The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-11-09
COLUMBIAN: s. e,
Sunday morning. November 8. 1878.


Ths HssatnS OF che Ae.sss M..S..ss..,
We have foreborne go allude to- the
elections In the several States until full
returns were received, to confirm the
impression 81 the signal change that has
taken place in political sentiment. This
may fairly be inferred from the de.
spatches and other reports whioh have
come to hand, In Virginia, Kemper's
majority is put down at not less than
10000. o. gain Of 4. 600 over the vote for
Walker. Maryland remains firmly in
possession OF the Conservatives by an
equally decisive vote. The Republican
majority in Now Jersey has been consi-
derably reduced, it only being twelve on
joint ballot. New York was carried last
year for the Republicans by more than
$4,000. Now the tables are turned COM
pletely, and the Democratic majority,
seoared in the face OF an active opposi-
tion, is placed at more than $4,000.
Massachusetts i, has reelected Wash.
bu7ne, bat BY go small majority,tha
it isthonght'if the Democrats had put
forward strong, popular candidate, he
would have been chosen. When we
look to the great North. western States.
the results are even mora startling. In
Kansas, The farmers voted against the
Republicans, and the vote stands in the
House-Opposition 81, Republican 26.
This assures the Opposition majority on
Joint ballot, and secures Conservative
Senator for Caldwell's unexpired term.
From Minnesota the returns steadily
show serious decrease in the Republi.
can vote, and great falling off in the
Republican majority in the Legislature,
especially in the Senate. The same
shing is true Of Wisconsin, where for
the frat time in many years Democrat
io Governor has been elected, and where
Democratic success is a novelty. nothing
OF the sort having occurred in that State
before since 1856, The small Radical
majorities In these two last mentioned
States are no longer formidable. In H.
iinois, important changes have taken
place, and the farmers seem ahead of
both Democrats and Republicans.
The astounding change, which the
election Of Allen In Ohio, in October,
indicated, wss considered by some as ao-
oidental. without political Significance.
So we're the Democratic gain in Penn
sylvania, the decrease Of the oyerwhelm-
ing Radical majority in Iowa. and simi-
lar losses in Oregon. But this view is
not borne ont by the more recent sue.
cesses reported all over the country, and
all showing the, drift OF public sentiment
to be in the Same general direction. It
looks now as il the Ohio election was
but the beginning Of a revelation which
will swamp the entire country. The de.
parture ina8utatsd in that State by Val
landighan.. in 1871, ripened into the
Liberal Republican movement of 1872.
This was the conclusion reached after
much discussion AID some wholesome
experience. It has taken away from the
N'Sf~oA'SNuS olh Btouuu 1UE hRt-
tation, in refer 3 - the principles of
universal liberty, and civil and political
equality. as established in tho constitu-
tion, from the results of the late war.
As sooD, it appears. as these old issues
were taken from under them, and they
could cling no longer to the past, but
must stand upon their own merits, they
commenced to go down. These decisive
results prove the growing unpopulariiy
OF the Republican party. and its loss OF
the public confidence. Credit Mobilier
operations, back salary grabs, reckless
expenditures and lavish appropriations,
the general Generalization among Off.
cials and politicians, the greed of power
and gold amongst them, the gross and
objectionable injuries to the rights OF
States. the cruel wrong and ungenerous
insults to Louisiana, all are coming up
in formidable judgment. The financial
crisis which. it was pretended, would
overwhelm the country, il Greeley was
elected President and the Libera! Re-
publicans and Democrats placed in
power, haa come with a venoeanoe on