The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-11-19
(FrOm Fo' mey's Press)
A Few Deductions.

elections. An organization as strictly
partisan as it is, and which trust so
much to historic prestige and traditions,
and fights its campaign on such narrow
issues as it does, has just reason to con-
gratulate itself when it meets with 80
overwhelming victory as the one it
cel5rates. Everywhere that party has
been successful-even in Massachusetts,
and Pennsylvania, which we had be-
lieved we're as firmly welded to Repub-
licanism as the rock upon which the
Pilgrim Fathers landed is TO the shores
Of the one, and the iron. ore which makes
it wealthy to the soil of the other.
The question is whether the disaster is
to BIZ permanent and the divorce for
ever. We believe not. Even in the
midst OF their rejoicing, wise and cool
headed Democrats do not claim that
their success is final, hopeful and sincere
Republicans will not admit that their
defeat is irretrieyable. The World
pauses in its delirious shouts of triumph
to thank the Republicans who aided its
party; the Pittsburgh Post awards "the
independent and anti-ring Republicans
a large share of the credit for the chan
ges which have been effec ted," and the
Baltimore Gazette, whose sympathies are
strongly southern, Acknowledges the as
sistance of "thc thousands of good men
and tue who separated the emselves from
the extremists of the Republican!party
and voted with the Democrats" There
is no claim in any of these utterances
that Tuesdays result was vote Of con-
idence in the Democratic party, but
rather a candid statement that the peo.
pie expressed their dissatisfaction with
the course Of the Republican party,
their condemna tion of its errors and
sins, and their unwillingness to longer
trust many of its leaders.
To properly appreciate the situation
and feel the staggering force of its les
son We must 90 back to the early history
Of the Republican party. 1t was born
of the anti-slavery sentiment of the
country, and came into existence pre-
destined. for one object-the overthrow
of the evil institution. 1t accomplished
its work; it fought the war to success
full termination; raised up the lowly, and
fairly administered the foreign and do
mestic affairs of the nation. But it
stopped there. 1t did not address it.
self intelligently and with vigor to the
new questions which had arisen during
the war. 1t neglected to reform the
abuses that had been tostered by its
own dministration-to answer the
popular demand for purer men and
higher measures. Planting itself upon
its pas: and trusting to popular unfor-
giveness of the Democratic party, If
stood still and even defed public
opinion. The Democratic party was
the anti-liberty party, the anti war
party, and during its term of power it
had been the anti-reform party. The
Democratic party was still torn assunder
by dissensions, and handicapped in New
York and elsewhere with corruptions.
1t had no policy to offer the people, and
its shibboleth was either the meaningless
and Ineffective issues of the past, or the
claptrap and disguises of demagogery.
Trusting to this condition of affairs, the
men at the head of the Republican
party disregarded the signs of discomfort
everywhere visible, aad discounted their
personal weakness. The result is Tues
days defeat.
The Democratic party must not, how
ever, congratulate itself on a victory.
When the returns of the elections COM
to be counted, it will be found that
more Republicans stayed at home than
voted the Democratic ticket. AS the
New York Post says, the people have
used the Democracy as a wepon to chas-
tise the Republicans. "Whether the
instrument shall prove further useful or
shall be cast aside, the next two years
will show"
One lesson which the Republican
party must take to heart is that it can
no longer hope to stand upon its past.
That was bloted out Tuesday. This
defeat means the brushing away of dead
and decayiug records. The Republic is
not ungrate!ul, but believes that it has
paid for past services. Hereafter par
- 10 - u Il -: