Year: 1866

A LESSON FOR DEMOCRATS.
The result of the election In the State
Eof New York has surprised no one who
took any pains to ascertain the condition
of the public mind There was very little
interest felt in it by the people at large,


and less by the Democrats than the Re-
publicans. It was manifest that there


was no serious question Of principle at


stake. Both parties professed to endorse
the President and his reconstruction polls
cy, while all the old issues were carefully


kept out of sight. Our readers have OBJ
served that we RETAINED entirely from
taking either side in the contest; and this,


not because of any desire for neutrality,
/ but because there did not seem 10 be any
serious issue on which We felt it our duty
T T. sustain either side against the other,
/ Soge Of the Democrats are expressing
disappointment at the result. but they have


received lesson which ought to do them


good. It is very easily read: The Dem


ocratic party has ruled the country for q


long period, with brief intervals. It viii
probably rule the country again before


many years shall have passed over us.


1t win never recover its power, however,


until il enters on the contest with pure


and patriotic devotion to those national
principles which have bsen its special
charge in past years, and WHICH, involv-
ing the financial and commercial interests
of the country, as well as the home and


foreign relations of the Government, will,
of necessity, become hereafter of para
mount Importance to the nations pros


perity.


The simple truth is that the Democrats


must shake of from them the desire for
spoiis, and discharge those leaders whose


sole object is power and place, before they
will again become yictors. The election
IN this State was nothing but contest foF
spoils It was mere race to determine
who should win Dir. johnson. It was the


purest folly on both sides to suppose that
the President was SO weak as to determine
his future course, and select his future
friends, by the result of State election


of inferior officers. in which no great prin-
ciple was involved He is no such pup-
pet as the political leaders on both sides
seem to suppose him. The election in


New York decides nothing. either as to


the reconstruction policy, the negro suf-


frage question, the resumption of specie


payments, the extension of the National


Bank system, the foreign relations Of the
| Government, or any other matter Of na-
tional importance.


It was, therefore, exceedingly humili-


ating to see the leaders on both sides en-


gaging in contest for the possession Of
/ the President as if he wore ward poll
Etician, waiting to see which side WAS
stronger, and ready to throw himself into
/ the arms Of the yictors. The RepubIi-


cans shouted Z lie is ours, for we elected
him : while the Democrats shouted ssHe
/ is ours, for We resolved to support him
/ too, and viii giTe the largest vote" In


such contest it is not surprising that the
people took little interest IF the Demo-
Gratis expect to try again, let them abandon
ths leadership which has shown It's weak


ness in this election. The men who man
aged the campaign for them we're so evil
dently mere runners for spoils that the
voters were in large numbers thoroughly
disguised. In New York city, for ex-
ample, the only attempt to arouse the
public was made By placing Montgomery


Blair forward as the accepted champion
of the Democracy. For four years the


Democratic party here has done httleelss


but protest against the arbitrary exercise
of power by the members of Mr.. Linz
coins Cabinet. The people were justly
astonished at seeing the very men who


had pretended to be most indignant and
furious in their devotion to the liberty Of
the person and the press, inviting to their


platform and putting forward as the ex-


ponent of their principles the very man
who was first in the late Cabinet to sup
press newspapers, who approved all the
arbitrary arrests and other proceedings


had under the 8; war power and who


does not pretend penitenee, but, to the


present day. justifes all those measures.


The argument of common sense was


very simple. There was no doubt that
the managers we're only seeking success,


power, spoils, at any sacrifice of principle.


Of course there were thousands of voters


who staid at home, when such leaders


asked them to vote It is not at all cer-


tain that Democratic principles would
have gained any strength by the success


of the party under such leadership and


for such objects. It is just as weH that
the Democratic leaders have received the
lesson they are now reading In pain,


The next time they go into an election


they wilr probably have the wisdom to see


that the people only vote with enthusiasm


when there is principle at stake, and


that in contests for spols, which do not


involve principle, they are never likely ta


be pleased with the tricks of politicians,


and never look with favor on the men


who sink principles opt Of sight foF the.


sake of gaining power.


A eon6rr,od hocbeIa- ,rsa1 4h6 {aItosusnnI