, 1873-11-06
THE POLITICAL OUTLOOK.

Tho Republican party is more completely
blighted by the October and November elections
than tue Opposition WAS by those Of last yoar,
and for two reasons: ~ That tho Republican
party il essentially party Of the past, having
no bond Of union but tho spoils Of office, and
~ that it haB now to contend with financial
crisis, against which the party in power has
never yet, In the history Of tho country, been
able to stand up. Those who fancy that tho
"ots-year in politics accounts for tho actual
defeat suffered by the party in Ohio, Wisconsin,
California, and New York, and iss practical lcfoat
in Iowa, Illinois, Kananp. and Massachusetts,
arc completely blind to the Significance Of things
going on around them. Tho off.yoar in politics
has lattcrly boon moro disadvautagoous to tho
Democracy than to tho Republicans. There Is
no reason why party holding all tho Federal Of
fees md throe~fourths Of the local Offices, hay
ing a paid train-band in every school district
and ut least one paid organ in every county,
should suffer proportionately heavior losses in
tho otf-year than party having no :suoh OK
tranoouB and adrentitious aid. The real truth
Of the matter waB set forth in tho dispatch which
VIC published yesterday from Massachusetts, viz. !:
Tie feature Of tho election to-day Ia the revelation 1t
nakes Of tho weakness Of party tics Tho Iuiepend-
ent t1ckcts have boon tho popular onea oYerywhorc
and no opportunity seems to have been lost for re-
buking the trading politicians.
Those who think that these simultaneous Re-
publican dofeata aro the symptoms Of an Off
year and not the first tokonp Of a revolution had
better study tho returns by localities, aud they
will find that tho heaviest inroads hnvo boon
made In precisely those placos where tho Re-
publican party has hitherto been strongest, ,--in
auch countios as Nano, Kendall, and Bureau, in
1llinoia such as Scott aud Henry, in Iowa such
as Douglas, Kansas, and Racine, Wisconsin, to
say nothing Of tho State Of Massachusetts, which
is Rtrcwn with local wrecks everywhere.
The first question which comes up is whether
the decadenco of the Republican party is likely
to iauro to tho permanent advantage Of tho
Democratic party. Two facts Of apparently op-
posito character and tendency present themselves
as MI answer to this question. In the States Of
California, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, Kansas,
and Minnesota, tho Democratic party haa either
formally disbanded, or informally merged itsolf
into tie Opposition, by Whatever nano it has
boon called. In California, the name "1udo-
pendent" was adopted. In Iowa, 1t WAS
called "Anti-Monopoly;" in Wisconsin, no"
form;" In Illinois, tho phrase ''Farmors'
Moyomont was, without my concert Of action,
chosen, although tho vote shows that large num-
.borB Of people who are. not farmers have Joined
it, While this state Of facts oxiats in tho West,
extending nn fur a. tue Pacific Coast, we lind
that in Ohio. Now York, and the East gonorslly,
no organization giving promise Of effective re-
sistaneo to tho dominant party has existed, OK
cept the Democratic party. Consequently. tho
drift OF eontimont adverse to tho Republican
party has tloatod to tho Democracy,
aud has p1obably giyon them courage to
suppose that they can carry the country lii 1876
with tho old namo and organization. Wo do not
believe They can do co. with tho Sost end Of tho
party In tho tattored condition in which it now
stalads. TAo now party which has achieved such
important rcaults In the Wost Inns acquired just
sufficient foretaHte Of victory to fool perfect CON
tidencp In future SUCCESS On tho basis ,of itg
existing organization. Tho Democrats, who
hive holped to achieve these preliminary suo-
cohsea, arc too VOL satisfied with tho results 80
far todosiro change Of programme, ,whilc tho Re-
pttblloana who have contributed to tho sane effort
will, If 1t becomes necessary 10 90 baok to any
old party, 60 back to thclr Own. -. 9
Fortunately, there Ia plenty OF ttms for pre-
pairing tho groundwork Of tho next Presidential
campa{gn fortunately, too, politicians will
hayo very little taausues In preparing IT. ALL
thia will be done by events. The country 10 In
tssnaition a.ats. and very queer things will be