National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-08-05
THE ELECTION IN NORTH CARO-
LIMA O-MORROR


An election occurs in North Carolina to-
morrow for Congressman, for State Super.
intendent Of Public instruction, for Judges
Of the several Judicial districts and for men,
beu Of the Legislature and minor county
offices. Although the result viii not be
as significant as that Of the campaign two
years ago, 1t Is nevertheless of extrsordi-
nary importance as an indication Of politi-
cal feeling in the South. The Democrats
have forced the civil rights business as an
issue, and have insisted that the Senate bill
to secure to all the citizens of the country
equality before the law is a measure for
which their Republican opponents are re-
sponsible. They have claimed that it will
pass Congress at the coming session, and
have thereby aroused the prejudice of race
as serious element of disturbance in the
campaign. The Republicans have relied
upon the record Of the Democratic Legis-
lature of the State to show that while Con-
gress may have begun civil rights legisls-
ton, the State government has been respon-
sible for evils ten times more serious. But
the off1ce-seeking greed which has SO thor
oughly enveloped the Southern people has
produced. sad havoc in the discipline of
both parties, and the result Is demonstrated
In the appearance Of q number Of indepen-
dent candidates Of both parties. The policy
Of the Republicans has been to make no
nominations in districts in which the Demo-
crats have an acknowledged majority, and
they will in such cases cast their votes for
the purpose Of defeating the regular Demo-
cratic candidates. The Democrats have
pursued similar plan.
It will be seen from o glance at this ex-
PLANTATION Of the situation that, after all, the
victory will be unsatisfactory to either
party. No opportunity viii be afforded to
test their relative strength, and the minor
issues which serve to arouse feelings of
local bitterness will probably have more to
do with the result than anything else. No
one who understands the politics Of the
State and the division Of parties will deny
that Republican majority would follow
from square and fair contest, but as the
situation now stands, with Republicans
quarrellng with each other, II Is possible
that the Democrats msy make gains which
will not be Offset by the effect Of their own
numerous dissensions.
The contest for Congressman viii no
doubt result In Q change In the personnel Of
the representation Of the State, and possibly
In the gain Of one Republican member, In
the First and Second districts the Republi-
can nominees are opposed by Independent
and the Democrats have made
no nominations In the former 1t Is posi-
bic that Mr.. Cobb, the present incumbent,
will be defeated by his Independent Re.
publican competitor, and In the latter col
ored man will be elected TO succeed the
Hon. @. R. Thomas. In the Third, Mr..
Waddell, Democrat, will undoubtedly ''suc-
coed himself" In the Fourth, the contest
will be decidedly close, with the chances in
favor Of Mr.. Hsaden, the Republican can.
didate. In the Fifth, Colonel Henderson,
the Republican nominee, will have hard
struggle, with q slight chance Of overcom-
ing the Democratic majority against him.
In the Sixth, Mr.. Davidson Is announced
as an Independent Granger candidate
against Mr.. Ashe, the regular Democratic
nominee, and there Is a bare chance that
Mr.. Mclean, the Republican candidate,
may be elected by plurality. In the Sew
snth, Mr.. Robbins, Democrat viii no
doubt succeed himself" In the Eighth, |
General Vance, the present incumbent is
opposed by Captain Durham, "JefFersonian
Democrat" The latter viii receive the
greater portion of the Republican votes,
but his election Is by no means certain.