New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-08-08
THE ELECTIONS.

TIE ELECTIONS
The elections this week in Kentucky, Ten
nessee, and North Carolina afford an excellent
illustration of the truth of the Interpretation
of prevailing public sentiment furnished by
THE TRIBUNE. In all these States the results
show Democratic gains mot generally large
or sweeping, but in the light of current polit-
ical history very significant In themselves
these elections were comparatively unimpor-
tant. In Kentucky and Tennessee they had
chiefly local character, tinged little more
than usual with party aspect from the
entering in of the Civil Rights question, ana
the contest of whites and blacks Tor political
SUPREMACY. In North Carolina, members OF
Congress. minor County and State officers,
and members of the Legislature were chosen.
Significance attaches to the fact that the
Democratic gains were not Overwhelming,
fnll as much as to the fact OF the
gains themselves Obviously there Is moth
ing in the general summing up OF results
to warrant the organs of the party in
induleing themselves in the WORKOUT and
stale nonsense about "tidal waves" They in
dictate no great revolution Of opinion, nor
anything from which any sweeping changes
may be presently predicted.
The feeling of disappointment which has
been rapidly developing to disgust at the con-
duct and policy OF the Administration party
has been so pronounced and universal that
the most ardent partisan does not undertake
to deny it. 1t is an admitted fact. Bat there
is on the other hand such deeD-Seated ana
widespread distrust of the opposition That
the mass of honest voters are little disposed
to take the leap and incur the risk OF Ills
they know not of in flying those they nave.
II is 40 manifestly a choice of evils that the
two parties offer them, that they hesitate and
consider long, and when they do make up
their minds, decide with no enthusiasm, but
with still lingering doubts. The Democratic
party, which held together through the war
and cings still to its traditions and its name,
is very compact minority; still minority
It's temporary Successes depend altogether
upon the number of Republicans who,
losing hope of reform III their
own organization, or disposed to enter
their protest in some practical form against
its follles and crimes, cast their ballots for
Democratic candidates. Enough of these are
dropping OFF here and there throughout the
country to bring the parties more into re-
lations of equality, and not enough to en-
danger the Republican ascendency or
encourage the opposition with any reasonable
hope of national success. These auyiliaries
are of very uncertain character; only the
most careful and discreet management, the
wisest use of power, and the most catholic
temner can serve to retain them. The
Democratic party may some time rise to an
10 vol
The consequence has been and Will continue
to be, we presume, that the dissatisfied Re
publcans return to their old associations, ana
the promise of the tidal wave" is unfulhlled.
The results of this weeks elections fore
shadow in a large degree the important cleo
tons of the next three months, upon the re-
snlts of which the character of the next Con-
gress depends. We believe they will show
throughout the country considerable Demo-
cratic gains. The next Congress VIII be much
nearer evenly divided between the parties
than the present. But it will probably be Re
publican still. Unless the Republican managers
in the various Congressional districts are utterly
blind and headstrOng. paying no heed to the
lessons of recent defeats. they will still retain
power IN both branches of the National
Legislature. And then, if we may judge any
thing of the future by the past, the Demo-
Gratis, elated with small and temporary
successes will begin saying and doing sense
less and silly things, and unmask themselves
to the country, rs Mr.. Senator-elect Eaton OF
Connecticut has lately done, and set them
selves back again, as they have repeatedly in
the past fifteen years, into hopeless minority.
Meantime, Will their opponents, chastened by
reverses, held in check by watchful minority,
and reminded of their responsibility by their
reduced numbers, grid themselves for the
work of regaining public confidence by wise
legislation, honest administration. and prudent
behavior The encouragement to be found in
the late results and in the prospects for the
Fall elections is in the signs they furnish of
a more equally balanced condition of parties
of the loosening of party ties; distrust of
mere platforms disposition to judge par
ties by what they do and what they are rather
than what they promise or profess; and in
this, after ALL there is the greatest safety.
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THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT.
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