American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-04-04
The Political Situation.

New Hampshire has elected her Demo
cratic Republican Governor, but the real
worth of the victory is TO be estimated by
the fact that that party has largely gained
in the Legislature. The opinion of the
number of people who stand between a
minority and a majority in an election is
As delicate as the leaf of a sensitive plant.
Grants appointment of Collector Sims
mons caused that balance of power to shut
itself against the Republican party.
The political revolution will not stop
with New Hampshire. Massachusetts is
feeling it more keenly than any other
State. Only about $4,000 votes stand be-
tween the two political parties, and that
majority could be taken from the Admin
istration party at any time this year.
New York State needs only good coun-
try ticket to give it back to the candidates
who might be supported by the Dem
ocratic party. New Jersey has been the
recipient of no Administration favors tina:
would in a general election reduce her
traditional 5000 Democratic ma
jority. Ohio has lost the 10000
majority with which she used to aid the
Republican party, and has both Demo-
cratic Governor and q Democratic Sena-
tor. In Virginia the Conservative party,
antagonistic TO the negroes and carpet
baggers, has possession of the State by a
majority that no Republican art can re-
duce. The Republicans of Minnesota
have lost ive-sixths of their majority; and
their neighbor, Iowa, though still Repub-
lican in its administration, is so thor
oughly imbued with anti-monOpoly prin-
ciples that it might be carried by any
party that pleases the farmers. Thomas
A. Hendricks election in Indiana was ac-
complished through his personal popu-
larity, although the Democratic ticket en-
votes In majority.
The Opposition in Michigan, though
usually defeated at the polls by large
majority, has now scarcely 2UO
ballots between itself and victory; and
we know the Republican party lost Cali
fornia in sending a Central Pacific dele
cation to her Legislature. Wisconsin,
the State which was supposed to be owned
BY Senator Carpenter, and which has
jorisy to the credit 81 the Republican
party, has a Liberal Governor, who was
last year elected over Washburn by
15,0O0-odd majority. Recent carpet
bag developments in Mississippi have
had the effect of weakening the influence
of General Buffers son in-law in that
State; and though the negroes are strong
~ Republican the Independent vote is
great enough to win fair election. If
ministration to permit an honest election
to be held in Louisiana there are not
negro and carpetbag votes enough in
that State to prevent majority
in favor of the party which elected
McEnery. Tennessee will elect q
Democratic Governor in spite of
the influence of the gifted Republican,
Hayward; and the farmers of Kansas,
children of New England, have given
their faith to an Independent movement
in favor of reform, which is shared by her
old enemy and neighbor, Missouri, the
State of Benton and Schurz.
Altogether, it plainly appears that
while the New York Times is correct in
saying that the Republican party is not
dead, it il losing its controlling majority.
It's faithful lower strata, the men who
never have an opinion, but :" only work
fur party" still remain; but the topmost
strata, that which lies under the clear
blue sky, has been lost Tom Murphy
exists; Marshal Sharpe, Ben Butler, Col
lector Simmons, Kellogg and Casey,
Arthur and Bill Mann. all exist firm in
Republican "politics;" but respectable
Massachusetts,, commercial New York,
the agricultural West and the descend
ants Of Barbour, Forsyth and Habersham
in the South, now belong to the control
ling Opposition. But1erization" meant
political death.-Leslis's Weekly.