National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-02-18
THE PHILADELPHIA ELECTION

The municipal election in Philadelphia
yesterday was carried by the Republican
party by majority estimated at this
writing of from ten to fifteen thousand
votes In many points of view the con-
test was one of the greatest significance
Colonel Mcclure, the Reform candidate,
as he was called, was Endorsed by the
Democracy and supported by Colonel John
W. Forney and the Press. William 5.
Stokley was supported by the regular Re
publican party, and, with the exception OF
the Press, by all the Republican papers in
the city. The first election that has been
held under the new State constitution, it
was admitted by the opposition everywhere
hat, owing to the precautions which had
been taken in the organic act, and the safe
guards which had been thrown around the
ballot box, it could not be anything else
!han fair and honest expression OF the
popular will. In the columns of the Press
and upon the platform the statement was
again and again made, during the canvass,
that there would be no opportunity for
baIlot-box stufing, for false counting, or
the other nefarious practices which the enc
mics of Republicanism have been proclaim
ing for years after every defeat were instru-
mental in deciding every political contest.
Fraud being impossible, according to the
Reform party, the result only shows that
he city of Philadelphia is still true to Re-
publican principles; that there is no waver-
ing in the ranks, and that she may be de-
pended upon to hold the centre If the Re-
publican line.
But it is not only in local point of view
that the victory Of yesterday is full q mean
ing. The election in question was the first
Of any importance which has taken place
since the magnificent successes OF the f'esi-
Dental campaign. Since then various causes
have combined to weaken, in the opinionof
many, the Republican party. 1t has had b
confront q steady and bitter opposition,
which stuck at no SANDER or calumny to
shake the confidence of the people in it
patriotism, its leaders and its principles.
Every material disturbance that has taken
place-the late panic, with its long train o.
suffering and distress, workingmen thrown
out of employment, mills suspended or run
ming upon half time-have all been laid tt
its charge. 1t was feared that particularly
in the large centres of population, where
the shoe had pinched hardest the party
would receive set back, if not total de
feat During the last six months argument!
of this character have been dinned into oul
ears by the opposition press and orators
Every misfortune that has overtaken tht
country has been charged to the party il
power. The result in Philadelphia proves
conclusively that the people cannot b
deluded by these Misrepresentation tina
they are willing to trust. and ready to fol
low and support, the party whose magnifi
cent achievements in the past, in war ant
in peace, have covered the country will
80 much glory that they cannot be LEI
astray by false leaders and sham reformer
and demagogues like Mcclure. The victory
in our sister city is national in its conse
quences, and will do more to cement tn,
party than any event which could possibly
have taken place. If Mcclure and his nab
BILE had been successful, we should hav'
their triumph heralded from one end Of ~
country to the other as a De--~.ia'" we
sorv His defeat 10 Democrauc defeat,
md less--- - The disorganizers in the Re,
mean ranks, who believe that the days
Of the party are numbered. The municipal
election of Philadelphia yesterday is the
irSt gun in the next Presidential campaign.