The daily gazette., 1878-06-26

pr blicans, the former have the advantage
of possession, and of the popular issues in
the States and sections where gains may
be reasonably expected. The latter have
better discipline, and through the pro-
cess of levying ''voluntary contributions"
on hundred thousand ofliceholders, they
will be able TO raise large fund, which
their opponents cannot do.
BY reapportionment the Democrats
will gain three or four members in Mis-
souri, and four or five in Ohio. They have
already scored one in Oregon, as the open
ing of the campaign. South Carolina
Will give them at least two additional
members and Florida one. The chances
of Democratic accessions from Indiana
Wisconsin, and Illinois are fair. On the
other hand, the districts now represented
by Casey Young in Tennessee, by Tur-
ner in Kentucky, and by Chalmers in
Mississippi,i if ex-senator Alcorn should be
candidate against him, are more or less
likely to be won oy the Republicans. In
the Northern and New England States
the probable changes on both side will
offset each other.
Thus the prospect for the Republicans
to increase their present strength in the
House cannot be called encouraging.
They will enter the canvass weighed
down with the burden Of sustaining a
Fraudulent Administration and of enjoy
ing the fruits of stolen success. They
will have to carry the responsibility of
being in power at period ofgreat suffer
ing without having the will or the ability
to afford any relief whatever. All the
exposures of John Sherman, Stanley
Matthews, and their associates aggravate
the public resentment against the Fraud,
and impair confidence in the party which
has at the very least condoned it by fail
ing to decisively repudiate Hayes and
his Administration.
The very strong probability that til e
Senate Will be Democratic after the ith
o. March next is another cause .calcula-
ted to dishearten the Republican masses
though that fact of itself may nerve the
leaders to desperate effort. But they
are without any issue or cry to excite
popular feeling. The current has for sew
eral years continuously set against them,
as it usually does against any party which
by long possession Of power has grown
reckless, domineering, and venal
The rapid review of the respective posi-
tions of the Republicans and the Dem
ocrats shows pretty clearly that the pres
ect majority in the house will probably
he retained in round numbers, and may
be increased, unless some new element
should rise up in the few months that
will intervene between this time and the
day of election. OF course the Nationals
will lte cheered by their sweeping success
in San Francisco, and will not fail to pro-
fit by the encourage which it gives.
Under this impulse, they may perhaps
return few members to tho House, and
with good candidates they might elect
half of the California delegation easily, as
| things now stand in that State.
But except in certain localities east OF
the Pacific coast, the new organization is
| not likely to make much headway for
Congress, though it will probably get a
footing in several of the State Leglsla.
lures, and may hold the balance of pow
er in New ork, Pennsylvania, Indiana
/ and other States which are to elect Sena
tors to come in after the 4th of March, 49,
~. All things considered, the chances
are in favor of the Democratic contin
uing their ascendancy in the House.