The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-02-25
Political Facts.

It is the boast OF the Conservative press amp
speakers that the Republican party is i'll the
last period Of its ascendency, and that the next
Presidential election will result in its utter de-
feat as national organization. The Baltimore
american, after criticisng the assumption OF
the Democracy, that the Republican party was
in dying condition, produces the following
figures and comparisons to show upon what
finsy basis the calculations OF the hopeful De-
mocracy are founded. We have entertained
no apprehension of defeat. The result OF the
last fall elections had no national significance.
and when the candidates shall be chosen for
the great contest OF 1876, and the parties mar
shalleI under their respective leaders, it will
be found that the Republican party OF the
country, as a national organization, is as
strong, if not stronger than it was IN 1857.
The american says:
Inasmueh as all this confident declaration
and exulting prophecy is founded upon the
result of the elections held in the year 1874, we
pronose to examine the returns Ill general
way, and see how they warrant the conclusions
so disheartenng to those who still cling to the
Republican party. Ii it can be shown that a
large number of Republicans took no part in
was unusually light in most States, then we
are justified IN contending that the result
affords no better test OF the comparative
strength of parties than did the Presidential
election of 1872 when the nomination OF MIR.
Greeley and the adoption OF the Cincinnati plat
form paraly2ed the siren 9Th OF the Delaocratie
party. The circumstances were exceptional
in 1874. Men do not change the settlcd c9nVlc-
tien of a lifetime in a single day Or single
wear unless in the presence OF sonae .eyerWhei-
mino revolution that sweeps all the condllons
and surroundings upon which existing opln-
ions are based. There has been no stch refoiu-
ton in the United States. and we nave seen
nothing to induce us to believe that any CON
siderable number of people have deserted Tn Inc
Republican party and joined the opposition. ~ he
returns show that they did not vote, and ina!
| is all. The question now is: Will they still
remain passive CT return totler 1lrst allegiance
or go over to the opposition?
| Beginning with Vermont, we IND thaG the
| Republican majority on the vote Tor Governor
was 20,325. In 1872 the Republican majority
was 1888, but the whole vote i'll That yeal
was IS, $50, while in 1874 it was only 1855
The Democratic vote in Vermont was some
three thousand less in 1874 than 1t was IN
| 1872, This does not look as if the Republican
party was moribund in that State, at least. In
| Massachusetts, there was a most extraordinary
| falling off of the Republican vote in 1874, oc-
casoned principally by the temperance issue the
nominee for Governor being pronounced Pro-
/ hbitionist. s'Butlerism' also had tsinf1uence.
| and the Boston Custom House also was CHS
/ turbng element in the campaign. MIR. CASTOR
| democrat and ant-ProhibitsonisD was elected
| Governor by 1852, but all the other candidates
on the Republican State ticket were elected by
maiorites ranging from $4,000 to %, 000 The
Republicans have q majority OF eighth the Sen
ate and seventy in the House over both Demo
Gratis and independents The Republican
vote OF. the highest candidates was only 1O4
465, whereas in 1872 it was 1873, 800. 1t will be
seen from these figures that the party is in tolera
bly, vigorous condition in Massachusetts and that
it can carry dead weight of prohibition" and
elect its candidates by majorities that ia any
other State would be considered enormous.
: The election in Maine was held early in the
season before the great 'stidal wave" as it is
called, had got well under way, and its effects
are not to be perceived in the returns, although
the vote was light compared with that
| of 1872. Governor Dingley had ls2le, but IN
that year the whole Republican vote was n ,9l7
| while in 1874 it was but 33.13l. The Demo
cratic vote fell off in nearly the same proper
| tion but the Republican majority was relatively
| larger in 1874 than in 1872. The party is evil
IDENTIFY not dead in Maine. New Hampshire
may be eosidered in these times a Democratic
State. At the election last spring the Demo
4 cratic candidate for Governor had plurality
of J, 900 over the Republican candidate, but adj
ding the vote for straight out temperance can
didate he was in minority. This threw the cleo
ton to the Legislature, and Mr.. Western Demo
craft was chosen. The Republican vote i'll 1877;
i was IS. 75l, and the Democratic vote was 36
5S4. In 1874 the Republican vote was 81, l37
and the Democratic vote IS, 1913. 1t will b.
seen from this that both parties lost votes il
| 1874, and as far as can be ascertained from tn
figures the Democrats did not gain singh
vote. There is still hopes for New Halnpshir
in the campaign OF 1876. Rhode Island is