The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1877-04-04
A Democratic senate.
TWO YEARS MORE AND A CERTAIN RE-
PUBLICAN MINORITY.

The Republicans have 40 frail ma
jority in the Senate that Mr.. Morton
has to let Kellogg's case 60 over to
December. The gradual declines OF
the party under Grants rule is more
clearly seen in the political changes in
the Senate than in any other depart
tnent OF tile government. Eight years
ago, when he entered the White House
the Republicans had a majority of for
ty-five in the Senate. At the com
mencement of his second term it had
fallen to thirty.four. Two years after
ward came the sweeping revolution of
November, 1874, which, in the follow
ing Congress, carried the Republican
majority in the Senate down to four
teen. The elections last fall made
still further changes ia the same direc-
ton; and after counting all the indie
peDdents on their side, except Judge
David Davis, we find that the Repub-
licans now have majority in the Sen
ate of only five.
Such are the results upon the Sen
ate of the eight years OF Grants ad-
iuinistration. The Republican MAORI
ty being thus reduced from forty five
down to five, what are the prospects
of the future7 Leaving out of view the
doubtful case III Louisiana, the terms
Of twenty three 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 he chosen next. What
are the probabilities respecting the
Senate in the next Congressf
Of the twenty three Senators whose
terms expire with the present Con-
gress, six are Democrats and seventeen
are Republicans. The Democrats are
Barnum of Connecticut, Dennis of Ma
ryland, McC,eery of Kentucky, Bogy
of Missouri, Merrimon Of North Caro-
lima, and Gordon of Georgia. There
is no doubt that these States will re-
elect Democrats, with the barely posi-
BILE exception OF Connecticut. Give
them the last named State, and they
would retain the six seats.
How will it likely to fare with the
seventeen Republicans Four of them
are certain to be supplauted by Demo
crats-Spencer of Alabama, Dorsey oil
Arkansas, Conover of Florida, and
Patterson of South Carolina. These
changes alone would give the Demo.
Gratis majority in the Senate even
though the Louisiana seats should bt
awarded to Republicans.
A survey of the field elsewhere is
not encouraging to the Republicans
! Two years hence the terms of Conklipt
and Morton, Jones of Nevada, and
Mitchell of Oregon will expire. All
these seats are 80 doubtful that the
Republicans will do we'll If they art
able to save two of them.
At the same time Chaffee of Colorado
Sargent Of California, and Matthews o
Ohio, who now take Shcrman's place
go out. Perhaps the Republicans vii
stand the best chance in those States
bnt their prospects are not brilliant
Then there is Ogleshy OF Illinois; hi
record will come to an end, aud wht
can feel certain that lie or any Repub
lican candidate will fare better iii Jan
uary, 1879, than Logan has now
Only five of the seventeen are left
Wadeigh of New Hampshire, Morril
of Vermont, Cameron Of Pennsylvania
Allison of Iowa. and Ingalls, of Kansas
Their Successors can hardly fail to b.
Republicans.
In the light of these facts is it no
reduced almost to q certainty that tn
Democrats will control the Senate tw
years from now Does the wildes
imagination forecast any chang
in the relations of political partie
thac can prevent this I'm. Y. Sun.