The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-11-12
Massachusetts.

There has been great deal said about the
political revolution Massachusetts and the ire
nlendous change in public sentiment indicated
by the election of Democratic and five Con-
gressmen of the same political persuasion.-
Now, in point OF fact. there has been no DEM
ocratic victory in Massachusetts. antino endorse
ment Of the Democratic party. II the Hon.
William CASTOR had been the Democratic cam
didate for Governor in 1872, he probably would
rot have been elected, but he would have re-
ceived a great many Republican votes. The
temperance issue and his great personal popu-
| larity might have secured his election even if
the people of Massachusetts had been entirely
| satisfied with the Administration of President
Grant and the political morality of Gen. But
ltr. 1t must not be forgotten that his defeated
opponents, Governor Talbot, represented the
| extreme prohibition element Of the Republican
party, and that no man voted for him who was
| not i'll favor of maintaining and rgdly enforcing
the prohibitory liquor law. On the contrary
| every man who wanted to see the license sys
TEN tried again, either as an experiment, OF as
measure OF Justice to those who desire to
drink Intoxicating liquors, voted for Mr. Gas
ton. On the simple issue of license or 10 Ii
cense he would have been elected as the repre-
| sentative of the license party, leaving out all
other political considerations.
When we come to look at the result in the
Congressional districts we find that the Repub-
lican vote OF 1872 has been cut down in all of
them, and that four of the Democratic candi-
dates have been elected. 1t is the vote for Con-
gressmen that indicates the popular discomfort.
with the existing condition Of affairs. The ap-
parent Republican defeat in the Essex district
was simply the defeat of General. Butler. ANY
other man OF moderate abilities and reasona-
bly, good moral character could have been cleo
ted without difficulty. General Butler, how
ever, insisted on making the canvass, and the
result has shown now badly he was mistaken
in surprising that he was highly esteemed by
his felloW-citiZens. The man who defeated
him is one Of the four Democrats elected to
Congress from Massachusetts, bat he will rep
resenta strong Republican district that will
give five thousand majority against him when
ever the is.ue is a purely political one. At the
late election the people voted aganst-not a.
gainst Republicanisnr. Mr.. Thompson is said
to be next to Butler the best lawyer at the Es-
Sax bar, and Will ao doubt be all able and useful
member of the House.
Mr. Chester w. Chapir, who defeated Mr.. |
Alexander in the Eleventh district (now rep
resented by Mr.. Dawes, although Il straight
out' DE- mocrat, will represent a Republican
constituency. The Republican candidate (who
was also the candidate of the Grancers), was
so greatly inferior to him in personal qualifi-
cations, that the intelligent people of Western
Massachusetts concluded that it was better to
be represented by an able Democrat than a
weak Republican, and they would probably
have come to the if General Grants second
term had been as satisfactory to the country as
his first, The same may be said of the cleo
ton OF MIR. Warren in the Eighth district,
which in 1872 gave the Republican candidate
over 5000 majority. The nomination of DR..
Aver. Of "Cathartic Pip notoricty, in the
Seventh district. secured the election OF his COM
petitor, Mr.. Talbox, in advance, and the de
cent Republicans took no Interest In the poIit-
cal fortunes Of the ambitious compoundrr Of
rjffn rlS1sv,
feat us overwhelming possible. The Boston
newspapers do not claim that DR.. TarboN is a
very great man, but he will cut more respec-
table figure in the House of Representatives
than the CHERRY Pectoral'' candidate could
possibly have done. There arc some men in
Congress who are no great honor either to their
constituents or to the nation; but in spite of
the decentralization of the times we are not vet
prepared to see "AEres" and 'iHelmbold'' and
odd Dr. Jacob Townsend" sitting among the
lawmakers.
The other two congressman elected ovei. the |
regular Republican candidates are both Repuh-
licans. General Banks WHO will succeed Mr.
Gooch, will advocate all distinctvely Republic
can measures with as much sincerity and a
great deal more ability than his predecessor.-
lie will probably ote with the Democrats when
there is no issue involving fundamental prinGi-
pies. As for Prof Seelye, who was elected in
the Tenth district owe: the regular Republican
catitudtt, lie VIII pe tne-nnOSL pronounced Re
publican IN the Massachusetts delegation. He
supported Mr.. Talbot for Governor aud when
his friends serenaded him on the night after the
elections and. he was OF liged TO say. something
in acknowledgements of the compliment, he
very frankly told his adnariug feuow-citizens
that his Joy over the defeat of Butler was renl-
pered with sorrow over the election of CASTOR.
1t may be imagined that words like these were
not calculated to inspire much enthusiasm a
mong the Democrats, who We're oirt celebra-
ting their victory 1t may be mentioned that
Prof. Seelye was never informed Of his nomi-
tioh until after his election. and that the only
contribution he made to the expenses of the
campaign was three-cent postage stamp.
Baltimore american.