The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-10-13
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1869.
THE ELEOTJON

THE ELECTION.
As WE predicted some days ago, the force of
what seems to be general law of American
politics, and the prevailing desire to sustain
the Jealous efforts of the national administra-
tion to reduce the public debt and insure an
honest management of the national revenues,
have insured Republican victories in Penn
sylvania and Ohio. The Registry law, too,
has proved wonderfully effcacious in check
ing Democratic efforts to carry Philadelphia
by fraud, and the Republican party can once
moro congratulate itself upon a city, State,
and general triumph.
The details of the contest are not yet fully
known. but the returns already received abun-
dainty Justify the condemnations of unpopu-
lar nominations which have, from time to
time, appeared in these columns. II is the
duty of partisan conventions to select nomi-
nees who are not only competent and trust
worthy, but we'll calculated to rally the full
strength of their party, and, if possible
something more. In this State such action
is specially important, as it has repeatedly
been carried in important elections by less
than one thousand majority. Harrison obtained
in 1840 but few hundred majority over Van
1648 over Longstreth by few hundred ma
jority; and Sharswood was elected as Judge
in 1867 by less than one thousand majority.
In view Of these records of former contests,
the returns Sb0W that GeGjyS aOmiRGtjoB
qoaS on extremely h0z1rdous measure, and
that il feGrfaHy and unnecessarily .je0pGrdjged
tie Republican triumph lohjch, u'tder otbey
circumstances, acOuI6 1eUer hare been for an
Sast0nt doubtful. In spite of the fact that
the dissatisfaction with his administration
was subordinated to the desire to sustain
General Grant, his vote falls far behind
that polled for his colleague on the
State ticket In this city, where his
Republican antagonists rallied at
the last moment, cordially, for his support,
his majority is five hundred less than that
given to Judge Williams discrepancy suf-
fcient in itself, in close election to turn the
scale; and o special despatch to the Press,
from Pittsburg, states that while his majority
in Allegheny county will not exceed forty-fve
hundred, Judge Williams will receive more
than seven thousand, which is loss of
twenty-five hundred. But few of the first
reports from other portions of the State refer
to the difference between the vote for Geary
and Williams, but telegram from Hunting
don states that in that borough the
majority given for Williams is fourteen
more than that obtained by Geary, and there
can be little doubt that in the entire Com
monwealth he falls several thousand votes
behind his colleague. 1t is discouraging
fact, too, that in nearly every county in the
State outside of Philadelphia, the vote of
Geary falls far behind that polled for Har-
tranft in 1868. dreary succession
of Republican losses is reported, and
the preliminary returns indicate that
Gearys whole majority in the State will not
exceed the Republican gain effected in Phila-
delphia alone over the vote in October, 1868
We may well exclaim with the ancient general,
s'0ne more such victory, and we are undone.
Since Grants majority of 28,S98 in 1868 is
cut down to 1000 or 5000, the managing poll
ticians cannot be too deeply impressed with
the necessity of popular nominations here
after
In the city the same lesson is taught by the
vote for Houseman, whose majority is one
thousand less than the average majority for
his colleagues. In a close contest, such as
Philadelphia has repeatedly witnessed, he
would have been defeated despite the triumph
of his associate nominees. Although not
personally Objectionable, the voters have
made an earnest protest against the agencies
by which his nomination was procured.
The obnoxious renominated candidates for
the Legislature have been elected, de-
spite the fact that they failed to secure
the support of many honest and
conscientious members of the Republican
party. The Registry law and the overruling
desire to sustain the national administration
have saved them from the fate they so well
merited. But if they are not wholly lost to
all sense of honor and rectitude, we trust that
instead of abusing their legislatives privileges
in 1870 as they did in 1869, they will strive to
redeem their characters and to earnestly and
honestly serve their constituents.
THE CONTESTED ELECTION CASES.