, 1876-10-21
Review of the Field.


The political leaders will doubtless
come TO a brief pause, survey the
field as far as the battle has progress
ed, aud make such changes in their
tactics as circumstances seem 10 de-
mdnd. II is not easy TO determine
which side has gained The greatest ad-
vantage from the October elections.
( The republicans have carried OHIO
and Colorado, the democrats Indiana
and West Virginia. All four were
States claimed among the doubtful,
though ONO generally furnd place
in the republican column Of saCacIOus
calcuiatorS. Indiana Is, perhaps, the
most closelely balanced State III the
Union. 1t has occasionally given
large majorities on Ell her SIDE, but
has remained with no party long.
West Virginia is also doubtful State
in the fail sense OF the term. In 1872
it was republican in both State and
National elections, but in 1874 dritled
with The democratic tidal wave 10
that side. Colorado had no record
as q State, but the success OF the
democrats in electlng their delegate
To Congress last year placed that
fairly in the list of doubtful States.
The honors Of the October battles are
therefore pretty evenly divided. The
republicans save State hich was
generally conceded 10 them, and WIN
one which they could not count npon;
and the democrats retains two States
absolutely necessary 10 their success
in November, but which had been
vigorously attacked by their oppo
nents.
In the intaDgibl- element Of moral
effect, it is not difficult 10 perceive
which party derives the greater adyan
tage from the eleclious just held.
The democrats have fought from the
start on sandy foundation They
had 10 firm hold on any Northern
ST te. North Of the Old Mason and
Dixon line. and west of the Mississippi,
there was not one State winch they
could confidently call their own.
There were Influences at work the
effect Of which they could not cacu-
late. tt ey could not know how Sc
verely the Northern people would
Judge he foiIies of the legislative
body which had given political op
ponents an excuse Ia dub it the "Con
tedera,e" House. They could not es
,imaie close. y the ettrc 's"!id Sunlh
might have on the element III their
party winch had acted with The reyub
licans previous to 1874. The STATE
elections in Maine and Vermont were
simply dcmonslra'ive Of the fact that
the republican line Was unbroken-
that while strasgIers had wandered
If, the holy Of the party remained
true. The moral effect, therefore, OF
q trial of strength with even results Is
greater to the democrats than 10 the
republicans. 1t demonstrates their
power to hold a State which they
mast have to go into the November
battle with a show Of hope. New
YosI, has been considered less certain
for Tilden and Hendricks in a Presi-
Dental election than Indiana but
since the latter is carried. mere con
fdence will be felt IL their ability 10
carry the former. There is an i'll
fiaence also which Governor Hayes
well expressed the other day when he
said the drifIings this year were to
ward the republican party 1t was so
until the 10,h of October. The drift
ing, il not changed in lis course, is
checked. If not set in the other way,
this mysterious motor Is at rest. NeI
ther party seems to owe anything 10
luck III October. II was a battle of
hard blows, which had th'ir logical
effect, and no more. The moral effect,
Ui this Conflict on the republicans will
be that arising from a correct apDre
ciarion of the situation. They under
stand now that they will not drift 10
victory in November Il may be in
their power TO arrive there, but it will
be through The agency OF hard work
| S. +. Call