New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-11-27
Not roo Fist.


10 discount the political future too rapidly. it
NAV be that we shall have Democratic Sen
ate immediately. Democratic House again
with a heavier majority two years hence,
a Dem, cratic President in 1850, and IN
general Democratic rule in pretty nearly all
the States. Ii is not at all surprising
that Democratic leaders should look forward
to such contamination with a confidence
rising almost to certainty. have seen the
same manifestations OF q sanguine tcmpera-
ment before. And we have seen the same
homes bliehtcd, the same expectations brought
to raueu, and The same prophets dis
comtittcd Ii is not best for Republicans
TO give w .he country quite yet, even though
their opponents have succeeded i'll buy
inc ND enough men N the Senate who
boncht their seats to give them an apparent
Temporary advantage. The fact, OF course,
cannot be disputed, that during the past five
or six years the Democrats have made very
decided gains in most Of the States, and very
ropid progress towards the control of both
branches of Congress. We need not enter
here into q discussion Of the causes which led
10 this unfortunate condition OF affairs.
Ii is enough that il exists, and that
Democrats are juhilant over 1t, while
Republicans are in the same degree despon-
dent and many, no doubt, discouraged When
The idea Of buying mp carpet-basger or two
was first broached in Democratic circles few
months ago, some of the more cautious,
or more reputable, Of the leaders who
did not quite like to be engaged in
such business, urged against it, that the party
was sure, in the course of events, to come into
possession Of the Senate at some time during
the present Administration, and it would be
better TO wait that time in patience rather than
be hurdcncd with the Odium of the proposed
transaction and the responsibility for all the
legislation Of Congress which would follow. The
GOODNESS with which they assumed that the cOUn-
try would fall into their handsIu 1850, and the
Senate before that time, had the effect to de-
moraliza certain tmid Republicans, who seem
almost DISPOSED to cOncedc the claim without
a struggle
Another thing which has had n tendency to
dispirit and demorallze the Republicans Is tie
course of the Administration with reference 10
the Civil Service and the Southern question.
The policy of previous Administrations in the
matter of appointments to Office, and the
prevalence of the practice of using Off
cial patronage for partisan purposes,
to strengthen the Administration and carry
elections, had come to be considered essential
TO success the habit of leaning on the Office
holders and trusting to their self interest to
carry on campaigns and manage elections, had
become so fixed and strong that thousands
of Republicans saw, OF thought they saw,
inevitable defeat Us the consequence OF
fine disestablishment order Of the President.
In the course pursued by the President with
REGARD to the Southern States, they saw again
nothing but a surrender of a partisan
advantage, and still further weaken
ing Of the party. Many Of them believed
the President had done only his duty in
refusing TO continue Federal interference
TO maintain Republican supremacy III the
Southern States, and that he was honest
and sincere IN his intentions, whatever they
thought of his methods in his Civil Service
Motley. But they have been 50 long habitua-
ted TO the notion that upon the olce-holder
and lhe carpet Dagger the party depended entire.
IN for success, that the removal of both from
their spheres Of activity produced a shock.
The first thought very naturally was that
so revolutionary course must be fatal
to the party. They have seen the
Administration, too, woOing somewhat
earnestly a Southern support which, it is
only fair to say, not one person in a thousand
of any party has the remotest notion that it
can gain. Hero, then, is a combination of
causes for Republican Encouragement, which,
taken in connection with Democratic assump-
ton. will fairly account for the present state
of feeling in the party.
And yet we undertake to say that in this
some situation there will be found upon n lit
tle reflection thc highest encouragement for the
future. 1t should not be forgotten that all
the discouraging conditions referred to above