Daily Los Angeles herald., 1878-11-27
Tns zeal sisssneanee OF she E,ec-
ulons.

Tne Real signsficanee OF she Eiec-
sloas.
Probably In no election in the
United States was the difference
between the October and Novem-
Der elections so marked as in that
which has just passed. In October
the Republican party was falling
to pieces. This state of the politi-
cal barometer was preluded by the
loss to the Republican party of the
State sf Oregon. That party, to
the surprise OF the country, in Oc-
tober. lost Congressman in Maine
and Vermont, which were looked
upon as twin Republican Gibral-
tars. Changes in favor of the De-
mocracy were to be expected in In
diana and Ohio. To the equal
surprise Of the country, in Novem-
ber, the Democratic party lost Con-
eressmen in New York, Connecti-
cut and New Jersey-States which
have been staunchly Democratic.
We have been q close observer of
politics In the United States dur
ing our time, and we have never
had occasion to note such politi-
cal phenomenon as this. Hitherto
the October have always dominat-
cd the November elections. 1t used
to be, in the old days, political
axiom, s'as goes Pennsylvania in
October, so goes the Union" Only
In this single instance has the au.
spice Of the October election been
falsified. In the famous Buchan-
an-Fremont campaign of 1856 both
parties concentrated all their
strength on the October election in
Pennsylvania, In the confident an
tlcipation that, as went Pennsyl.
vAnIa, so would go the Union, and
the result verified the sagacity OF
the plan Of campaign. The Demo-
crats carried Pennsylvania and Blu.
ehanan was elected President. But
now things political eventuate diff
ferently.
The struggle at the late election
will not have been in vain, if the
deep significance OF the result is
not overlooked. The election OF
1878 was really the opening cam
paign for the great conflict which
is to ensue In 1880. This was the
nrst election of any Importance
since the internal commotion oi
1877, and the labor ele-
ments of the community prop.
erly appreciated that their battle
was yet to bs fought and that the
issues from which sprung the ILL.,
advised and untimely riots, must
be really fought at the polls. They
did not, however, understand fully
the requisites of the occasion to en-
sure success, and they very unwise-
ly assumed to contest their case
single-handed against the best or
ganlzed combination this country
ever saw. The dominant party
clearly understood the situation,
and that its only hope was in the
division of the opposition, and it
very skill!ully maneuvred to pre-
vent union of the elements which
threatened its destruction. The re-
suit has proved the wisdom of the
policy, and has demonstrated that
it will continue in power through
another Presidential term unless
all the elements opposed to misrule
are combined. All the branches OF
corporate and individual monopoly
lent their personal exertions as
well as their liberal contributions
ffom their ill-gotten gains to win
the initial campaign, and they sue
ceeded. This success has been dear
bought, for it has exposed the
weakness of their force; they are
largely in the minority, and in
point OF numbers can be easily
overpowered. In the great States
OF New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio,
Indiana, Illinois, and in some
others, there is majority that is
controlling and decisive. against
the Republican party, which now
represents the opposition to the
cause of the people. If anything
has been determined in the late
contest, 1t is, that no new organi-
zatlon can hope to overcome the
present Republican combination.
The orly hope is that 9fered by
the Democratic party. There may
be and there are elements in that
party quite as Objectionable as
those which control the opposition,
but a julicious use OF the strength
ofthe labor element, not yet iden-
tilted with either of the great par
ties, can give direction in the en-
suing elections which will accom-.
piish all that it seeks to achieve,
beyond any risk. The Republican
party is irretrievably committed to
the cause of the monopolists. 1t
has subsidized all the purchasable
and 50 called independent press,
and there is no recourse for those
who would see the most powerful
combination In wealth aud num-