The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-10-18
sPxRxT or THu PRESS.
Editorial Opinions ofths Leading Journals
upon Current Topics es-compiied Every
Day for the Evening Telegraph
THE POLITICAL SITUATION AS RE-
ELECTED BY THE ELECTIONS.

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. II now appears that the Democrats
have gained in all these States, not very
largely. it is true, in the total popular vote
over the previous corresponding election, but
still their gain is positive and important.
The State of Ohio remains Republican, though
the Democrats claim to have elected two
members of Congress more than they have at
present-the Congressional delegation being
now fourteen Republicans and five Demo
Gratis and in the next Congress it will be
twelve Republicans and seven Democrats.
In PENNSYLVANIA the Democrats claim to
have gained eight members of Congress.
In the present House of Representatives
the Republicans have eighteen members and
the Democrats six. According to the election
returns thus far the former will have ten and
the latter fourteen in the next Congress.
Indiana is represented now by seven Republi-
cans and four Democrats. The election has
reversed that, and she will have seven Demo-
Gratis to four Republicans next Congress. So
that it appears the total gain in the three
Stass is thirteen representatives, making a
difference in the balance of the two parties in
the next Congress of twenty-six votes. 1t
seems, too, that the newly elected Legisla-
ture of Indiana will have a Democratic ma
ballot, which will insure, probably, the cleo
ton 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 patial success the De-
70, tla;rf g.,
majority in the House of Representatives and
the election of a Speaker. This, to use a
familiar simile, is counting their chickens
before they are hatched. A great deal has to
be done to overcome the overwhelming Re-
publican ajority in the present House. The
State of New York will add materially to the
strength of the Democrats, no doubt if the
party act prudently and energetically in the
election next month. But we have yet to see
what turn the elections will take in the South
ern and other States where they have yet to be
held From present appearances the Demo
Gratis will have a powerful minority and
will run the Republicans close in the
next House of Representatives, but
it remains doubtful yet if they will have
majority. Admitting, however, for
by the skin of their teeth majority, the Re-
publicans would still be Overwhelmingly
strong in the Senate and in the administra-
ton. 1t would by no means follow that the
Democrats had improved their chances for
the Presidential race in 1872 so much as to
elect their candidate. The people may be
dissatisfied with the weak and corrupt Repub-
licsn 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 government for another
term, he only can succeed in bringing that
about. His personal popularity and glorious
war record carried the last election and it is
upon these the party must rely in the next
contest. Grant, as the candidate in 1872
then, may prove superior to the reaction now
going on in favor of the Democrats and to the
weakness and unpopularity of 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 oscil-
lates like the pendulum, and few months
may bring another change. The present APP
parent reaction may not go far This do
pends very much upon the consent and man
agement of the two great political parties
The Republicans have the vantage ground in
the power they possess both in the admins
tratIon and Congress. There is no efficient
obstruction to any laws they may pass or
policy they may carry out. The opposition
is poweiless. No party ever had better
opportunity to benefit the country and to
make itself popular. What a chance
it has for the display of statesman
ship, for devising and carrying out great
measures to promote the prosperity and hap
piness Of the country and to purify the Gov
eminent! 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 Repub-
licans have it all their own way. But with
this comes heavy responsibility. If the
Republicans do not fulfil the mission COM
mitted to them and continue to disappoint
the expectations of the people the reaction
against them will so on, and though the
President may be saved through his personal
popularity the party will lose its power.
The popular instincts are seldom wrong
at least they are generally right in this en-
lightened and self-governing country. There
must be q cause then, for the change of public
sentiment in the States where the elections
have Just taken place. What is that cause /?
Undoubtedly the corruption and incapacity of
the present Republican Congress and leaders.
These men have shown no statesmanshp.
They do not come up to the level of the prac-
tical sense and expectations of the people
They are dwelling local politicians who can
not see beyond the narrow limits of their own
districts and little party schemes. They have
no minds to grasp great questions of national
importance. However desirous the people of
any particular district or section of the
country may be TO promote the interests
of their locality, and may expect their repre-
sentative to attend to these, yet the national