Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-10-07
THE FALL ELECTIONS.

Between the present time and the first
Tuesday in November, elections will be held
In ten States. OF these Massachusetts, Vir-
ginia, Ohio, lows, Wisconsin, Texas, Missis>
esippi and Minnesota elect Governors New
York elects minor State officers aud legis-
lature, and Pennsylvania votes for Supreme
Judge, State Treasurer one>third of the Sen
nte and members of the House of Represents
tatives. The present being regarded as an
'''of year" in politics, says the Lancaster In
tcuigencer, the result of these elections is not
regarded with the same interest as attaches to
those preceding the Presidential election, or
even to the biennial election of Congressman.
nor are the party lines SO strictly drawn. In
Massachusetts, the contest lies between the
two regular party organizations and since the
eventual canvass of Butler resulted SO dis.
astrcusly, the political affairs of that State
have been characterized by the same mouotony
which prevails wherever one party is in
hopeless minority, however respectable that
minority may be. In New York, the Liberal
and Democratic conventions are yet to meet,
and will probably unitesin the supper. of
ticket and the adoption of platform which
will embody the living issues of the times
In Pennsylvania the canvass presents the old
contest between the s'Treasury Ring" and the
people, and the question at issue is whether
the reign of the present faction shall he con-
tinued, with its gross mismanagement of pub
lie affairs, and appropriation of the State funds
tn private uses, or whether new state of af,
fairs shall be inaugurated aud the credit of
our Commonwealth be redeemed In Vir.
GINA and Texas, no third party interveues the
Democratic and Radical. The conservative
and respectable element of citizenship is al
most unanimous in support of the Democratic
nominees, and the negro vote and influence of
the 'carpet bag" element is solid for the Rnd>
ical candidates. The experience of Virginia
under conservative rule has been so success
full that there is little doubt of the result in
that State, and the energetic canvass of Kem>
per the conservative candidate is certain to re-
suit in his triumphant election. In Missis-
sippi two branches of the Radicals, led by
Senators Alcorn and Ames, wage fierce war
aud the only hope for the State lies in the
prospect of extermnating the influence of the
thieves who have so long plundcred the State
government, that they are now ouarreline
among themselves. The political elements
of greatest national significance of all those
which enter into the coming fall Elections,
are the Farmers or Grange movements. which
have organized separate political parties and
nominated distinct tickets in Iowa, Minnesota
and Wisconsin. The prescn. the first oppnr-
tunity which this movement has had to mani
fest its political strength, and although in
these States the Changers are more or less
identified with one or the other of the LEADING
political parties, their individuality is suffi>
GENTLY distinc. to make their influence marked
and its result is to be awaited with interest hy
the whole country. The legitimate out
growth Of the prevalence of legislative cor
ruption, and the tyranny of railroad monop>
olies, this movement must in a great degree
take the form of aggressive opposition to the
largely predominant Radical party in the
States of the Northwest. 1t may contain the
germ for the most influential movement which
has yet been organized to resist these demon
alizlng influences, and its future effectiveness
depends, in great degree, upon the strength
it manifests in the Fall elections. A few
months ago these Oranges of the Order Of
Patrons of Husbandry, were said to include
half the voters of these States, and should
tho coming elections indicate this preponder>
ance of social and political influence, the
movement will receive new impetus and rapid
ly extend itself among the agricultural classes
of the country.
On the whole, then, the Fall elections
while presenting great national issue, are
important and interesting, as embracing di>
versity of considerations which are shaping
and moulding public opinion in different parts
of the country, and silently but powerfully
working that revulsiou of sentiment which
the present prevailing party, sooner or later
must awaken.
Es- TIL" daily papers have published LETT