Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1872-01-10
There 70 no better w.y to Judge of

There 10 no better way to judge of
the future than by the experience Of
the past. II we ~scrutinize the election
returns for President from 1928 to
1883; we sf,all find enormous adverse
majoritics overcome alternately By
the Democratic party and its oppo-
nents. We find recorded 6uctua-
tions of m~ajorIties from $1,000 to
nearly l,5OO, 00O-infs four or eightyears.
In the year 1928, Gen. Jackson's ma
jority over J. Q. Adams was lac, l34.
and in 1882 over Mr.. Clay, 157, 3l3.
Mr.. Van Buren,, in 1886. lost 1924 2
Of Gen. Jackson's majority, and re-
ceived of the popular vote only a
majority Of 24,993.
Mr.. Van Buren's administration
was fiercely assailed tor corruption
and extravaganza in the conduct OF
the Florida ~ The Land-offce
Receivers were almost all defaulters
to u large amoun.-and the govern
ment deposits in the favored State
Banks having been used by specula-
tors and favorites Of the administra-
ton, specie payments were suspend
cd.
General Harrison vas known by u
long life Ofintegrity, much of it i'll the
public service. His reputation for
talents was rather below mediOcrity,
and his eciat rs 4 soldier not brilliant.
lie beat Mr.. Van Burcnon the nation
III vote, however, by las, 999 majority,
and received over Van Buren, and
Birncy (abolition) 13s,94O. The total
vote cast for President in 1910 was
,404 ,9S2. The change from 1882 to
lSl0-it will be scen-was almost 30O,-
700.
AT the election of 1914 the popular
vote had increased 2SO, 1913. Mr..
Folks majority ut that election was
SO, 1871 over Mr.. Clay-while the
united vote Of Clay and Birncy wa.
o%uly:24,119 over MIR. Folks.
This election vas cinincntly signifi-
cant OF the vitality of the Democratic
party. Mr.. Cha! was a statesman of
distinguished rcpute. Mr.. Polk
could not compare with him in rcpu.
tation and ability-yct Mr.. Polk
annihilatcd the Wing majority of 1870
notwithstanding the Van Buren,
detection in New York, which gave
Birncy in that State 1882 votes, and
in Ohio $3.50, where Birney received
in 1910 only 1888 votes.
In 1913 the joint vote of TAYLOR
over Cass and Van Buren, was ISL, 7OS
of Van Burcn's vote 10000 were
probably given by the abolitiOnists,
which would leave the Democratic
party IL majority of over $4,000 votes.
There was therefore a change in favor
of the Democracy of more than lOO,.
900 votes compared with the vote OF
1874. .
In 1852 Gen. Pierce had 2l4 49,
majority owe Gen. Scott, and So, $50!
over Scott and Hale. But in 1856 the
combined American and amti-slavcr
vote not only oblitcrcd tho Democrat.
ic majority, but gave Fillmore and
, Fremont 377,6l9 over Buchanan, +:
> change o falmost half a million against
the Democratic party. Yet what is
still more extraordinary, in 1860 Mr.
Lincoln YVES elcctcd-though the join,
vote of Douglas, Breckenridge and
: Bell was 81, 269 over what he received
a change again not much below 800,
600. In 1864 the South not voting
Mr.. Lincoln's majority was only 4O7,.
400.
At the election of1s6s the total vot,
cast was 5,7l6, 78S-which is 1911 ,SOt
more votes than was cast for Harrison
and Birney in 1910.
: General Grants majority over Sew
mour was 800, 5sS. y smaller MAORI
ty i'll proportion to the votes cast
> than that for General Harrison.
In order to overcome the nIajorit,
ofGeneral Grant of 1868, it is necessar,
that the Democratic candidates 70,
i 1872 should obtain only 1874, 795 vote
more than Seymour had in 1868.
e The New York World after a care
full computation declares that the vot,
for the Democratic candidates 70
, Congress in all the States, shows til,
Democratic majority of the popula
> vote in 1901 to be 56,4S6.
= General Grants majority of tn,
= popular vote, therefore, is 10 Difficult
= obstacle to overcome in order to in
sure Democratic victory. But
that be reversed-it is just as proba
! bic that it may result in Grants dc,
feat as not.
After all the next election 70
President will be determined for o
against Grant by the States of Penn
, sylvania and New York.
The following States under the ncy
apportionment (Mercer's billy givin:
1874 votes are the only States ccrtaiul,
reliable for Grant:
Maine, Massachusetts,, Vermont
, Rhode Island. Ohio, Indiana, Illinois
Michigan, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesot;
Kansas, Nebraska and Nevada.
1t will require 176 electoral votes t,
elect n President. Now VIC ask from
, what States can Gen. Grant obtain $
more votes, provided the Democrati
party have a popular candidate.
New York is certainly a Democrat
ic State, and i'll Penn sylvania TIN
Republican majority for Governor
> was only 1896, in 1869.
In conclusion we must say, that W,
are fully satisfied that the prospcc
! for Democratic success in 1872 is fl
> better than it was in 1914 when W,
Q elected Mr.. Polk, better than in 1876.
when we elected Gen. Pierce, ant
quite as favorable as in 1856, when ",