But events discredited the prophecy of a military despotism.

The assassination of Lincoln gave opportunity not merely for a general outpouring of expressions of sympathy but also to the Radicals a chance to exalt Lincoln's leadership in democracy[1394].
In July Great Britain was holding elections for a new Parliament.

Not a single member who had supported the cause of the North failed of re-election, several additional Northern "friends" were chosen, and some outspoken members for the South were defeated.

Adams thought this a matter deserving special notice in America, and prophesied a new era approaching in England: "As it is, I cannot resist the belief that this period marks an era in the political movement of Great Britain.

Pure old-fashioned conservatism has so far lost its hold on the confidence of the country that it will not appear in that guise any more.