The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-10-15
The Significance of this Verdict in
Pennsylvania.

The Significance of this Verdict in
Pennsylvania.
PENNSYLVANIA has given a new proof Of her
overshadowing influence in national politics.
The election OF the Republican State ticket in
this Commonwealth virtually settles the Presi-
Dental election. 1t warns the desponding
Democracy that their desperate expedients
will not enable them to elect Seymour and
Blair, and it cheers the patriotic men of
the nation with an indisputable assu-
rance Of the triumph of Grant and Col
fax. No other State so truly reflects the
changing currents of political sentiment.
Pennsylvania is the only true indicator. New
York voted for Fremont in 1856. Virginia,
which was formerly an influential State, voted
for Democratic candidates uniformly, sup
porting Van Buren, in 1910, when he was so
badly defeated. Ohio voted for Fremont in
1856 and for Cass in 1S4S. This State has
always had a powerful Democratic element,
and it opposes the Democratic ticket only
when irresistible reasons for such opposition
are adduced. AT an early period in our
national history Pennsylvania assumed
a front rank as Democratic State.
Bitterly hostile to the administration of
John Adams, her citizens warmly supported
Thomas Jefferson (thus differing from nearly
all the other Northern States), and continued
to yield an unfaltering support to his Demo-
cratic successors, Madison and Monroe. In
1924 Pennsylvania voted for Jackson; and
although he did not Immediately become Pre-
sident, he received at that time larger popu-
lar vote than either Of his adversaries, and
gained such position before the country that
his election IN 1928 and reelection in 1882
support to his Democratic successor, Van
Buren, in 1886, but she wavered from herDemo-
cratic allegiance for the first time in the CEN
tury in national contest, in 1910, when the
popular uprising for "Tippecanoe and Tyler
too" carried the country by acclamation. In
1914 the successful Democratic candidates
Polk and Dallas, received the support
of majority of the citizens of this
Commonwealth, after an animated
contest, and in 1S4S Pennsylvania gave further
evidence of her sympathy with the predomi-
mating feeling of the country by supporting
the successful Whig candidates of that year,
Taylor and Fillmore. In 1852 another revul-
sion occurred in favor of Franklin Pierce, the
successful Democratic candidate, and in 1856
this State adhered to the waning fortunes of
the Democracy despite the desertion of every
other important Northern State, and thus se-
cured the election of James Buchanan. Irr1S60
the outrages in Kansas, the perfidies of the
Buchanan administration, the onslaught upon
Douglas, and the folly, treason, and tyranny
Of the Breckenridge leaders, combined with an
improved comprehension of the character and
aims Of the Republican party, secured the cleo
toral vote of the State for Abraham Lincoln;
and in 1864 he.was. warmly endorsed by the
citizens of this Commonwealth. Pennsylvania
does not lack constancy or consistency. She is
not blown about by every wind of doctrine. But
neither is she impregnable to argument and
reason. She has always supported the Demo
cratic national tickets when when they de-
served support; she has even sometimes voted
for Democratic Presidential candidates when
they were scarcely worthy of her confidence,
but when overpowering arguments against
the Democracy are presented she does no'
hesitate to ipfiot a vital blow upon their
candidates; and her example is at once oonta-
gious and conclusive. By the expression OF
her sentiments on Tuesday last in favor Of
Grant and Colfax, she has virtually settled the
contest of 1868.