Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1873-10-24
From the New York Tribute Oct 18th
Lessons of the Elections.


We have these lessons in politics every
year with the falling of the leaves, and
the political organs moralize over them
and instruct their readers about then. in
such a way that we ought to be very
much wiser than We are. But we forget
them. Only the party in power seem to
gather wisdom from them, and they only
in a sort of temporary way, for they very
shortly forget them too. The same thing
that has happened now has been happen
ing, only in larger degree, once in four
years ever since the republicans came
into power. The democrats have achiev-
ed something like success the year fol-
lowing the presidential election ever since
1860. Every time they have done it it
has been through some blunder or fault
of the republicans, and the consequences
have in every instance been the same.
The Democrats, inspired by their mo-
mentary success, have lost their heads
entirely, and instead of taking good for
tune with sobriety ard prudence have
gone drunk over the spoils, forgotten
their discretion, talked loosely and Wild
ly, and at the very next election been
slapped in the face and remanded to the
back seats which fate has assigned them.
On the other hand, the republicans have
invariably shown the conservatism and
wisdom of those who hold power and
appreciate its responsibilities. In every
instance they have first fallen back
little-repulsed but not defeatnd-and
waited till the enemy, like Jnbal Early's
army in the Valley, had become demon
allied with the plumber Of the camps,
and then, reorganized aud reassured
have pumped down upon them and
driven them in disastrous rout from
the field.
The experience of the past dozen
years has shown that very little success
is sufficient to Gemoraiize the Democrats
and sufficient as well to put the republi-
cans on their mettle to retrieve their
blunders and more than make good their
defeat. One needs but to look back over
the past twelve years to discover the
truth of this statement. Between the
presidential elections Of the last twelve
years the Democrats have gained some
notable victories. In every case they
have been intoxicated and their oppo-
nents have been sobered by them. 1t
may safely be said for the republican
party that it does not fail to profit by the
lessons Of defeat. 1t means to keep i'll
power, and for that purpose means to
reflect the popular will. 1t is wise in its
day and generation, which its opponent
is not.
History is after fashion repeating
itself now. The Bourbon element Of
the democratic party seems to have had
partial success in Ohio. Straightway
it loses its head 1t talks about the
great reaction and the =" tidal wave,
and all that sort of irredeemable and un.
mitigated nonsense, as though there was
something definite and conclusive about
a political scrimmage in which tens Of
thousands of voters felt no interest and
and took no part. The meaning of the
Ohio election is plain enough. A
great many thousand republicans, dii
gusted with their party and ashamed
of its record, have refused to vote for itt
candidates. In consequence the demo
Gratis have secured the Legislature, the
| U. S. Senator and possibly the Governor
As an event in national politics it has
but the most trifing significance. A
democrat remains in the United States
Senate-that is all. The party is a;
weak as ever in Congress it has gained
nothing except pretext for prolonginf
an enfeebled useless life. In Pennsyl
vania it has not strength enough t.
make decent show in the face Of al
the villainous record of its opponents
In Iowa it had no separate existence
but was merged in the OPPOSITION will
the liberals and anti-monopolsts. fl
California it is in the same weak ant
fabby condition. 1t only lives any
where by the recklessness and stupidity
of the opposition, and the opposition
have never yet been so reckless or 81
stupid as not TO apprehend danger when
ever it came upon them, and to put theil
whole weight into a grand effort to re
trieve themselves.
The party of the administration hai
been weakened by persistent laundering
and criminal folly in the past twelv,
months. Nothing but the worse recorC
of its opponents could hinder IFS defea
in the October elections. But the PEG
pie are not ready to repudiate it whel
the only alternative is the success of th,
democratic party. 1t may be an un
J pleasant statement, but it is fact.
is not in the range of possibilities fol