New-York tribune., 1874-10-19
C4N THEY LEARN ANITHINGf

1t is pretty clear that the Administration
party has fallen since the elections OF last
week into nearly the same condition OF panic
which seized upon the Democracy in October.
1868. Six years ago terrified partlsans OF H0-
ratio Seymour proposed to save themselves
from inevitable defeat by discarding an OBJ
noxious candidate for the Vice-Presidency
To-day under very similar circumstances, the
Republicans offer to appease an lrrltated pe0-
ple by tardy declarations against the third
term. The result of such change OF front. II
it should be attempted, would probably be the
same in the one case that it was in the other
There are critical periods in every battle
when change becomes impossible. Whatever
the blunders in the original plan OF attack,
irving to correct them too late can only ag-
oravate the disaster. The solitary chance for
the Administration now is to make the best
possible fight in the disadvantageous position
il has foolishly occupied, and if it is beaten
to retire in good order and prepare for the
next engagement.
But in the midst of these pOrtents of de-
moralization it seems to be bent upon fresh
mistakes. Next to suspicious of the third
term project the most potent cause of the re-
misconduct of the Administration in the
Southern States, where local governments
we're made and upset at the pleasure OF Fed
eral Office holders, and elections were turned
into burlesques. Yet we find the Administra-
ton preparing for a repetition of the frauds
and violence which have brought upon the
marty such serious discredit. In Louisiana
there is every prospect of the perpetratiOn of
o;oantio rascalites at the next election, and
the men who swindled the people in 1872 are
still in Office and high in the favor OF the
White House. In South Carolina the Re-
publiean candidate for Governor, who
was formally presented to the nominating
convention as the choice of President Grant,
was deeply concerned in the scandals ofs the
Scott administration, and is now making his
canvass in company with the notorious Moses,
candidate for the Legislature on the same
ticket. In Alabama disgraceful attempt to
manufacture a reign of terror, as an excuse
for military Intervention, has been defeated
nv the promptness of independent Northern
journals in putting the falsehoods of Republi-
can nolticians like Mr. Hays to the test of
careful investigation; nevertheless we find the
Federal Government assuming the police su-
pervsion of the State, sending troops into per-
fectly quiet localities, and arresting citizens
by the wholesale for alleged Offenses which
do not properly come under its cognzance.
The Chairman Of the Democratic Executive
Committee of Sumter County is arrested at a
political meeting on charge of conspiracy to
"injuren a Federal detective, and sent $50
miles for examination before a Commissioner,
although there are two Commissioners on the
spot, both of them of course Republicans.
A Sherifrs posse-of fifty men is arrested by
the same Federal officer for interfering to
quell negro riot and there seems to be q
fair chance that before election day all the
white Democrats of the county will be in ter
ror of deputy marshals and special agents
Upon this election in Alabama a great deal is
understood to depend; the vote is close and
it is plain enough that If the Republicans arc
beaten they are prepared to raise the cry of
Ku-Klux violence in tho hope Of Intervention