two members of
Congress, (and that we would elect liz
members of Congress in the country, and
make sure of the Presidency. Bro. Har-
per of Newber1 Jurani inf rred that we
included our friend Co Wharton Green
as one of the defeated Congressional can
d dates, out that was a mistake. We have
always declared that In our judgment Col
Green was sa er tn ir at least three Others.
md that his majority would run above
600 at the least.
To morrow will tell the tale. and GER
tainlv nothing but the election returns