The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-12-21
WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 81, 1870.
THE ELECTION IN THE FIRST
DISTRICT

HE election yesterday resulted IN the trl-
umph of the Democrats nominee by ma
iority that astonishes both friends and foes.
On the eve of the battle the leaders of both
parties we're equally confident of success.
At the previous Senatorial election, in 1869,
it was carried by the Democracy according
TO the count they made of the votes polled,
and Watt only secured his seat by vigorous
contest before a friendly tribunal, which de-
clared his majority to be 176. In October,
1870, the Republican nominees obtained
majority of about one thousand votes, but
this was derived chiefly from the newly en-
franchised colored citizens, and, practically,
the district may be considered, when they are
thrown out of view, as very close one, ex-
cept at times when the Registry
law is not stringently enforced, while
when full play is given to the talent of the
Democratic manipulators of the Third and
Fourth wards, they can roll up any number
of votes that the exigencies of the party may
require, as was shown in the election of 1868
and many previous contests. Although the
Registry law is theoretically in force now,
it was not, and in the nature of things it
could not be, as rgidIy applied to a special as
a general election; and the returns from
various precincts of the Fourth ward leave
little room for doubt that the Democratic
nominee profted greatly by the practical
difficulty attending its stringent enforcement.
1t is hard to account in any other way for an
increase in the Democratic vote of the Fourth
ward from 2376 in October, 1870, at a
general election, TO 2633, in December, at a
special election, and for similar increase of
the Democratic strength in the Second and
Third wards.
1t must be confessed, however, that, ire
spective of all probable or actual frauds on
the part of the Democracy, their manage
ment of the canvass was wonderfully skilful
and efficient. The police force was never so
we'll handled The citizens of Philadelphia
will foot the bill for hundreds of Dechert's
best canvassers when they pay their tax for
police purposes. Dreading the passage of
Metropolitan Police bill, these men worked
with will for their bread
and butter; and while aa immense number of
them were ordered or permitted to attire
themselves in citizens clothing and devote
their whole energy to the task of drumming
up Democratic recruits, an unusually large
number in official garb were stationed near
the Republican precincts to overawe Repub-
lcan voters. Great pains were also taken
to exert a favorable influence upon the Ger
man voters of the district. They were asked
to support Mr.. Dechert on national and per-
sonal grounds, and these appeals were so
adroitly made that there is little doubt of
their efficiency in numerous cases. Even the
colored voters, when they were not bullied,
were sometimes cajoled, and the most hercu-
lean exertions were made to secure full
turnout of the Democratic rank and file.
The Republican party, on the other hand,
which polled one thousand votes more in the
district in October than it did yesterday, con-
tains many members who did not and who
will not recognize as cheerfully as the rank
and file of the Democracy the necessity of
fulfilling their party obligations on occasions
like special elections. They forget to turn
out, or they do not care for the result. This
tendency to indifference has also been fear
fully strengthened by the fact that, notwith-
standing the continuous Republican majority
in the State Senate during the last ten years,
many fagrant outrages have been
perpetrated upon this city, and
by the fact that the Metropolitan Police
bill has failed either through the folly, the
venality, or the incompetency of Republican
Legislators, despite their partisan dominance.
There is also q growing dissatisfaction with
the general management of public affairs in
the State and nation which gradually dimin-
ishes the voting strength of the Republicans
here as elsewhere, and which had decided
influence in the contest yesterday.
On the whole, we think that Colonel
Dechests majority has been swelled to undue
proportions by some of the influences re-
ferred to, but that he still received legally
and properly a sufficient number Of votes tC
carry tha diatrict