, 1875-03-02

tito better.
THE PENNSYLVANIA LOCAL ELECTIONS.
The results of tho recent local elections in |
Pennsylvania indicate TINT the 1T tidal wave
is returning. Its first splnsh upon tho shore
comes with rush and roar TINT reminds one
Of tho old times Of Republican victories in
tho Keystone Stnto. Philadelphia WIS last
week carried by Glenn sweep, and the Re-
pubIicans score to their credit majority of
1900 in voto of 10000, sixteen Magistrates
out of twenty -four, twenty-five Select Coun-
cilmen out Of twcnty-nine, fifty-hTe Common
CouucilIncn out Of seventy, not to mention
School, Directors nnd Assessors in the same
ratio. Lancaster, which WIS about n tie last
year, elects Republican Mayor by AK mr.
iority, and the Republicans carry nearly the
entire Council mud School Board, and this in
n city which tho Democrats usually carry.
Tho old Democratic city Of Reading, which
gave Democratic majority Of 800 only four
months ago. turns somersnult, mud comes
up smiling with 800 Republican minority.
Harrisburg, which l,as bcef doubtful city
for long time, aud gave Democratic ma
jority lust fall, returns Republican minority
Of $50, and Inns broken up tho whole Demo-
cratic crowd by clecting sovcn out Of nine
Select Councilnen, eighteen out Of twonty-
ono Common Councilmon, si1 ont of nine
School Directors, all of the city and nearly
all of the ward officers, II was d rout of the
Dourbons, horse, foot, and dragoons. Alle-
gacny, whicl, waa about equally divided Lust
fall, elects Republican Council, and Pitts
burg also, which gavo Democratic majority
in nearly every ward in November, and
changed tho political complexion Of tho Leg
islaturo. Tho Pittsburg Commercial reports
that the news from Newcastle, Mcadville,
Erie, Titusyillc, and Wilkosbarre, and such
county seats Us Allentown, Easton, Norris
town, West Chester, Lebanon, Pottsville, aud
Tyrone, shows that the Republicans Of these
and other cities and towns were wido awaEe
and successfully earnest in maintaining their
local supremacy.
Now, there must DO d cause for this sud-
den change in the State Of Pennsylvania,
The towns reported above are not simply RE-
publican towns, accustomed year utter year
to cast Republican majorities, but some Of
| them are Democratic strongho1ds and others
"doubtful," aud others, formerly Republican,
| which only four months ago gave Democratic
majorities The cause OF the change can be
discovered. The people Of Pennsylvania,
like the people Of Utmost every other State,
resolved Inst year tint there must be change.
The Republican party had, to some extent,
lost its hold upon the public by rea-
son Of the revelations mada In the
investigation OF Credit Alobliera' sub
sidies, and Immigrants, and hau become do
moTalizcd with Butlerism, carpot-baggory,
md 'nisrulo In the Southern States. In ad-
dition to these, times were hard, trade was
dull, panic had extended over the country
involving widespread financial disaster, manu.
factories werc closed up or running on short
time, mines woro rnworked, and thero was a
general want Of confidence in every business
community. Tho Democratic leaders took
advantage Of this condition OF things, and
promised remedy it ints7asted with power,
which was to bring about good times, tighten
taxes, md pure local Goyernm ent.
Tho people accepted tho promised remedy
for two REASONS. first, TINT they might apply
Balutary discipline to tho Republican party
leaders and wipe out the densoralizing prinei-
pies Of Butlerism, and, second. because they
hoped that the promises hold out by the
Donocrats might In some degreo bo fulfilled.
Tho discipline WAS applied very thoroughly,
not only in Pennsylvania, but even in Massa-
chusotts. Tho salary-gEabbers wero every.
whers chastised; aud in Common Coun.
ellis, in School Boards, In Legislatures, in
Congress, Republicans took back seats md
I" Rcformers came to the front Tho ire.