The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-07-04
October and November.

goes 30 goes the Union" yet there are
so few exceptions that it may almost be
regarded as a rule. 1t is possible to
elect a President without the vote of
Pennsylvania, but it has so seldom hap
pened that such an event cannot be con-
sdered probable.
But there is another rule to which
there is no exception-that as Pennsyl-
vania goes in October, she goes in Nc
vember. 1t has never happened other
wise. Iu 1928, 1882 aud 1886 the
IDemocrats carried the State in October,
and had an easy victory in the month
following. In 184Q, there was no State
ticket to elect at the October election,
and consequently no reliable test of the
vote. The Wings and Democrats
each carried twelve members of Con
gress, and the votes given to the several
candidates footed up, in the aggregate,
a. small Whig majority; while on the
other hand, the Democrats carried the
Legislature, and the popular vote for
Legislators footed up small Democratic
majority. 1t was, therefore, IA drawn
battle, both sides claiming victory,
and both, therefore, went to work with
will to carry the Presidential election.
The result in November was character
istic of the indecisive result in October
the Wings carrying the State for
Harrison by barely 343 majority.
In 1914, the Wings ran the gallant
and patriotic Gen. Mark)e for Governor,
aud made bold and energetic stand in
his behalf, but he was beaten by small
majority. They struggled with all
their energy to regain the State in No
vember; bur the governors election had
already decided their fate, the State
went against Clay by a largely increased
majority.
In 1913, the Wings nominated VIM.
f. Johnston for Governor, aud at the
October election he was chosen by only
3l3 majority. Yet that triAing ma
jority decided the Presidential contest.
The Democrats fought manfuly, but in
vain, to overcome that small majority,
and Taylor carried the State over Cass
by ten thousand majority.
In 1852, the Democrats carried the
October election by decisive majority;
and in November the State went for
Pierce by an Increased vote.
In 1856, the Republicans and Ampr-
cans were united on the State ticket,
although divided on President. A de-
termlned effort was made by them to
carry their State ticket, hut it was
beaten over 5000, and in November
the State was Democratic, over both, by
about IL, 900.
In 1860, the Republicans, after
hard fought aud bitter contest, elected
Curtin to the Governorship by decisive
majority, and the State followed in No
vcmber for Lincoln by an increased vote.
In 1864, the same result followed.
The Republicans carried their State
ticket in October, and gave the State
to Lincoln in November with scarcely
an effort.
In 1868, General Hartranit was on
the State ticket, as he is now, being then
q candidate Tor Auditor enerll. The
Philadelphia Press had not then un-
learned its Republicanism nor lost its
common sense, and earnestly contended,
all through that campaign, that if Har-
tranft were not elected, Grant could not
be; that it was madness-as it is new
to contend that the State could 20 one
way in October, aud another in Novem
ber; and that every vote for Hartranft
in October was worth two for Grant in
November. 1t SO proved. Hartranit
was elected, and Grant carried the State
easily, although the Democrats made
determined rally, and urged what the
Press is now urging, that the result in
October could be reversed in November.
What the Democrats contended for
then, the Press is conteuding for now,
and that in the very teeth OF its own
iterated, reiterated, and re-reiterated
observations. The whole history OF po-
litical affairs in this State from the be-
ginning is against it. Such thing as
reversing in November the result in
October has never yet happened, and
never will, because it never can.
The reason is plain. The result at
he State election necessarily disheartens
md demoralizes the defeated party, and
here is not time between October and
November to recover from the demorali-
Iation. Beaten troops always fight
'adly. Discipline may bring them up
o the work, but they 60 through with
t as a matter of routine, without heart
n spirit. On the contrary, the success
ul party in October is correspondingly
Encouraged, goes into the fight with re-
ewed spirit, and what is known as the
loating vote-the vote which waits in |
very fight to see which side is going to
'in-goes In with the successful party
nd helps it to an easy victory. All this !
) in the very nature of things, and the
philosophy Of the rule is therefore clear.
Beside all this is the reflex result upon {
ther States of the vote in our State in
october. The people of Ohio, Indiana,
lew jersey and New Yolk look to the
tate election in Pennsylvania with an
nxiety too deep to find expression in 0
ords. 1t, in great measure, settles a
he result in those States also. If we a
airy the State for Hartranft in Octo- Il
er, those States will be sure to follow e
,r Grant in November; if he is de-
lated they will all be rendered doubtful.
DnN A l..