The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-09-14

The close state of parties In the Senate ac
tually throws the balance of power into the
hands of the carpet -baggcrs, Of whom but
four remain a. ilccting reminder of their
former strength in that body.
Under ordinary circumstances, at the
meeting of the Senate ON the 18th Of Octo-
Der there would bc 80 Republicans, 80 DEM
Dcrats. and one Independent. Judge DAVIS
pf Illinois Two vacancies from Louisiana
md one from South Carolina are contested,
nud whom added To the above numbers,
Will complete the Senate of 10 members
Owing TO the state Of his health. Mr..
MORTON is forbidden to appear, 80 that.
with all others present, the count would
stand IS Republicans against 33 Democrats,
or an apparent majority Of 8, exclusive of
Judge DAVIS Looking back only few
Yeas, these figures show a wonderful de-
cline i'm She long asccndancy Of the Republic
ean party. H. is the more remarkable from
the fact that thu senate is permanent
body. of which onc-ti 'rd goes out every two
years Transient causes cannot therefore,
be assigned for this great ch %ngc' ctrue
cause is. the country has lost '''hildeicc III
the party which is responsible ior the
prodigahty. corruption public plunde. ana
NATURALIZATION NlilNn HuNN lANNNN~
Existing general distress.
Until the ith of March, 1870. the Rop,, ~
rams will hold two Senators in each of the
following II States: California, Colorado,
Iowa, Kansas. Nine Massachusetts, Mich
igan. Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New
Hampshire. Rhode Island, Vermont and
Wisconsin; and one senator in Alabama,
Arkansas, Florida. Illinois, Indiana, Missis-
sippi New York Ohio. Oregon, Pcnnsylva-
mia and South Carolina-39 in all. Mr. Nor
TON, whose condition Is precarious, and Mr.
PATTERSON. who is likely to be expelled, are
both included in this count.
II will be observed that the Republican
etrongholds are in five New England States,
and nine Northwestern Statcs-so some Of the
latter 10y only feeble and passing grip.
California has Just discarded SARGENT.
which takes one State from the column. and
others will bc apt TO follow the example, If
the falling of in Maine has any significance
The Democrats hold two Senators in each of
the following II States Connecticut, Del
nwarc. Georgia. Kentucky, Missouri, Mary
land. New Jersey, North Carolina, Tcnnes-
see Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia
and one Senator in Alabama. Arkansas,
Florida. Indiana, Mississippi New York,
Ohio, Oregon. and nsylvania--3 80 in all.
Twcnty-four Senators will go out on the
4th of March 1879, and without specializing
upon probabilities, there are certain data to
determine the political complexion of the
body on that day. Alabama. Arkansas,
Florida. South Carolina, and California will
surely elect Democrats In place of SPENCER
DoRsrY, CoNovER, PATTERSON, and SAR-
GENT. The chances are that PATTERSON
Will bc I'm the pcnitontiary or beyond the
seas. long before the time fixed for his reg
ular departure from the Senate Deduct
these five votes from the full Republican
column Of 80 and add them 10 the Demo-
cratic side. and the result would bc "a Rcpub-
licnns IS Democrats. and one Independent;
or. surprising Judge DAVIS TO act with the
Republicans which is an unwarrantcd as
sumption then the Democratic majority
would hc three clear
There remains only to he considered the
factor of the three vacancies from Lou-
siana and South Carolina No doubt exists
a. TO the legal right of the three Democratic
claimants from those States and the proba-
bility is they will all he admitted without
any serious or prolonged controversy. The
enforced absence OF Mr.. MORTON will be a
md his colleague, for no other Senator will
p-pousc their cause as he would have done.
An effort may bee possibly made by Mr..
HOWE and others of his stamp 10 resist the
Inevitable but it will be weak and must fail,
for, a the very worst, the Democrats are
strong enough, without counting allies
ready to volunteer toprcvent any accession
from these vacancies to the side Of their OPP
Ioncnts.
Outside. and not taken into the above ac-
count nt all, Indiana, Illinois, Nevada, New
York. Oregon, Ohio, Penns ylvania, and Wis
consin, are among the doubtful States to
eject Senators before 1879. 1t will not be pre-
tended that the Republicans will carry them
all, and if they did, the result already given
would not be changed. Every vote gained
fro... thcn will increase the Democratic ma
joritv. The other States TO elect are pro-
nouuccd for one side or the other, and there
for" are not disputed.
he four carpct-baggcrs are in n dissatls-
fled state OF mind, and would like to mako
bargain with tine Democrats for dividing
the spoils. BY separating from the Repub-
licans and going over TO their opponents,
they could elect all the officers and get pos
session Of the entire patronage Of that
body. Ovcrturcs have been made TO this
effect, but the response has not been encour-
aging. The gain Of few offices would be
hut little in comparison with the loss of
moral prestige from corrupt and dis
graceful alliance Therefore, the organi2a-
ton Of the Senate will stand unchanged
until the ith OF March, 1879.
Jay Gould as an Historian.