Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-11-13
What the late Elections Mean.

Inc mOsl Widespread CAUSE VI bue hSP1
lican reyerses in the November elections,
probably, was the dull times in business.
Stagnation and cessation of profits for thou
sands of business men, and loss of work and
of means Of livelihood for tens of thousands
Of employees, have brought a great many
Republicans in many States into an irrltat-
ed and uneasy condition of mind, in which
they were open to the arguments OF those
who charge everything that does not go to
suit them to the party in power. At such
times many men who are hard up will 60
for change of political control, in the
hope that in some way it may bring relief.
This tendency was stronger than usual, this
year, doubtless from the condition OF the
currency. Hopeless of imitation from the
Republican party. thousands have listened
to the whispers of the Democrats that
Democratic Congress would soon ''make
money plenty" and have voted with the
Democracy. OF course such expectations
of improvement under Democratic control
are destined to disappointment, and reae-
ton is certain. After the panic of 1887.
the country. in 1910, went strongly against
the party in power, which was the Demo
cratic party. But two years later the wave
swung back, with equal force. Reyerses
from such causes are Of necessity short
lived
Another cause, to which we have hereto
fore given no weight, but which we are now
satisfied had good deal to do with the re-
suits. was the "thir1 term" agitation. We
have not supposed that President Grant
could be so ignorant of the state Of public
opinion on that question, in the country at
large, as to dream Of such thing as a third
term. There certainly has never been the
slightest possibility of such contingency.
No national convention could possibly be
assembled that would tender third term to
Gen. Grant-and it is no disparagement to
him to say So. The people will give third
term to no man. That Is too much like es-
tablishing dynasty, to be permitted in this
generation. But the howl over the third
term, in the opposition press, it is now plain,
affected good many votes, which might have
been saved by Il word from the President,
dsavowing any intention to be Il candidate
for another reelection. That the word
was not spoken, was not, a. We believe, for
want Of good advice from at least two Of
the President : constitutional advisers. The
Vermont Senators, it Is report ed, and doubt
less truly, have given the President their
views on the subject quite plainly. Why
he would not say anything We DO not know;
bat if it was because he, or any Of his adyis-
ers were contemplating a tt ird term, they
oaght to be undeceiyed By tbs time.
Another cause was wea and bad local
nominations-such a. thos Of Butler and
Aver and Alexander for Co lgress, in Massa-
chusetts, which threw thou sands Of the best
votes in those districts over t. the Democrats.
Another cause was political Temperance -
The straight temperance party in New York
State was IN efectiveally Of the Democracy
and in Massa chusett, the' political temper
ance issue has given to the Democrats one
Of the strongest Republican States in the
country in each case without the slightest
possible benefit, present or prospective, to
the caass of temperance. TIE prohibitory
law VIII b, repealed in Massachusetts,, as
soon AZ the nov legislature meets. 1t viii
be sue eeeIei MT even by stringent license
law, but by practically free rum. This re-
suit was distinctly f5r5oded in our editorial
columns, months ag1.
OF course the elections do not mean reform
Of any kind. 50 far as the Democrats are
concerned The Demc eracy that. by IN
s-rupulous lying and corrupt use of money
defeated such men as Gov. Dix and Ellis II
Roberts in New York State, and restored
the rale Of Tammany nder John Morrissey
in New York city, and reelected in Kings
county, y. Y. District Attorney Britton,
who had been removed by the Governor fol
high crimes and inisIemeanors. and sent
Banks back to Cong res. and elected hun
dred and sixty odd Democratic Congressman,
with hardly man in the list of any national
reputation, as a h.gl. minded and pure man,
will give Is no retrenchment. relief or re-
form. The Repu 5lican party is still the
only party Of re orm; and laying to heart
the lessons its reyerses, it may resume full
control Of the 30 7ernment in 1876.