Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-11-05
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AUG q s T "A.
~ruuRspAY MORNING. Nov. s, 1874.
THE ELECTIONS.

8 Liz EAESA AS>'@'
The returns from the recent elections
are about the best reading the democratic
party has had since the news that General
Lee was marching with his army upon
Washing ton. Then they hoped The move
ment would result in the capture of the
CAPITAL by the rebel armies and the ex-
tension of the rule of jeff Davis and the
Confederacy over the conquered North;
now they consider their gains of Monday
and Tuesday, giving them the control OF
the House oil Representatives. as the mi
tial success to a complete subjugation of
the government in 1876 to the sway of the
rebel democracy of the South-we say cot
the SOUTH for there the head of the de-
mocracy has been and will be.
just what majority the democrats will
have in the House in The Forty-fourth
Congress 1t is impossible to tell from the
confused and fragmentary returns receiv-
ed, tits clear however that they have a
majority, and whether this be five or fifty
is of no practical consequence. so far as
the business control of the House is
concerned; the former number would
answer for that purpose as well as the
latter. The republicans first gained
control of the House at the opening of the
Thirty-fourth Congress. In the next Con-
gress they lost it, and never regained it
until the Thirty seventh Congress, when
Galusha A. Grow of Pennsylvania was
elected Speaker. From that time they have
held it constantly to the present period.
At the close of the coming session of Con-
gress Mr.. Blaine will retire from the Speak
ership which he holds so ably and accept
ably, and Mr.. Fernando Wood, who by
usage is entitled to the nomination and
support Of his party for Speaker, will be
elected in place of Mr.. Blaine, unless the
democracy determine to pass by Mr..
Wood and take new man.
Looking at this defeat calmly we see
nothing 10 it indicative of revolution
against the republican party. Its causes
are transient, the democracy will profit
nothing by it. and it will exert salutary
effect on The future of the republican par
ty In Massachusetts the democrats owe
their success to the disgust of the republi-
cans with Butlerism, and popular
opposition to the State Constabulary.
With the defeat Of General Butler for
Congress and Mr.. Talbot for Governor
the principles which they peculiarly rep
resented have gone down, and in the OPP
GRAFTON several republican candidates for
Congress have unavoidably sunk; but af-
ter all the great republican party of Mas
sachusetts can be depended upon to rollIup
its usual majority in the Presidential cam
paign. The republicans who have gone
over to the democracy are few in number.
For temporary purpose they have acted
in manner to conduce to democratic sue
cess, but they have no idea of enlisting as
members OF that party or advancing its
interests pr anently. In New York and
other northern States where we have me,
with losses they may all be traced to local
and transient causes. We are at the d.
viding line between the present administra,
ton and that which is to follow, the period
which is always the most trying to the
party in power, when the dissatisfaction
among the disappointed and uneasy
reaches its eliminating point, and to this
and to local troubles are due whatever
losses we have suffered. South of Mason
and Dixon's line the situation is more Sc
rious. one to excite the indignation of re-
publicans and awaken the attention of all
friends of humanity and justice. The
wrongs of the negroes in the South in this
campaign cry to heaven for redress.
Cowed into submission to their old white
masters, many of them have taken the
first step towards again putting on the
collar and manacles Of slavery. by voting
the democratic ticket or retaining from
voting at all. The worst feature of the
success of the democracy is the impetus
which rebel brutishness and oppression
will gain in the South and in Congress.
By the side of this evil all other evils re-
surfing from the elections will be slight.
But one march upon the capital is not
the sign of enduring success. As the col
umns Of General Lee were hurled back
bleeding and shattered at Gettysburg and
obliged to retreat in disorder across the
Potomac, so the rebel advance this week
upon Washington wiz be turned into re-
treat and disaster for the eolumas OF the
democracy. 1t is only necessary for the
Northern people to see and understand, as
they undoubtedly will that the party
which has succeeded in gaining control of
the House, is the old rebel party that
fought the government four years, the
same In principle and purpose. in order to
reinstate the republican majority in the
House and keep the full control of the
government in hands that were faithful
when the life of the nation was in peril.
The friends of Dan Voorhees, of Indiana
linn a