National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-02-20
THE PHILADELPHIA RESULT.


disappointed last Tuesday evening when
he polls closed in Philadelphia are just
now endeavoring to ascertain and explain
10 their readers and friends how it all hap
pened. The day after the election the de-
leated candidate himself printed manifesto
b his Philadelphia organ proclaiming that
The holy cause which he represented had
been defeated by fraud and corruption. Mr..
John w. Forney, who inaugurated the
campaign with touching and significant
,llusion to Buchanan, telegraphed to Wash
mgton that an outraged people around the
Pres Office were demanding vengeance
npon the destroyers of their liberties,
making the wintry welkin ring with their ter
sible indignation. The Tribune, attempting
20 be philosophic upon the subject assures
rs that ''the underlying causes of the de-
ifeat of the Reform candidate are many
land various" The World believes that
mccess was impossible from the beginning !;
hat the duty of the Democracy was to have
made distinctive nominations, and not to
AVE repeated the Greeley lunacy." These
ire representative opinions, and from their
iifferent standpoints are entitled to some re-
ipect; and yet how far they fall short Of
he actual truth; how meaningless and par
isan in view of all that was said and writ
en- in the brief but energetic canvass which
preceded the result.
The late struggle in Philadelphia, which
aosed so triumphantly for the Republican
sarty, was watched with the closest interest
~ the politicians of all parties in every Sec
ion of the country. The gentlemen who
ed what was called the Reform movement
ihe boiling Republicans on the one hand
Ind the Democratic managers on the other,
lad an Interior purpose in the alliance and
he effort they made. Reform in Philadel
phia and the success of the Centennial in
rs were only mere side issues. Mr.. Nc
Ilure, and those who supported him, be-
ieved that the country was ripe for the
movement to drive the Republican party
rom power, which failed so dis
,strously, under the leadership of Mr.
Greeley, in the last Presidential
campaign. They calculated that in the
event of success in the stronghold of Re-
publicanism the movement would extend
over the whole country; that the founda-
ZION of the party which should win two
years hence upon national issues would
have been laid The failure Of the scheme
s something more than the mere defeat of
Colonel Mcclure; something more than the
mere triumph of Mr.. Stokely. 1t marks the
;ast gasp of Liberal Republicanism; the end
Of the ''Greeley lunacy," as the World calls
t. Mr. Mcclure was nothing in the can
sass, and the efforts of the opposition press
Ind politicians now to attach only mere
personal significance to his defeat is only an
attempt to disguise the real motives and
purposes which inspired the canvass and
animated the national and State wire pullers
who stood in the back ground.
The effect Of the victory upon the two
great political parties will be marked. So
ar as the Republicans are concerned, it
will convince those who were inclined to
loubt the strength of the organization and
IS popularity with the people, who be-
ieved, as distinguished newspaper pub
Usher said few days ago. that cit was on
Is last legs" that it is still the party of the
country, and that they must come down on
he right side of the fence. 1t will con-
rince the opposition that they can gain
Ieither strength nor confidence by an alli-
,nce with the dissatisfied gang Of Republi-
an politicians who have been endeavoring
or so many years ''to beat Grant," simply
because they were not allowed to prey
1pon the people and dispose of the patron
age to Suit themselves. Distinctive NOM
nations" will he the order-the reorgan-
cation of the party under its own banner,
instead of under the flag of q lot of pirates