Year: 1872

ular majority would be very small, II
not represent with exactness the senti>
ment of the country. 1t it is evident
that large body of electors stayed
away from the polls. Nearly every
one of these men is an opponent of
the administration, and if they had
seen fit to cast their votes Grants pop
indeed it would exist at all.


The prominent features of the elec-
ton may be briefly stated. Ninety
five per cent. of the Democrats voted
for Greeley. OF the remaining five
per cent, a comparatively small num-
ber voted for Grant The greater part
of them did not vote at all. OF the
Liberal Republicans who joined this
party of reform large majority stood
fast, while others, despairing of success
went back to their old associations or
stayed at home. Now leaving out of
view the venal men who from corrupt
motives deserted their case aud voted
for Grant, and cannot be relied by any
party that uses none but honorable
means to further its success, it may be
safely affirmed that the great body of
the electors who stayed away from the
polls are now as they have been in time
past, opposed to the dominant Radical
party. 1t is true that they did not by
their votes manifest their opposition in
the late election


But let us not roughly cast censure
upon them if they could not overcome
their old feeling and prcdjudices so as
to vote for a life long opponent We
may deplore the facts, but we should
not be so unjust as to place them in the
ranks of our enemies. We have an
abidiug faith that, with time and reflec-
ton, they will be found as heretofore
actively on our side. The Radical
camp is no camp for them, nor is it part OF
wisdom to draw party tomahawk
upon the Democrats or Liberal Repub-
licans who, from conscientious but mis-
eken motives, saw fit to vote for Grant
The circumstances were novel aud pc
culiar, such as had never before been
seen, and men Of the best intentions
were liable to err Condemn as strongly
as you will base men who sold their
votes, but be charitable to your old
friends, who, under circumstances Of
difficulty aud cmbarras, differed
rom you in opinion. Instead of re.
pelIng, strive to win them back. Free
independent thought Is Of the very es>
sence OF democracy md true Repubh
l.. l
party in the beginning. 1t has mains
tanned it ever since. 1t gave rise to
Ihe Liberal Republican element of to-
day. and to it we must look for access
ion in the future.


What is indeed, then, is not cr,mi.
nation aud rccrimlnaton, but the oppo-
site Three and quarter millions of
electors have protested by their votes
against Radical misrue, under which
tho country has suffered and which
threatens to overthrow the very foun-
dation Of free government. The rca-
son for their protest are as potent to
day as they were when they cast their
votes. BY every consideration of
consistency and just principle these
men are bound to continue to act
together. The necessity for reform
is likely to increase instaad of
diminish. The advocates of centrali.
cation are likely to become more
audatlons than ever in their attacks
upon local self government. Exac>
tions of combined wealth and the cor
rupt use of money in elections are
likely to become established usages
if not rebuked. 1t is' no time, there
fore, for any lover of free institutions,
of purity in elections and government.
and equal laws, to relax his efforts
nor is it intelligent or wise, or manly
to dispair of success. No reform
party even gained the first battle.
Consolidated abuses can only be over
thown by repeated assaults. Monopoly
and corruption ever die hard, but in
the end they do die, when free virtu-
Gus people will their destruction. We


say, then, to every friend of reform


" BE of good cheer" Ohio Is, we be


lievc, the only State in which the rad


ical majority of 1868 has been reduced
, a few more struggles and it will cease


te exist.