Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-11-08

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In Tennessee all is well. We know
now we might have done still better,
but we have achieved much more than
the most sanguine dared to hope for
three short months ago. Even after
the sweeping triumphs of August,
there were ominous mutterings that the
Bartlett" ticket was for that trip and
train only, and that State issues might
swamp us. But the people stood firm
before the impotent lashings of petty
cliques, and sinking mere personal
preferences, determined to work togeth-
er for the common good. It was a
triumph of common sense versus clap
trap.
Looking beyond our own borders,
we are greeted with glorious victories,
on every side-victories in unexpected
quarters, and majorIties everywhere
out of all proportion to the most pa
triotic expectations. All political cal
culations have been outstripped in the
most gratifying manner. The man does
not live who thought or dreamed last
Sunday of such possibility az sixty or
seventy Democratic majority in the
next Congress. Prophets OF good and
evil omen were both at fault.
Beginning in the far East with Mas
saehusetts. we see State which has
been solidly Republican from the very
birth of that party now sending to Con-
gress majority against it, and at the
same time electing a Democratic Gov
ernor for the first time In thirty years.
The great State of New York follows
suit, With revolution equally as re-
markable, from the fact that Tilden has
a clear majority of a few thousand in
the State at large, outside of New York
city-a thing that has not happened
before in twenty-five years. This is
most significant as showing great
change in the sturdy Republicans Of
the rural districts. Eight of the elev-
en- Congressman gained In this State
are also due 10 this remarkable change.
The Democrats have majority in the
Legislature Of over twenty, securing a
United States Senator.
Pennsylvania shows a similar up
heaYal, most noticeable, however, in
the Western section. Throughout the
State the people have walked up, and
where Grant had majority over Gree
ley Of l38, 500 two years ago, the Dem
ocrats now carry the State ticket by
1000 majority, and viii have the Leg
islature unless fraud triumphs in the
count OF the Philadelphia returns.
New Jersey elects Democratic Gov
ernor and Legislature, besides giving
us Congressional gains.
Turning South and West, Maryland,
West Virginia, Kentucky and Mis-
souri,, the tier of border States, give us
solid Congressional delegations, while
Georgia, Arkansas and Texas do like
wise, aggregating seven solid States
with forty-nine members. The only
solid States left the Radicals are
Maine, Vermont and Rhode Island,
aggregating ten members. When we
add that the larger States of New York.
Pennsylvania, Massachusetts,, Ohio,
Indiana and Illinois, as well as Vir-
ginia, North Carolina, Alabama and
Tennessee, send good Democratic ma
jorities to Congress, we see at a glance
the populur sentiment of the country
as reflected in the popular branch of
Congress.
We have two notable triumphs in the
South-those of louisiana and Alaba-
ma-both of which go Democratic in
spite Of the Bureau of Justice and the
War Department. OF Louisiana men
had almost ceased to hope, while all
the machinery of deviltry was resorted
to for perpetuating Radicalism In
Alabama. Florida also comes up with a
Democratic Legislature, and Federal
Senator IN the background. Poor
South Carolina alone lays behind, and
is doubtless doomed to another term of
misrule under Chamberlin, though
she gains one Democratic Congressman
and possibly two. The old Palmetto
State is the only dark spot in the
picture.
In the Northwest, Michigan aston
ished herself and the rest of mankind
by breaking her solid Republican dele
cation to give US three Congressman.
The Legislature and Governor are
claimed by both parties, but which
ever gains, Senator Zach Chandler is
shelved. So in Wisconsin, though the
Legislature is Republican, so many
members are pledged against Matt
Carpenter that he must step down and
out. Minnesota gives us one Congress-
man. BLEEDING Kansas alone shows no
change. Nevada elects a Democratic
Governor, with a like Congressman |
probably, but the Legislature has been |
packed in the interest of Sharon, Re- |
publican capitalist, for United States
Senator.
Thus reviewing the entire field of |
last Tuesdays battle, we note signal |
gains everywhere. There are no draw
backs. Nowhere do we see n Demo-
cratic State relapsing into Radicalism. |
We have looked in vain for a single |
Congressional district that changed |
from Democrat to Republican. This
popularity, unprecedented in political |
annals, stamps it a revolution. The |
have no counter gains to
set against us. All our gains are net.
We add them up, and have nothing to
subtract. There is no discount on our