Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1873-11-13
PHIL LosoPHY OF THE LATE ELEc.
TlONS.

The Pittsburg Commercial says
the Democrats are going wild over
the few occasional victories they
have won, this year. II there are
any thinking men among them it
may be well enough for them to re-
member that such victories, however
gratifying they may be for the mo-
ment, count for nothing in the long
run.
In 1885 the Wings carried Penn
sylvania against divided Democra-
cy, and exulted over it, just as the
Democrats are doing now; but they
we're beaten out of sight in 1886, and
every year afterwards until lS40.-
The hard times brought about an
other political revision in that year
giving the Wings temporary hold
on power;but they were again swept
away in lS4l, and were unable to
make a stand again until lS47. That
was the year in which it rained hard
all election day,and the Wings, much
to their own astonishment, walked up
next morning to find themselves vic
torious throughout the State. 1t
was clean sweep, and the exulta-
tion over it was SO great that look
er-on would have thought that they
had utterly extinguished their en-
emy. Yet in lS47 the State went
back to its old love, and although
there was partial recovery in lS4s,
the State remained Democratic until
they captured it from them in lS4S.
In like manner the Democrats, after
having been beaten for four years
successfully, carried the State again
in 1852, aud were wonderfully elated
oSer 1t, but were beaten again in
1868, and SO on successfully until
1866, when they elected Sharswood
to the Supreme Bench. This was 8
new token, to them, Of revivifcation
and they built great hopes upon it;
but 1868 dispelled the illusion, and
they have been under the weather
ever siace.
In all these the party that was ex-
ceptIonally successful went into
ecstacies over its temporary success,
and predicated future trium phs as
certain. The election was natural; /;
but the conclusions drawn were un-
Philosophical. Parties actually in
the minority are enabled now and
then to win victories, through the
blunders or carelessness Of their op-
ponents, but they are never able to
profit By them, permanently, because
they have not thereby attained to
any additional strength, nor has the
real strength of the majority been
reduced. The Whig party was in a
minority in Pennsylvania from 1882
to 1854, and its occasional victories
within that period were mere acci-
dents; and the Democratic party
has likewise been in the minority in
the State from 1858 to 1874, its two
intermediate triumphs having re-
suited, not from its own strength,
but from the temporary inattention
oil its opponents.
The few Democratic successes of
1878, therefore, are not to be censid-
cred as indicative of any change in
public sentiment, or Of any revolu-
ton in politics. In no instance has
the strength of the party been in
creased. Its vote in Ohio, in Wis
consin and New York is less than
its vote in former years when it was
badly defeated; and the temporary
triumphs won on such light vote
indicate only that the Republican
of those States have been caught
mapping. The party cannot profit
by the success SO won, because the
real strength of the other side is
still unimpaired, and it will be exer-
ted for the overthrow the weaker
the first opportunity.
1t Is idle, Of course, to expect
that these reasonable considerations
will keep the Democrats from chuck
ling over their temporary tri umphs.
They must be allowed to crow, and
dance, and exult te their hearts con-
tent; but the thinking men of the
country will not fail to see the facts
in their actual light, and draw the
proper conclusion from them.