Year: 1872

In the presidential" year the March
election in New Hampshire usually pre-
figures that of November in the whole
country. And this is not mere coinci-
dence. In closely-balanced State the
condition of political feeling in the spring
is not likely to change before the autumn,
except for very serious reasons, and it
may be expected that the majority in
March will be proportionately greater in
November Moreover, nothing indicates
public feeling so surely as an election.
Eloquent orators and able editors, by
sharp criticisms and vehement declara-
tions, bravely assuming to speak for the
people, will often create an impression
that public opinion is very different from
what it reallyis. But an election corrects
such errors. 1t is the people speaking
for themselves-not always wisely, not in
every case honestly. But there is no
other way of ascertaining public feeling
which, upon the whole, is so satisfactory,
Notwithstanding the part played by fraud,
ignorance, and selfishness, as a general
election. What, then, may fairly be call
ed the moral of the New Hampshire cleo
ton?


In the beginning of the fourth year of
an Administration which has been attack
ed with unsparing rigor; which has been
denounced as phenomenally corrupt and
base; the head of which has been derided
as sordid, ignorant and incompetent; the
tool or the accomplice of band of
thieves; an Administration of which
many of the chief officers have been
accused of betraying the honor of the
country; which has been arraigned by
several of the most conspicuous of its
party friends; which has been daily as
sailed by the chief party journal; and to
defeat the continuance of which organlZ-
ed measures have been taken to produce
a party schism-in the fourth year of an
Administration of which it has been con-
temptuously alleged that all the represen-
tative men of its party had abandoned it,
leaving it to the paid support of camp
followers and bummers-the people of
New Hampshire have emphatically de-
clared their confidence in the Admins
tration, and their total disbelief of the
injurious charges incessantly urged
against it.


A short time since we ventured to say
that a reaction in favor of the President
and his Administration would certainly
follow the persistent and often malignant
assaults that abounded upon every side.
Unless the American political theory is
wholly erroneous, there is an enlightened
public conscience which constantly sur
veys, and, upon the whole, justly judges
the characters of public men and the
course of public affairs. A man who OBJ
serves only individual ignorance and
prejudice may often wonder in whom
that conservative public sagacity resides
| When a war comes like the rebellion, el
an election like that of ga or '6S, or ar
appeal like that of last year against Tam
| ~ Nnu- NnrE ha iG forced tn
with Tallyrand, that all men are wisel
than any man. The test of leadership il
the instinct which sees the fact through
the appearance. Common leadership wa!
that of Fernando Wood trying to senC
arms to the rebels to slay loyal citizens
The situation seemed to show that to b,
the winning side. Uncommon Leadership
was that of Abraham Lincoln emancipa
ting the slaves.


Now the public conscience saw Genera


Grant called, four years ago, from TIL


field in which he had saved a nation anC


the hope of liberty to be the civil magis


trate of this country. 1t knew very wei


that he had no especial training for tn


office, but it relied upon his honesty, hi


sagacity, and his courage. 1t saw alway


his plain purpose to administer his grea


trust for the highest public welfare. l


saw the debt steadily reduced and taxa


ton diminished 1t saw difficult foreigl


relations managed with equal temper ant


good sense. 1t saw an Indian policy a


once original, sagacious, and beneticent


inspired by justice and humanity. 1t say


the work of reconstruction formally com


pleted, and faithful and wise friendship
} for the race which had been so long out
ragged. 1t saw greater economy and tidel
ity in the collection of the public reve
, nues; and it saw also that the Chief Mag
, istrate was surrounded by cabinet be
, yond reproach.


Meanwhile it saw also mistakes.
) saw, as we believe, many things that
t was sorry to see. Officers were some