The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-04-09
The April Elections.

The local elections of Monday seem to
have called out very large vote. In Con-
necticut, where there was an election TOR
State officers, and for Legislature that
will soon elect a Senator OF the United
States, the Democratic party-including
all the elements opposed to the Republi-
cans-completed the victory begun last
year, and swept the whole State by an in-
creased majority, They have an over
whelming majority in both branches OF the
Legislature, and will elect Senator in
place of Mr. Buckingham, whose term will
expire in March next.
There were local elections in all the CT
ties and towns Of Ohio. In most of these
the liquor question was involved. The re-
suit was a general defeat of the Republi-
cans wherever there was party contest,
and in the larger towns and cities a defeat
of the temperance candidates. In Illinois
Iowa, and Michigan, the same general re-
suit attended the elections, The Republi
can party was disaStrously beaten in near
ly all places where it made a party issue,
or where it united with temperance peO-
pie.
1t appears pretty evident, from the re.
suit OF the elections in Ohio, that the en-
tire German population and very large
portion of the native vote who sympathlZe
with them have abandoned the Republican
party forever. 1t has been but very few
years since every city in Ohio, without ex-
ception, had Republican Government
Today the Republicans have not con-
troll of one of the cities. Cleveland and
Dayton have outdone even Cincinnati in
their majorities against the Republican
party. The same may be said to have oc-
cured in Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin,
Iowa. and Minnesota. The Republican
ascendancy in these States has for several
years been maintained bv this vote, which
is now lost to it. and most likely lost for
ever. This vote controls the three Con
gressional and seven Senatorial Districts of
this county, and half-ad other Con
gressional Districts in the State. The dis
affection. however, is not confined to the
Germans There has been so much cant
and hypocrisy, and such an abuse of Chris
tian aud religious names and objects to hide
confessed and notorious frauds and vii
lainy, that thousands of persons every
where have resolved to cut loose from the
party and act independently The ALI
ance attempted in Ohio and other places
between the Republicans and the beer -keg
smashers proved a lamentable failure, and
saloon praying has been voted down at the
ballot-box.
The general lesson taught by the April
elections is that the Republican party has
received premonitory stroke Of the gen
eral paralysis that it will experience in
November. 1874 Its discontinue is inc
vitaJle. 1t is stripped of the allies by
whom it has been kept in power. 1t is
abandoned-as in COnnecticut-by the dis
gusted people, who have tired of its cor
ruptions. 1t is left to its fate by every
man who feels the rigor of taxation and
the extOrtion Of the plunderers, and it's
end will be accomplished in the fall by the
great body Of the agriculturists. But the
victors must have some cohesion and or
ganization to carry out the reforms sought
in the change. Something more is wanted
than the mere substitution of one set of Of
flee holders for another That, however is
question for the future for the present
all that is necessary is an union al
the polls to break up the old par.
ties, to take from them the means
of corruption, and when this is done to
organize for the future. Very likely the
results of the elections in Connecticut arc
New Hampshire will inspire the Democra.
cy with the idea that they can carry the
country with their old organization Thi.
will be mistake. The Republican party
has grown so rotten that the people tol
the moment turn to anything as al
escape from it, But such Il feeling is
not to be relied on in Presidential cam-
paign. Nor is there any reason to hope
that Democratic salary grabbers would
give US any better government than Re.
publican ones. - MicnnO Tribune