The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1873-07-17
Political ~SpeculatiOuS.

This is emphaticaiiy the "Uf year in
politics. and the business is dulIer than
we have known it to be for a long time.
The Republican party holds acknowledged
supremacy in the nation at large and in
mos of the States, and therefore has no
immediate occasion for active exertion.
The Democratic party, admitted TO be a
minority in the eoartry, is still beUumb-
ed by the effects OF its adoption Of Re-
publican principles aud candidates last
year, in a hopeless struggle for success
Defeat has been doubiy disastrous, be
cause it was suffered in Il cause in which
the party had no sincere faith. Nothing
has since been done that tends to place
its affairs upon 4 better footing.
La preparing for the brief campaign of
the present year neither party will be
likely to take Il fresh departure. The
Republicans will prosecute their cause
upon its merits and their own numerical
power, and there is nothing new appar
ent that is likely to interfere with their
harmony or general success. If bad
nominations are made anywhere there are
many individuals who will take the liber-
ty of cutting their tickets for that rea
son, but there is no feeling Of discomfort
that will operate against the general in.
terestS of the party. The vote cas-; this
year will probably be light, but it will be
solid. The old school of Democrats, un
der the lead of such men as Thurman,
Buckalew and Bayard, seem to be going
back to the old party landmarks, which
they abandoned when they took up Gree
ley and Brown a year ago. The expert
ment OF 1872 was not u fortunate one,
and brought the party disgrace instead of
glory-deieat instead of triumph. The
organization is henceforth to be distinct
lively democratic" as it used to be, and
its Liberal allies must either drill 10
the ranks or stay outside. 1t will be
scarcely possibly to fire the Democratic
heart under such unpromising conditions.
Here in Pennsylvania 1t is generally
admitted that the Republican nominees
for the two State officers will go right
through. The choice of the Republican
Convention 10 August will be equivalent
to an election, and hence We have an ac
tive preliminary canvass. For the dis
%tinction ola Democratic nomination there
will not be much rivalry. aud our W
presiding Judge can probably attain that
point without great exertion. We do not
suppose that any canvass has yet been
made by either of the State Committees,
and it is not probable that either will con
slider the campaign worthy of much ex
penditure of effort or money. The Re
publican majority in the state this fall
may be anywhere from 10000 to so 600.
La the different counties we shall Wit
ness the usual contests for Senators, Re
personalities and local officers. Over
these on active fight is often made, made,
aud sometimes a heavy vote is polled.-
The Republicans will probably make
some gains in the Senate, and will un
doubtedly carry the Assembly. Local
officers will generally be chosen accord
ing to the usual party divisions, though
some close counties may reverse their re
cent record. The better and stronger
the nominations made by the Republi
cans, the greater will be their chances OF
local success. BUCKS County hteRiqen
Ger.