The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-11-07
MASSACIuUSETT ELECTION.

MASSACHUSETTS, ELECTION.
William b. Washburn and, with him,
the whole republican state ticket, have
been elected by majority of some twelve
or thirteen thousand votes. One year ago,
he received majority of nearly sixty-nino
thousand votes. To a superficial observer,
IL might seem, upon comparison of the
votes Tor the two years, that the republic
can party was rapidly losing its ascendency
in the ''Old Bay State" if not rapidly 60
| ing to destruction. 1t may be true that
| such is the fact, but these figures do not
show it. 1t must be remembered that there
was division in the republican ranks,
which, Notwithstanding the fair words and
promises OF General Butler and his adj
hcrents made itself felt, but not to the ex-
tent apprehended so far as the governor
and state ticket was concerned. The per
sonal popularity of Mayor CASTOR may also
| be considered, as well rs the effect of the
temperance question. The anti-prohibt-
| ionists were better organized, acted more
compactly, and brought out their voting
force to greater extent than their oppo-
nents-thc ultra prohbitionists or temper
ance mcn-and their votes were all poled
for Castor. While Washburn, moreover.
is prohibtionst, these same ultra temper
ancc men failed to support him, because,
| forsootb, he would not violate his official
oath and go outside of the law in enforcing
the prohibitory laws. But throwing all
| these considerations aside, allowing moth
| ing to Gaston's popularity the temperance
or any other local distracting question,
Washburn's ma orityis unexpectedly large,
and if it is indicative of anything
| we do not believe, save as we shall present
| ly statc-it would be of an extraordinary
life and vitality in the republican party of
| Massachusetts. We do not propose to dis
cuss this question at any length-in fact,
not at all-but propose to let the returns
of the elections held in Massachusetts dur
ing the past five years demonstrate our
statement. In 1868, the year of prcsi-
dental election when General Grant was
first elected the republican majority for
| governor was nearly sXty-ninc thousand,
while the next year, 1869, it fell to nine
thousand eight hundred and thirty eight,
being, relatively the same, or nearly the
| same, falling off as that from last year to
this. In 1870, the majority fell off about
one thousand from that of the year prev-
Gus, while in 1871, the year previous to
presidential election, the majority was
about the same as this year, or to be exact,
l2,465. These figures of themselves, show
that there has been no such wonderful and
extraordinary falling off of the vote of the
republican party, so far as the majority for
the state ticket is concerned.
The result in Massachusetts is neverthe-
less, significant. Although, as we have
endeavored to show, the falling off in the
republican majority does not show any,
thing, yet it is more than probable that the
personal character and conceded integrity
of Governor Washblrn kept up the vote to
the point it reached. 1t is of no conse-
| quence, however, now, and speculation or
doubts will do no good. 1t is evident from
other sources, without resortlng to specu-
lation, that such is the fact. Take the al
most unanimous election of Mayor Pierce
to Congress from the third district, and
what does it show9 Simply, in our judy
ment, that the people are determined, here
after, to be represented by men OF integrity
ana character, by men selected by them
selves, and not by men forced upon them
by wlre-pullers, caucuses or selfish monop-
olles. Had Mayor Pierce been such a man.
had his nomination been dictated to the
party by caucus or politicians, the figures
show that he would have been beaten ont
OF sight. The same indication is seen in
the result as to senators and representa-
tlves. In numerous instances, where i'm
proper nominations, or where they were
obtained by improper influences, strong re-
publican districts, as indicated by the CUB
ernatorlal vote, have returned democrats
or independents. Notable instances of this
are seen in the cases of General Banks and
Judge Aiken, and particularly in the large
maJorlties by which they were elected If
the decreased majority does not mean any
thing, SO far as the state ticket is concern
ed, the other results mean something, and
should make themselves heard. 1t will
not answer any longer, even in Masssachu-
SETS to select men without regard to their
qualiiications or integrity, or by packed
conventions. Nominations, so made, are
no longer equivalent to an election. The
divine right to bolt exists, and will be ex.
erclsed unless decent candidates are pre-.
sented for their suffrages. We trust that
'he lesson Will resound through the coun-
try, until all and every party give heed