The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-10-15
THE ELECTIONS.
From the N. Y. World.

FROM me ". Z. World
The contest has been so close in Pennsyl-
vania and Ohio that the result in both States
is somewhat doubtful, and nothing short of
the full official returns seems likely to put it
entirely beyond dispute. If the Republicans
have carried one of those States, or both, it
is by majorities so slight as to make even
their success source of encouragement and
humiliation. Considering how large their
majorities in those States were last year. and
how very small they must be this year, if they
have carried the States at ALL they have reason
to ask themselves how many such victories
they can stand and escape total annihilation {?
General Grants majority in Pennsylvania was
rs, 1893, and in Ohio, 4O,617. And now, if his
party is not beaten in both States, it has es-
capped "by the skin of its teeth"
The enormous patronage of the Federal
Government is potent influence in all cleo
tions, and that influence has been welded by
the Republicans If neither party had been
aided by it, nobody can doubt that Ohio and
Pennsylvania would have been carried by the
Democrats, on Tuesday, by handsome maio-
rites. But if the Federal patronage had been
on the Democratic side, as it was on the
Republican side, the Democratic majorities
would have been prodigious and triumphant
1t would be preposterous for General Grant
to claim these elections as an endorsement of
his administration. Last fall, before he had
been tried, when the people expressed their
hopes and anticipations, his majorities in
| Pennsylvania and Ohio were such as he could
reasonably be proud of. But this year, after
a brief trial of his administration, the great
| flush of confidence has so far abated, that
nothing but the patronage he wields has saved
him from heavy rebuke. The great jori-
ties by which he was elected have been very
nearly if not quite effaced
| These elections have decided the fate of
| the fifteenth amendment--the leading mea-
sure of the Republican party. Pennsylvania
| 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 chance of 9
ratification of the amendment in that State
and so many States are wanting to make uL
the requisite three-fourths, that the Republi
cans can no longer entertain any hope of car
rying the amendment.
These elections, even if there has been
small majority against us, illustrate the i'll
domitable energy, pluck, and hopefulness O
the Democratic party. Though badly beatel
in the Presidential election, the party was no
demoralized 1t 'bates no jot of heart o
hope" So far from being cowed or discou
ragged, it entered into the contest this yea
with unsubdued vigor and spirit, and nothing
but the Federal patronage prevented its win
ming great victory over its opponents.
party which rises after defeat with such ire
pressible elasticity, and in the very next con
test reduces adverse majorities of thirty O
forty thousand to almost nothing, may feel
reasonable pride in its strength, and unfaltel
ing confidence in its destiny
If the comparative strength of the Reput
licans is as much reduced in New York as
has been in Pennsylvania and Ohio, tb
Democratic party will carry the State nel
month by at least hundred thousand ma
jority.