The North Carolina Standard

GEN. TAYLOR ELECTED PRESIDENT.

The people have decided that Gen. Taylor shall be the President of the United States for four years from the 4th of March, 1849. This verdict, pronounced through the ballot-boxes on Tuesday, is generally known throughout the Union. However doubtful the issue may have seemed to many before the election, thanks to the power of steam and lightning, the suspense after that event was speedily dissipated. At twelve o'clock on the evening of the great contest, every voter of Philadelphia had the means of knowing with comparative accuracy who was to be the chief executive officer of the land. However little we may be gratified at the result, we rejoice that the agony of alternate hope and fear was of short duration.

He who shall speculate upon the causes of this result, need employ very little argument to satisfy his own mind or that of his readers. A thousand interests—each instigated by its own peculiar grief, each animated by its own peculiar desire—each organized under the banner of a hero, whose indefinite position was seized as an encouragement to those who wanted but little, and whose conflicting opinions could be respectively taken to please conflicting factions. The great democratic party had offended many of these interests—some by failing to give them office—others by refusing to compromise its principles—others by its bold repudiation of detected traitors and others still, by being made to appear as the foe of certain enterprises, for the special protection of which it is the fashion of our opponents to believe all government has been instituted among men. Add to this heterogeneous combination the popular appetite for military glory, and it will be seen how vainly against these odds were opposed the forces of the national democracy. In the fierce onset of the strife—begun in very delirium, and waged under the excitement of a thousand hopes and hatreds—the flag that has so long defied the battle and the breeze is temporarily lowered, and the eager and hungry legions of a most miscellaneous opposition find themselves suddenly in possession of the government.

Such were the causes that contributed to and controlled the election of General Taylor. It is folly to say that in his elevation the country will be elevated. It is ridiculous to contend that his measures will maintain the prosperity of the country undiminished. He will go into power confessedly the automaton of others—with scarcely an idea of statesmanship, and with none of the delicate and intricate character of our political system. We can justify the election of such a man in but one way, and that not the most flattering to our reputation as a progressive people, jealous of our honor, tenacious of our rights, and proud of our progress in arts and arms. The strongest proof of a successful popular government, is that which is exhibited in the determination of the masses to take care of themselves by electing able, enlightened, and practical public servants. Gen. Taylor has fought well. That is his whole title to our remembrance. Posterity will look with wonder upon the fact that he was selected alone because he was a successful warrior, and the struggling masses of the Old World will feel that the light of the proud example which has been leading them up to freedom has been sadly and suddenly clouded, if not utterly extinguished. Without a parallel in our own history, it will be seized by our foes in Europe, and held up before the public gaze as a mockery upon our claim to be the freest and most enlightened people upon earth. What other solution can be given to it?

Fortunately, General Taylor's utter indifference to (we will not say ignorance of) presidential duties, or the most ordinary obligations of the intelligent citizen, is in some respect consistent with the discordant opinions of his supporters. If he can recommend no policy, they, in all probability, will agree upon none. Made up of all the shreds of party, each inflated by the notion of his own consequence as a larger atom than his neighbor in achieving the late result, there will need but a very slight spark to explode the whole concern. To expect harmony in an administration thus constituted and surrounded—to expect any regular system of measures from those whose faith has neither beginning, middle, nor end—would be to expect that all the multitudes who crowd the streets of Paris or London should understand each other's thoughts, or unite upon the instant on a single suggestion. The tongues that made Babel roar with the din of discord, were not more strange to each other than are the opinions of the men whom circumstances have just hurled into power. To pass over the distribution of office to these anxious waiters upon fortune, will alone be an effort of vast toil and trouble—an effort, which federalism has never yet made without being sadly impaired in the end; and it is easy to see how a shattered party like this is fitted to meet the grave responsibilities of government, which will subsequently be devolved upon it!

Let us not be understood as fondly anticipating evil, or as rejoicing that in the nature of things these events may be expected. We shall be glad if our fears are not realized. Even if they are realized, as we believe they will be, the lesson may be useful to our countrymen. When the political vultures have sufficiently gorged their voracious appetites, an indignant people will rise up to do justice to the great party which has been literally slandered out of power. When promise-crammed manufacturers find their "interests" still languishing and dying, they will begin to see how basely they allowed themselves to be deceived by the pictures of eloquent ambition. When the laborer is starved or plundered under special laws, he will turn eagerly to the proud old party that has been his truest friend. When sectional fanaticism finds its hopes crushed under the iron heel of a slaveholder, it will give the democracy credit for the exposure of the fraud which made that fanaticism regard him as its friend. And when, even allowing harmony to come out of all this confusion, under the operation of the condemned measures of by-gone days, set up as democratic institutions are pulled down, groans and curses are wrung from suffering thousands—then the imperishable truth of democracy will seem doubly and trebly dear to those who have been misled from its bright and glorious influence. Let the prophecy be remembered! Amid the shouts of rejoicing federalism and nativism, we may turn to this just retribution, as the consummation of the late extraordinary election, and the still more extraordinary administration which is to follow. It will come at last, and nobly avenge the wrong which has been done.

The democratic party will survive this defeat as surely as that federalism and its associates will eventually be crushed by the very weight of their victory. It is emphatically the party of the country. All its measures are boldly set forth, and fearlessly advocated. Sometimes its reforms alarm the timid, and give material to the demagogue to work out its temporary overthrow. Time, however, vindicates its policy, and proves its essential importance to the substantial welfare of the people. If it cannot originate good for the people during the next four years, it will at least prevent much evil. Unsubdued by defeat, and calm in the midst of the roar of federal rejoicing, it awaits the return of that inevitable hour when the dark days of the republic (days of tribulation in store for us as the result of the late election) will again demand its energies to save the people from the evils of wicked legislation, and the designs of wicked men. We would rather fall with this noble party than rise with any other, carried into power by an unthinking hurrah. We would rather be one of the defeated, than bear the reflection that our voice or pen had contributed to the success of a monstrous deception. Let the democracy keep up their organization! A few months more, and their energies may be needed to save the country from the excesses of the very men who will reach the high places of the government only by frauds upon the truth. Let us keep the old flag freely flying, and be ready at a moment to march under its tattered but sacred folds to the redemption of our beloved Union.

Pennsylvanian.