, 1873-11-07
THE WISCONSIN, ELECTION.

HlsconHin Ans poon Republican over since
tho days Of Baratow and tho " Forty ThioTos,"a q
period Of about eighteen years. During all this
timo, it Inns boom intensely, uncompromiaingly,
md almost universally Republican. Tho State
Government has boon Republican tho local
Governments have boon nearly all Republican
tho two Senators haye boon Republicans md,
with ono or two exceptions, the entire delegation
in Congress has been Republican. All at once
something has exploded in Wisconsin, md tho
Republican party has come down o total wreck.
Grant lad majority of nearly 10000 ono
year ago; Mr.. Taylor, the Reform !" candidate,
has growing majority tint may amount to
10000 before it stops. The countios alroady
figured up show majority against Washbur1l
of about $4,000, With moro to hoar from.
"Doss" Keyos tho Chairman of tho State Con-
tral Committee, has stopped counting, and says
that "Tho whole thing has gono to Ill" The
Fond du Lac Commonwealth is Of the opinion
TINT ''chaos has come again." The party Or
gans all over tho State aro wondering what tho
matter can be. panic has struck thon. It
has como 80 suddenly, and with such resistlosB
force, that thoy don't know yet what hit thom.
Tho dcfeat Of the Republican party in Wis
consin is tue moro remarkable because the ticket
was led by man who laa boen tho bost and
most popular Governor the State over Ind.
When tho Reform Convention was called, wo ad-
vised the managers to take advantage Of 11r.
Washburn's evident sympathy with their causo
s.~1r 1t, lit
ness by nominating him for Governor and maxi
ing their fight against the rest Of tho ticket.
Our advice in this regard was fully justified af
terward by tho speech with which Gov. Washburn
opened tho campaign at Fond du Lac, in which
he declared himself anew against tho Credit
Mobilier fraud. against tho salary-grab,
against railroad monopoly, and substantially
in favor Of making political campaigns
on tho basis Of now issues, Us was done in Cali
fornia. But the Reformers determined to mako
q eloau sweep, and nominated one OF their Own
mon against Goy. Washburn. Tho financial
panic aud tho Graham Temperance law gave
them tremendous "boost," and enabled thom
TO reyolutionizo tho State in spite Of Gov. Waall-
| no personal discontinue for Gov. Washburn
tLat ha las been defcatod. Had any other man
been in his place, the majority agaiust tho party
would have been still greater than 1t is. uo WAS
| in I! goueral wreck, and had to 60 down With It,
The Ropubli can dcfoat in Wisconsin Is the
| soyerest blow that has ever beon dealt to that
| party. It is ono Of series Of cumulative ro-
ycrses from which it will never recover. When
Gov. WaBhburn, who unites personal popularity
with personal worth in degree raroly attained
in public life, cannot carry the State Of WiBcon-
Hn, tho diatrust Of tho people in tho party which
| ho represents is no longer OF doubtful or tenn
porary character. Personally, Gov. Washburn
would hnyo been acceptable to moat Of the
people who have dofoatea him. As prominent
member of the Republican party, Ills defeat was
inevitable In any caso whero the people were de-
| torminod to beat the party.