Liberal Republican

THE PARTY OF THE FUTURE.
Columbus, November 15.—A special meeting of Democrats and Liberal Republicans of Ohio was held to-day. The Liberals, about forty in number, met separately, and adopting resolutions declaring in their opinion it was desirable that the consolidation of all elements favoring the leading principles enunciated by the Cincinnati platform should be effected, and that until such consolidation is effected the Liberal organization should be maintained; that the next Liberal State Convention should declare squarely in favor of a tariff for revenue only, and invite all persons without regard to former political associations to unite with them; recommending that after the next State Convention the name Liberal Republican as a party name should be dropped, and that of the Liberal Party be adopted; asking all organizations which have thus far co-operated with the Liberal Republicans to abandon old party names with a view to perfect a union under the name of Liberals; that as a party they are opposed to all special legislation or special privileges, believing that the equal rights of all should be the guiding principles in all the ramifications of governmental affairs.
The Democratic and Liberal Republican State Central Committees together with a large number of other representatives of the two organizations from various parts of the State, held a consultation this afternoon, pursuant to a call issued on the 6th of this month. A committee has been appointed by the Democratic and Liberal Republican State Executive Committees to prepare an address to the Democrats and Liberals of Ohio for consideration and adoption by this meeting. This committee consisted of Senator Thurman, Gen. Thomas Ewing, Gen. Brinkerhoff and John M. Dashler.
Senator Thurman, on behalf of the committee prepared an address to the meeting. It was considered and unanimously adopted as follows:
To the Democrats and Liberal Republicans of Ohio: The Presidential election is over, and Gen. Grant is re-elected. It is not our purpose at this time to speak of the causes of this result. It is the future that demands your attention, and a recurrence to the past is useful only to ascertain the facts and lessons it teaches.
A vast majority of the Democratic party, perhaps ninety-five per cent., voted for Greeley. A large number of citizens here of the Republican organization also voted for him. The aggregate of their votes, as near as we can estimate, exceed three millions and a quarter. The nominal popular majority of Grant is something over half a million, on a vote of nearly or quite seven millions, a majority of about seven per cent. This is the result as nearly as we are able, in the absence of official returns to state it, but this vote does not represent with exactness the sentiment of the country. It is evident that a 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 Grant's popular majority would be very small, if indeed it would exist at all.
The prominent features of the election may be briefly stated. Ninety-five per cent. of the Democrats voted for Greeley. Of the remaining five per cent., a comparatively small number voted for Grant. The greater part of them did not vote at all. Of the Liberal Republicans who joined this party of reform a 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 and 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. It 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 prejudices 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 abiding faith that, with time and reflection, 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 a party tomahawk upon the Democrats or Liberal Republicans who, from conscientious but mistaken motives, saw fit to vote for Grant The circumstances were novel and peculiar, 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 and embarrassment differed from you in opinion. Instead of repelling, strive to win them back, Free independent thought is of the very essence of Democracy and true Republicanism. It created the Democratic party in the beginning. It has maintained it ever since. It gave rise to the Liberal Republican element of to-day, and to it we must look for accession in the future.
What is indeed, then, is not crimination and recrimination, but the opposite. Three and a quarter millions of electors have protested by their votes against Radical misrule, under which the country has suffered and which threatens to overthrow the very foundation of free government. The reason 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 instead of diminish. The advocates of centralization are likely to become more audacious than ever in their attacks upon local self government. Exactions of combined wealth and the corrupt use of money in elections are likely to become established usages if not rebuked. It is no time, therefore, 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 despair of success. No reform party ever gained the first battle. Consolidated abuses can only be overthrown by repeated assaults. Monopoly and corruption ever die hard, but in the end they do die, when a free virtuous people wills their destruction. We say, then, to every friend of reform: "Be of good cheer." Ohio is, we believe, the only State in which the radical majority of 1868 has been reduced A few more struggles and it will cease to exist.