New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-11-12
THE POLITICAL FIELD.
LESSONS OF THE ELECTION.

now NOVEMBER CONTGsUICTS oCToBER-THk RE-
pvBrGCAN PANTY SOLID AND WALT DIFFERS
ov TEMPORARY ISSUES, BUT is FAITHFUL TO us
OLD FUNDANESTsL BELIEFS.
IFRoM STAFF CORRESPONDENTS OF TIE TRIBuNEl
Pu1typriPHI,. Nov. 9.-After the October cleo
tions the political Jeremahs all prophesied that the
Rcruhlcan party was doomed. They saw d'Sln'e-
grafton in every figure Of the returns. something
mrst he done. they said or the old party will 20 to
pieces nj once. Some were for doing one thiAr' ana
some another. Everybody must get on the Prcsi-
dents platform" said one set of croakers; We
uust throw the President overheard" said another
SET. The prospect did in reality look exceedingly
dismal 4 month has gone by, and the November
elections have taken place. With Kaleidoscope
audiences the outlook for the future changes.
The figures Of Tuesday s retuEns cannot be read III
my other way than to mean that the Republican
organization is thoroughly alive and IN the iuil
possession of all its faculties. Senator ConklIng
uses the right word when he says the result demon
stratcs the solidarity Of the party. See how amply
tbe facts bear out this definition In Massachusetts,
the Republicans squarely Endorsed the PRESIDENT
md won victory in spite of the apathy of the OFF,
year the popularity of the Democratic nominee Tor
Governor. and the annoying antics of a number OF
cucrriIla factions If this result stood alone we
might saw: Behold what good thing 1t is
IN dwell i'm harmony with President Hayes
But IN New-York the party did not lndorse MI
HAYES On the contrary, it criticised him sharpy
and got M dramatic performance at koches'ero I
such sensational character TO attract the atten-
ton of the whole country to its criticisms Pohtlca
v-iseacres prcdcted crushing defeat, but the ont
come Of the ballot was. in effect, Republican VIC
rory for the party carried the Legislature ana CUT
down tho average Democratic majority on the state
ticket. In PENNSYLVANIA the party took halfway
hr gV1t1 RE Tg
solved in favor Of nothing in particular and of a
multitude of things in general and were beaten, hut
ONLY by a small plurality. In Wisconsin, while
standing by the Administration, the party made
its fight against the soft money and silver heresies'
and plucked a signal triumph from q situation that
seemed beset with danger. Let the reader weigh
these facts carefully in his mind and see if they do
not Justify the following differences:
Fys,-The Republican party is not tied to the
President nor is it committed to the views of those
who differ with him. l; allows the largest freedom
OF opinion. II likes brisk discussion of current
roliti,s. and the projection of positive ideas
Into a canvass. matter whether the ideas
are entertained by all its members or not.
II there is conflict of opinion in
convention the beaten men do not sulk, but rather
enjoy no stirring up they get The great underly-
ing ideas of the party subst and are strong enough
10 bind il together no matter what QuarTes may
arise over the transient issues Of the hour. There
deal Of truth in what Mr. TIlden says of the
foundation ideas of a party existing IRON genera
ton tO generation, although. LOOKING through IFS
Democratic srtctac'es he does not seem 20 compIe-
bend very accurately what Republican ideas are.
lie thinks the party believes m mgh
Government" which shall override state au-
thnrltv. and interfere with the daily. NE
Of the citizen. What II really believes m j.
strong free and honest Government, which shall
equally protect the rights OF all cizcus. and equally
REGARD the interests of ali classes aud all sections o
the country. IL further believes mat tn'Se hllru
States are natlon-an ldra that even tne war
failed 20 beat into the heads Of the Ola Democratic
leaders
Srcopd-Tho Republican party is shown by the
elections 20 bc still powerful organization, capable
Of running itself without the Federal otticc-hodorS,
and i'm excellent fighting trim for future campaigns.
He who rnus may read thi, lesson in the figures Of
the returns The great mass OF the Republicans
al former years came out and voted Many
6id not care for the men running for Office. and
many di,approycj of the atlnuus. but they voted
e. show that they are suli l.e3nhhcanH, ana sun
think that the advent of tn Democracy TO power IN
4, Nation Would Dee "a calamity The party, then Us
solid Even the Oiics 0f its leaders cannot split ~
L. lc holding to its old faiths still uncl and Tor
laidahlo and shorn of very little of its old strength
T7ird-Ihe party fights best only when II fights
fora distinct principle identified with rs traditional
policy. That was shown in Wisconsin, where the
Eepublicaus pushed the canvass Oh hard-money
grounds not yielding anything 10 The decisions that
bad crcp into their party, but combating them
as the hcrcsics of their opponents, rs they really
are Wisconsin used to be counted a much closer
State than Ohio aud when Ohio went Democratic
this Fall il seemed impossible TO save it, Nor could
u have been saved if The Republican Convention
had given way To the cheap silver and precntack
Cl5u0r. The settled principles Of the Republican
PARTY favor strictly honest currency. and vgaut
defence of the National credit any departure from
them will invariably lose more votes than II gains
Finally with the iuc esprit de corps shown still
t. prevail ia the Republican ranks-mud, there has
been no desertion this FAN, but only
little tagging in the rearl-aud with the addi-
tioua bluudcrs and foliies which the Dem
oclats are pretty sure to commit in Congress
TINS Winter. he Republican party ought to be IN
good shape by another year. If there is no more
Cotiug at the President on account o. hat hc has
ouc iu thc south and If She Administration viii he
acre careful 10 make its appointments rest ~ least
10 thc ycrgco of It's ample theory Of Civil Service
Reform, the cioakcrs viii soon ind their occupation
gone. J.. V. 5.