The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-03-18
The senate becoming Democrntic.

The Republicans have 80 frail majority
IN the Senate that Mr.. MORTON has TO let
KHLLoGG's case go over to December. The
gradual decline of the party under GRANTS
rule Is more clearly seen In the political
changes in the Senate than in any other de-
partment Of the Government. Eight years
ago, when he entered the White House, the
Republicans had majority OF forty-ive in
the Senate. At the commencement OF his
second term It had fallen to thlrty-four
Two years afterward came the sweeping
revolution OF November, 1874 which, In the
following Congress. carried the Republican
majority In the Senate down to fourteen.
The elections last fall made still further
changes In tho same direction; and after
counting all the Independents on their side
except Judge DAVID DAVIS, we find that the
Republicans now have a majority in the
Senate OF only five.
Such are the results upon the Senate OF the
eight years Of GRANTS administration. The
Republican majority being thus reduced
from forty-hve down to five, what are the
prospects for the future2 Leaving out of
view the doubtful case in Louisiana, the
terms Of twcnty-thrce members Of the pres
ent Senate expire with this Congress Some
OF the Legislatures which are to elect the
successors of these Senators will be chosen
this year, but the most OF them will be
chosen next year. What are the probabili-
ties respecting the Senate In the next Con-
grcssY
OF the twenty-three senators whose terms
expire with the present Congress, six are
Democrats and seventeen are Republicans.
The Democrats are BARNUM Of Connecticut,
DENNIS OF Maryland, MCCREERY OF Ken
lucky, BoGY Of Missouri, MERRIMoN Of
North Carolina, and GORDON OF Georgia
There is no doubt that these States will re-
elect Democrats. with the barely possible cx-
ception OF Connecticut. Give them the last
named State, and they would retain the six
seats.
How will It be likely to fare with the sew
enteen Republicans? Four Of them are GER
tain to be supplanted by Democrats -SpEN-
GER Of Alabama, DORSEY of Arkansas.
CoNovER Of Florida. and PATTERSON of South
Carolina. These changes alone would give
the Democrats majority in the Senate even
though the Louisiana seats should be award
cd to Republicans.
A survey OF the field elsewhere is not en-
couraging TO the Republicans. Two years
AcnCt luc Vi NONhisiNo anu SlbhlON,
JONES Of Nevada, and MITCHELL of Oregon
will expire. All these seats are so doubtful
that the Republicans will do well ii they
are able to save two OF them.
At the same time CHAFrEE Of Colorado,
SARGENT Of California, and MATTHEWS Of
Ohio, who now takes SHERMAN's place, go
out. Perhaps the Republicans will stand
tho best chance in those States, but their
prospects are not brilliant. Then there Is
OGLEsBY of Illinois; his term will come to
AN emu. ana VINO can icel certain that he or
any Republican candidate will fare better in
January, 1879, than LOGAN has now?
Only five of the seventeen are left-WAD-
LEIGH of New Hampshire, MORRILL, of YER
mont, CAMERON of Pennsylvania ALLISON OF
Iowa, and INGALLS, of Kansas Their sue
ccssors can hardly fail to be Republicans.
In the light Of these facts is it not reduced
almost TO a certainty that the Democrats
will control the Senate two years from now
Does the widest Imagination forecast any
change in the relations OF political parties
that can prevent this