The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-10-17

Tho Political Situation ~ Reelected by
Sv@t M the Eiscfions. rsE< ~ Nl
The news at first Of the October elections In
Ohio, Pennsylvania and Indiana seemed more
favorable to the republicans than the latest
and more complete returns Of the vote show.
1t now appears that the democrats have gained
in all these States, not very largely, II Is true
In the total popular vote over the previous
corresponding election, but still their gain Il
positive aud important. The State of Ohio
remains republican, though the democrats
claim to have elected two members OF Con.
gress more than they have at present.
the Congressional delegation being now
fourteen republicans and five demo-
Gratis, and In the next Congress II
will be twelve republicans and seven demo-
Gratis. In Pennsylvania the democrats claim
TO have gained eight members Of Congress-
In the present House Of Representatives tho
republicans have eighteen members and the
democrats ak. According to the election re-
turns thus far the former will have ten and
the latter fourteen in tho next Congress.
| Indiana is represented now BY seven repub-
| licans and four democrats The election has
reversed that, and she will have seven demo-
Gratis to four republicans next Congress. So
| that II appears the total gain in tho three
States is thirteen Representatives, making .
difference in the balance Of the two parties in
tho next Congress Of twenty-six votes. II
seems, too, that the newly elected Legislature
Of Indiana will have q democratic majority
of some six to eight votes on joint ballot, which
will insure, probably, the election OF a democrat
to the United States Senate These are the
facts as far as the election returns show up to
this time, and they are pretty complete. 1t is
but fair to say, also, that these democratic
gains have been obtained in spite OF the
Increased strength of the republican party
from the recently enfranchised negroes.
From this local and partial success the
democrats begin to make up their figures for o
majority In the House of Representatives and
the election of Speaker. This, to use
familiar smile is counting their chickens
before they are Matched. A great deal has to
be done to overcome the overwhelming
republican majority in the present House.
The State OF New York will add mate
rally to the strength of the democrats, no
doubt, if the party act prudently and energeti-
cally in the election next month. But
We have yet to see what turn the
elections will take in the Southern and
other States where they have yet to be held.
g.,
have powerful minority and will run the
republicans close in the next House of Repre-
sentatives, but it remains doubtful yet II they
will have majority. Admitting, however,
for the sake of argument that they may get
by the skin of their teeth majority the re-
publcans would still be overwhelmingly strong
in the Senate and in the administration. 1t
| would by no means follow that the democrats
had improved their chances for the Presiden-
tal race in 1872 so much as to elect their can
ddate. The people may be dissatisfied with
the weak and corrupt republican members Of
Congress and yet retain their confidence in
General Grant We say General Grant, because
he must of necessity be the candidate of the
republicans again. If the party is to be
| saved from defeat and to hold the reins of gov
eminent for another term he only can succeed
| in bringing that about. His personal popular
ity and glorious war record carried the last
election, and it is upon these the party must
rely in the next contest. Grant, as the candi-
date in 1872, then, may prove superior to the
reaction now going on in favor of the demo-
tho 10 -
the republican Congress and politicians.
| While it must be admitted that turn in the
| tide of political sentiment in several large
States, such as we see in Pennsylvania, Ohio
and Indiana, though not very great, indicates
the general current still, we should remember
that politics in this country oscillates like the
pendulum, and few months may bring an
other change. The present apparent reac-
ton may not 60 far. This depends very much
upon the conduct and management Of
the two great political parties. The
republicans have the vantage ground in the
| power they possess both in the administration
and Congress. There is no efficient obstruc-
ton 10 any laws they may pass or policy they
may carry out. The opposition is powerless.
i No party ever had a better opportunity to
benefit the country and to make itself popular.
What chance it has for the display of states
manship, for devising and carrying out great
measures to promote the prosperity and hap
piness OF the country and to purify the gov
! ernment! What record it would make in
one term OF Congress-, even-yes, even long
before the Presidential election! The demo-
Gratis have no such opportunity. The republic
cans have it all their own way. But with
this comes q heavy responsibility. If the
| republicans do not fulfil the mission com.
mitted to them and continue to disap-
point the expectations Of the people the
reaction against them will 90 on, and though