The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-10-20
Tho Electfona.

~ Tho Elections. r IA
The contest has been SO close in Penn
sylvania aud Ohio, that the result in both
States is somewhat doubtful, and nothing
short ,of the full official returns seems
likely to pnt it entirely beyond dispute.
If the Republicans have carried one of
those States, or both, it is by majorities
80 slight as to make even their success q
source of encouragement and humilia-
tion. Considering how large their ma
jorities in those States were last year, and
how very small they must be this year,
they have reason to ask themselves how
many such victories they can stand and
e3cape total annihilation? Gen. Grants
majority in. Pennsylvania was %, 1893, and
in Ohio, 40,617. And now, if his party
is not beaten In both States, it has es-
capped 'bE The skin OF its teeth"
The enormous patronage of the Fede-
raj Government is potent influence in
all elections, and that influence has been
welded by the Republicans. If neither
party had been aided by it, nobody can
doubt chat Ohio and Pennsylvania would
have been carried by the Democrats, on
Tuesday, by handsome majorities. But
IL the Federal patronage had been on the
Democratic side, as it was on the Repub-
ncah side, the Democratic 1najorities
would have been. prodigious and tri-
umphant. '''' "
It would be preposterdus for General
Grant TO claim these elections rs On in
dorsement or his administration. Last
ffssM fssii, Shsfofe he had. been tried, when the
people expressed their hopes and antici-
pations, his majorities in Pennsylvania
and Ohio were such as he could reasona-
bly, be proud Of. But this year, after q
brief trial of his administration, the
great flush OF confidence has so far abat-
ed, that nothing but the patronage he
wields has saved him from a heavy re-
buke. The great maiorities by which he
was :.e elected ss have been veay nearly if not
These elections have decided the fate
Of the fifteenth anendment-the leading
measure of the Republican party. Penn
syivanin having already ratified the
amendment, the result in that State could
have no effect on its success. But the
election of a Democratic House in Ohio
extinguishes any chanos of IL ratification
OF the amendment in that State; and so
requisite three-fourths, that the Republi-
SNsAo S"AA nv AOh6St OhpV&t toih uuJ hOPS VI
carrying the amendment.
These elections, even if there has been
small majority against us. illustrate the
indomitable energy, pluck, and hopeful
ness of the Democratic party. Though
badly beaten in the Presidential election,
the party was not demoralized. It "bates
no jot of heart or hope" So far from
being cowed or discouraged, it entered
into the contest this year with unsub-
dued vigor and spirit, and nothing but
the Federal patronage prevented its win
ming great victory over its opponents.
A party which rises after defeat with
such irrepressible elasticity, and in the
very next contest reduced adverse majo-
rites of 10000 or 10000 to almost no.
thing, may feel reasonable pride in its
strength, aud unfaltering confidence in
its destiny.
II the comparative strength of the Re-
publicans is as much reduced in New
York as it has been in Pennsylvania and
Ohio, the Democratic party will carry the
State next month by at least 100, 900 ma
jority.-Ne,o York World