The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-11-14
REPUBLICAN DISSATISFACTION NOT
DEMOCRATIC STRENGTH.

REPUBLICAN DISSATISFACTION NOT
DEMOCRATIC STRENGTH.
In looking over the late election returns
throughout the country, and comparing
them with recent former elections, the fact
forcibly strikes the canvasser, that the
Democracy have not increased their vote,
and are often behind former votes of the
party. Our own county is a very fair exam
pie of the way the voting ran throughout
the country. Last year the Democrat poll
in this county, on the State ticket, was
1857 At the election last week it was
2,26s, falling off Of 500 votes.
The Republican poll last year in the
county was ?, 516, last week it was l, 79S,
difference in favor of last year of 71S votes.
If we add the stay at homes of the two par
ties together, we have the astonishing re-
suit of 1,317 votes less cast in the county
this year than last. The Republicans cast
24s votes more last year than the Democrats
did this year. And this comparison runs
through the whole country, the Democrats,
where the canvass was warm, polling the
full strength, as compared with last year,
but the Republicans invariably falling OH.
In PENNSYLVANIA and Massachusetts,, this
fact is conspicuous; and many of the news
papers announce the result as Republican
and Opposition, not admitting it as Demo-
cratic victory due to increased strength of
that party, but more to the displeasure OF
the thoughtful portion of the Republican
party who stayed away from the polls, or
assisted the Opposition to keep their vote to
about its average strength, by supplying
the place of the languid stay at-homes, OF
their own party, who did not feel enough Of
excitement or interest in the elections this
year to 60 out.
The figures show plainly enough that the
Republicans courted their defeat, and placed
power in the hands of the Opposition, by
what resembles tacit consent, more than
want of power to still hold their control OF
Congress- This theory is strengthened by
the quiet satisfaction which the Republican
party every where evince, in the turn affairs
have taken, and the better part of the Dem
ocrat party-the thinking and able men OF
that party--by their utterances, show plainly
enough that they feel that painful respon-
sibility has been suddenly thrust upon them
by kind of spontaneous resolve OF the peo-
Pile, contrary to expectation, which has pro
duced on their part grave apprehensioHs
They feel that they, who have been such
severe critics and fault finders with the short
comings of the Republican party, will be
required to perform all they charged the
Republicans with leaving undone.
In numerous instances honest and faith
full men have had their course approved by
a popular vote which has returned them to
office, and that contrasts to their advantage
compared with some salary grabber, who
has suffered annihilating defeat at the hands
of the same constituents.
The result is sharp reminder to both
parties; to the Republican, which will retain
power in Congress till the 4th of March
next to halt in its selfish course Of legisla-
ton, which has been an insult to the people,
while the important questions of the times
sidered, and to the Democrat party, on the
other hand, which has been given an oppor
tunity to be something more than mega
tive party; while the people, reserving their
power, are ready at moment to use it
against that party, if it shows that it has
learned nothing in all these years of tribu-
lation and suffering. The public mind is
in censorious and judicial mood, and is
much more inclined, than formerly, to re-
gard public officers, as public servants, not
as masters. What is yearned for most
ardently by the people is honesty and abil-
ity in official management. Onr civil ser
vice has been the spoil of adventures, cost
ing double what it should, while employing
the poorest ability the country affords We
devoutly trust that the era of honest and
tit men for Office is almost reached, and that
the masses of the people are beginning to
understand that it matters not, though our
laws were framed by the wisdom of angels,
if not executed by honest, conscientious
men, they will continually be perverted to
the side of immortality, and to the shame of
virtue and plumber of the public.
The Democrat party has long been con-
spicuous for its lack of honesty in office;
will its better men now be able to place the
scallawag and political adventurer in the
back ground, and take the management in
their own hands. For this the people will
anxiously look. For our part we have no
faith in their doing so, and Judging from the
utterance of their ablest men, they have
serious misgivings themselves on that sub
ject.