New-York tribune., 1877-08-23
ryyFcEssARY DISTRESS At MOBILE.

v T.
There is a degree of candor in the remarks
of The Mobile Register, touching the effect OF
the defeat of the Democrats and triumph OF
an Independent ticket in the municipal cleo
ton in that city, which is really wholesome
and refreshing. 1t is not what might be called
high politics, nor has it a very strong flavor OF
REFORM but it has the rare merit OF frank
ness-almost brutal frankness. The Rcg'sfer Is
in state of hearty disgust with those Dem
ocrats who voted against the regular
ticket and contributed to the victory
of the Independents. Not, so far as we
can see, on account of any principle IN
yolved for there does not seem to have
been anything at stake which the party Is IN
the habit of setting up It's reverence Tor III
platforms and resolutions. 1t is not asserted
that bv reason of this defeat anything serious
is going to happen Immediately, either to the
Democrats or the country, or even to the
CITY of Mobile. 1t is not that at all. 1t
is worse. 1t relates to offices and plumber
and spos. 1t will affect the Mobile
Democracy unfavorably by and by, in that
dim and distant day when there shall be
Democratic Administration at Washington and
custom houses and post-ofces to be had by
good Democrats for the asking. Dim and dis
tant did we sayi Not so, if The Mobile Register
forecasts the future correctly. Says that
journal stirring bit of prophecy in with
It's indignation "There is no earthly doubt
"of an overwhelming Democratic victory at
"the Presidential election of 1880" We seem
to remember similar prophetic utterances dur
ing the past sixteen years. That victory" 1t
adds "wll place in the hands of the Demo-
"cratic party the exclusive patronage of Fed
"eral oilices-custOm house, pOst-oiiice, inter
"pal revenue lighthouse and harbOr boards,
"witb their hundreds of officers and employees"
There's picture for the fancy of hungry
Democrat And it has the exceeding merit of
setting forth precisely what every Democrat is
thinking of, but not one says anything about,
IN connection with Democratic victory. The
fashion is to talk about the great good that is
to come to the country from the triumph of
Democratic nciples-thOugh no one knows
for twenty four hours at time what Demo-
cratic principles are-and say nothing about
the great profit that is to come to Democratic
leaders in the division of the spOils. The Reg
ister talks ont what all the rest think and
frankly announces the full meaning of Demo
cratic success to witt " the exclusive patronage of
Federal Offices" But the editor is saddened
when he thinks what will become of Mobile
when the day of distribution comes. "How
"will it fare" he asks, " when the time comes
" for our representatives and Senators in Con-
"ress to recommend for Office the wOrthiest
as well as the most deserving of our Demo
cratic citizens?" That, after all, is the great
question, not only in Mobile, but everywhere
throughout the country. If there should ever
be a Democratic Administration it will be on
the lips Of pretty nearly every Democrat in
the land. And the Mobile editor, summing up
the horrors of the situation, says that when
they find Mobile in the hands of the indie
pendents, the Representatives and Senators
"wi totally ignore her in the distribution of
" Offices, and fill them exclusively with parties
from other parts of the State, whose efforts
''on behalf of the party have been crowned
with success" No wonder he is indignant
and Disguised. The only object of Democratic