The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-11-17


recent elections as formal condemnation Of
the Republican party. The disintegration of
the party is paraded as an accomplished faot
and dissolution il represented as approaching
and inevitable. Two years hence, we are
told, Democratic President will take posses
sion of the White House, and the Republican
party will pass into the lumber-room of his
tory. If these imaginative efforts afford any
consolation to the opposition, we may expect
them 10 be continued. The Democracy have
suffered so long the modification of defeat
that they may, perhaps, be excused for try
ing to make themselves believe that victory
will some day be possible. But they must
not suppose that people generally can be so
deceived. The truth is too palpable to be
blotted out of existence by the inventions of
heated brains.
In the first place the elections have not
turned upon national issues The national
policy of either party has not been on trial
In this city politics, in the ordinary sense,
were not discussed at all, and everywhere
in the State local and personal considerations
were paramount Even here it cannot
be said that the Republican policy has been
condemned; all that can be truly affirmed,
is that a local organization, of which re-
spectacle Democrats everywhere are
ashamed, has triumphed by the use of means
peculiar to itself Whatever disasters have
occurred in Illinois proceeded from strictly
local causes; and the Missouri contest
which has transferred to the Democracy
divers local advants yes, had no reference
whatever to the record or aims of the party
to which McClurg and Gratz Brown both
prcfessedIy belong. Further South, as in
Alabama and Florida, there has been slight
modification of the political results growing
out of reconstruction. Some change in this
respect must, however, be looked for sooner
or later in these States. The black vote will
not always remain unit; many who once
were slaves will vote for former masters who
Happen to be endeared to them by re-
membranes of personal kindness. But
few Democratic gains in that section are
not off to the substantial strength
Of which the Republican organiza-
tion has proved itself possessed 1t
has carried Arkansas and Louisiana and
| South Carolina; it has divided Alabama,
and has secured nearly half of the Congress
siopal representation in Virginia. 1t has
made advances in Kentucky, and has passed
credtably through its first genuine campaign
in Maryland and Delaware. Besides, the
| Democrats in the reconstructed States have
| been enabled TO do what they have done
| solely because they acquiesce, or pretend to
| aCquiesce, in what reconstruction has effected.
They have disclaimed partisan Democracy,
and have urged their claims with special re-
ference to material interests. They have, in
| Iact, COME pHIlly upon our ptOuuLl, anu nave
thus avoided crushing defeat.
Despite all these consideration5-the gene
raj apathy on political questions, the presence
| of local difficulties in several of the States,
and the no-party character of some of the
| successes which the Democrats parade as
gsins-the supremacy of Republicans in the
councils of the country is still complete. The
next Congress will assuredly be Republi-
can as the present one. The figures already
to1 all 81, trnt OF ca
hey cavil. The Democracy, with all their
boasting, are yet defeated party. They can
neither embarrass the administration nor
mould the policy of Congress Both are as
much beyond their control as they were
twelve months ago, or at any period during
the war. In New York they may be absolute.
In the nation they are powerless.
Not only has the Republican party not suf-
fered in any manner that could justify appre-
hension as to its future, but in almost all
the States it has proved the strength of Its
hold upon the popular heart. If Republican
candidates have not suffered more severely,
here and there it has not been because OF
the superior excellence of the nominations
or the superior wisdom of local management,
but because their attachment to the party
prompted voters to overlook local or personal
drawbacks. The greater part of whatever
vitality appeared in the campaign which tenn
porarily closed on the Sth instant was the
product of popular devotion to the party thai
is uppermost in Congress, and has the Pres
dent for its standard bearer.
To develop this vitality to its full extent il
is only necessary to bring before the country
the respective claims of the two parties
their records, and the purposes with which
they are respectively identified. The apath,
which prevailed in recent contests, and the
local divisions which were too frequently per
mitted to paralyze effort, will disappear Al
soon as the Democratic and Republican
parties are brought face to face, and tn,
country is called upon to pronounce judg
ment between them. This is one of the Ger
tainties Of politics. Democratic writer's ma,
cherish the delusion that there is hope TO
them in the next Presidential struggle; bu
no intelligent and candid observer cal
doubt that public opinion is over
whelmingly in favor of the Republical
party and its achievements. While tn,
Democratic party appears loaded down witt
odium, and with platform composed of ne
cations, the Republican party retains untar
nished the patriotic glOries of the war, an
tangible evidence of the reforms it has &C
complished since the return of peace. Th
reconstruction measures had faults, bat il
the main they are vindicated by the result
And the various financial measures while no
perfect in detail, have commended them
selves to the country, which realizes tn
profitableness of an improved publ
! credit, and reduction of taxa
ton amounting in single yea
to eighty millions. The introduction o
fidelity and efficiency into the revenue sci
vice, and Of vigorous economy into the eI
penditures of the Government, are other con
sequences of Republican administrator
which tell directly upon the pockets Of TIA
! ho