The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-10-22
Tho Democracy Picking Figs from
ThIstles.

WV know of no task so thsnkless, no duty 80
intensely disagreeable, as that Of political
leader when his party calls on him to explain
away defeat. In the olden times, when
party was routed, 1t was the custom for the
dsfestedto maintain taciturn silence; and
however humilisting such silence was, 1t
had the merit Of not exposing the explainer
to the continual taunt which would answer
all his reasons-"Yes, but you lost for all
that" But now political parties cannot
stand In silence and bear the loud growing OF
the viotors; SO that now, no sooner Is an
election over than from both parties come
manifestoes proving that each ought TO be
supremely thankful for the result TO
issue such addresses of course requires an
amount of arithmetical ingenuity worthy OF
Kepler; but the Democracy have hit upon an
expedient-a system of counting by which
1t is very happily arranged that the
smaller the actual vote the more JOY
ought to be felt. This system is the cheerful
but rather complicated one of percentage.
Now the doctrine of percentage is not one to
be learned in q day, for by it all the recog-
nized conclusions which are ordinarily drawn
from figures are completely set at defiance and
overturned. There is not Democratic ad-
dress which does not give the lie direct to the
principle that four is greater than two. Let
us take instances. The Democratic gain in
Maine was not numerically less than the Rspub-
lican, yet the percentage was much greater gain
so that Mr.. Wallace very aptIy said that if the
ratio of percentage in the Democratic party in
Pennsylvania was the same as that in Maine,
Il would give them 80 coo majority in the
Keystone State. Now this sort of argument
Ia of o kind to confuse the unthinking, but
moment will explain it away. Suppose in
1867 the total vote of the two parties in Maine
had stood-Republican, $4,000; Demo-
cratic, 10000. Now suppose that in
1868 the Democrats had gained 10000
votes and the Republicans had
gained 10000. Now the percentage of in
crease of the Democracy would have been SO
per cent. and the percentage of the Republi-
cans only 40. Yet there was an increase of
the majority of the latter of 10000 additional
votes. In other words, they gained 10 per
cent. more than we, and we gained 0,O00
majority more than they. This, if stated
without the figures, would seem like a para
dox; yet how it occurs is made plain by them.
The axiom of this wonderful system is simply
this: the smaller the actual vote .-lAi-L si-e
gain is made the larger the percentages; so
that, If our Democratic brethren are correct
each political party ought to seek to make its
numerical strength as small as possible.
We have been led to these explanatory re
marks on enumeration as Introductory to the
revivifying appeal of the chairman of the New
York Committee, Mr.. Tilden. That gentle
man shows oonclusively that had they but
had an increase of one-eighth of one per cent
more, they would have carried the elections
And arguing from that consolatory stand point,
he tells the nation that the Republicans are
driven to ''their baggage wagons" Why they
should have gone to those useful means of loco
motion, unless 1t was to inquire after the
safety Of the ooffee-pots, We are at loss to
determine. In view of this refuge of the Re-
publican party, Mr.. Tilden asks, as a conun-
drum, els this moment for doubt as to what
you ought to do 7" We can sympathize with
him. Certainly not, Democrats, you
must capture the baggage wagons at once, and
thus effect complete rout. But even in the
alleged fight of our party we see cause for
oongratulatien, for until then We had all our
baggage in et-bags-we have now wagons
to carry 1t; and, concluding, Mr.. Tilden in all
frankness tells them that the struggle
which they are now asked to engage
In is final one. True true
When another Presidential election comes
round we will have found that
the immortal Democratic party will shave
folded its tents like the Arabs, and as silently
stolen away" Even the elegant Belmont re-
cognises the fact that the Democracy is in its
death struggle. In his appeal he says, 'For
the f"al struggle, fellow Democrats OF the
United States, let us invigorate every muscle
and nerve every heaZt. The time is short"
Such confession as this shows how despe-
rate Is the cause, how reckless the leaders,
and how final will be their overthrow. But
It shows also that they Will die hard that
they intend through every possibls fraud in
November to accomplish their end. Let us tav~
be watchful and courageous. 1t is absolutely
necessary for us not to relax our exertions
for one moment. Our foe is willy and desps-
rate. II we would succeed it must be through
our oeaseless vigilance, and to that vigilance
we urge our people. True, 'the time is
short" and, true again, "the struggle is
final" Crush the party of treason now, and
in the future 1t will never rise again under the
name 1t has disgraced.
THERE is nothing "whte," in the Demo
cratic sense, about that grand old hero, Major
~