Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-11-07
The Cause of the Democratic Defcai.

TUESDAYS elections is not fer to seek or dli1cui'
to understand, 1t is more than ever apparent
that the common sense and oommon honesty
of the American people can be depended upon
for lust solution Of the currency question;
The 80 called "greeuback movement-l,a1
unknown factor 10 the politics OF the county
which was to revolutionze everything ano leau
to new organiZ alton OF partles-has pr9Ssur
less formidable than the most arden, irienos 81
honest money dared to hope. Instead ofs~eep
inc tho country like tidal wave' it has only
epeulfed the unfortunate politicians who trust
ed to it to watt them into place and power
The London Times 10 leader on the Ameil'
can elections says that now, as often before, the
good senee of the American people has como
to the rescue. The elections show that the
most Potent forces 10 the Republic are on the
side Of financial honesty and SCcal conser'
vatism.
The Washington Star says: The common
remark heard on the street to day is: What
brought such change OF sentiment about -
The result 10 Connecticut surprised republicans
and democrats alike. Ten days ago the repub
licaus conceded the State to the democrats
The weight Of Intelligent expression is that the
greeuback movement has Injured the demo-
cratic party TO such az extent that it Will be
| impossible to heal it up before 1880.
The New York Herald says: The green
| back party appears TO haQc cut very small
figure Yesterday Perhaps these elections may
teach the democratic leaders little sense on
| the currency question. Between Senator Thur.
mans bolt for nfllion and the Tilden cphers
| the democrats are losing ground With the
| country.
The New York Tribune says: at is splen'
did victory for honest money. The platform
and the canvass 10 New York were as explicit
as words could make them The rigging hard
money speech OF Galusha a. Grow. at Oil City,
| at the very outset Of the Pennsylvania cam
paign won tho victory 10 that State. 10 Mas
saohusetts tho issue was yet moro sharply
drawn, and it vii! be long before another man
of power throws himself away Oh the theory
that Bay State voters really prefer rasca|ity 10
| national foance."
The New York World says: "The mos! sat.
isfactory aspect of General Butler overwheIm'
! Ing discontinue in Massachusetts, is not the
| modification which has overtaken the man, but
the demonstration it affords of the powerless'
| ness of the greenback party, of which no is the
most conspicuous representative.
| Postmaster General Key says: The result
Of the elections. il the North, at least, is
largely due 10 the fact that macy democrats
| who still adhere to the old Jacksonian and Ben
toniau doctrine of hard money, either would
not vote at all or voted with the republicans.
| | regard it as singular occurrence that demo
Gratis who opposed soft money in the beginning,
and insisted upon their time honored doctrine
of hard money, should now, as party, advo
cate the reverse. But mapy Of them, who
arc we'll grounded in the old theory, still adhere
to it 80 tenacously that they will not vote with
| their party. [ think that tho cOmmunlstlc
movement bas bad a great deal to do with the
result of the elections. | believe that tho cry
| raised against the bondholders aud the rich man
| By the communists is a fallaoy. The etfec! has
been to draw the capitalists of the country into
| the field Of politics, and their Influence ia:
| naturally Como to the republicans. The irhu
ence of capital, which is always potent when
used in elections. has contributed largely 10 the
general result
The Baltimore Gszstto says The reason
of this is clear and unstakable. Tho demo
| cracy ccquatted too long with the greenback
delusion. 1t suffered tho republicans to seize
the winning side of the issue. suffered them 10
| fact to win the victory with the democratic
weapons. The time honored principles OF
democracy, the old traditions. the teachings OF
! lis old leaders, is attitude when grccobacks
were first made legal tender, were all express
siops of faith ia hard money.
| The Baltimore Sun says The grcenback
| folly has been impressed upon the democratic
party of Maryland ia severely practical way.
| MIR. Urner is elected by plurality over State
| Senator Peter Of TIC. Mr.. Horac, ReseY,
| the greenback nominee. who has been 10 close
utilization with the democratic party for many
years, received 1878 votes IN all 10 the sixth
congressional district. MIR. ReSlays vots add
ed to Mr. Peter would have elected tho latter
by lO2 majority.
| The New York Herald Of to-day says
"LeaviDg out Nevada, from which decisive
reports have not yet come, and California,
whose delegation is at present tied, the demo
Gratis hsva mai ority 10 Dloeteen State delcga
tions and the republicans 10 seventeen. Ii
Nevada and California should both give repub
lican msjorities the House on count Of States
would bs equally balanced
The New York Jouroal of Commerce SAYS
We believe that The action OF The honest voters
Tuesday was intended everywhere as rebuke
to the democratic party for missing its grand
opportunity for usefulness presented to 1t 10 its
previous successes. When the national victory
was wrested from its grasp by the frauds 10
Louisiana and florida its leaders sat sullenly
down to nurse their grievance, and refused to
do what they could to redeem the country from
the Slough of Despond into which it has been
plunged. If they had everywhere followed the
lead of such men as Bsyard, of Delaware; had
cordially and heartily supported the measures
Looking toward the resumption Of specie pay
ments; had refused to join 10 any denunciatlon
of capital as tho foe to labor, tu! instead there.
of brought forward the needed plans for the
encouragement OF capital and enterprise iu new
fields of industry-in short, had worked for the
country instead Of for moro party advantage
and successfully would have won golden opln.
ions from the independent voters everywhere,
and would not sit 10 desolation to day over their
numerous and dshcartening defeats. Tho no.
publicans need not look upon these favorable
returns as vote Of confidence 10 their admin.
istraton. 1t is rather the reaction of the dis.
satisfied voters, who have thus vented their
disappointment. Tho democrats may recover
more than they have lost. and 20 into power
with triumphant majority at the next presi-
dental election If they will manifest more cour.
age and patriotism and less party seI6shness.