The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-04-15

When the Republican National congress
sional caucus met last week the principal sub
iect discussed by it was the difference exist
ing between the Republican party and the
President; this evidently was the thorn in
the side OF the Republicans, the great danger
they foresaw ahead. When the Democratic
caucus met the principal topic discussed was
the new and independent political organiza-
tions that have entered the political field in
the West, and their possible effect on the fall
elections. Both parties admit that a consid-
cradle third party and Independent vote will
be cast In November, and both of them ap-
! pear somewhat alarmed over the possible re-
suit OF these scattering votes. 1t seems
strange, however, that the Republicans should
have passed over this matter as il it did not
concern them in the least, while the Demo
Gratis should have debated it as though it
threatened their defeat and destruction.
The Democratic States are comparatively
free from third parties; it is only in the Repub-
lican States, those who have been SO long ruled
by the Radical party where society and pol
tiles have become demoralzed, and legisla-
ton corrupted. that these third parties show
any strength or vitality. In the South,
strongly Democratic as it liz. third parties are
unknown, In the Northern Democratic
States with the single exception oil Indiana,
they poll an insignificant vote, whereas LII
Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan. which
have hitherto been counted as certainly Re-
publican, they hold the balance of power.
Independent votes and third parties gave the
first two Of these States to the Democrats at
the last election; and there appears every
reason to believe that the Nationals, Green
hackers and Workingmen will hand Michi-
uan also over to the Democracy In Novem.
Der.
The charter elections of Michigan, which
occurred last week, have shown that the third
party, self-styled Nationals, have most unex.
pected and unlooked-for strength in that State
InWayne and Kent, the two largest counties In
the State, the Nationals elected two-thirds Of
the supervisors, beating both Democrats ant
Republicans. Grand Rapids the second city
OF the State, was carried by them by large
plurality; SO, also, were Lansing the STATE
capital, Kalamazoo and score of othel
towns. The Nationals elect altogether 20'
out of 700 supervisors and poll vote o
nearly 10000
What will be the effect of this vote on thu
November elections? Will it injure the Demo
Gratis or Republicans more? The following
confession of the New York Times ought t.
be sufficient answer to this question: Thu
far the Republicans seem to have suffere
considerably more than the Democrats froI
this detection
There seems to be no doubt Of this; in tw
of the Congressional districts the Fourt
and Fifth Nationals have secured absolut
maiorities; they will consequently oontes
them at the next election. AS both of ther
have been hitherto overwhelmingly Reput
iican, the success of the Nationals will inlul
the Republicans, and the Republicans alone
Recalling the results that third part
organizations brought about in Indiana
1876, and in Pennsylvania and Ohio last yea
it is difficult to see why the Democrats shoul
show any fear at the entrance into the fielo
the so-called National party; they are Ike
to be greatly benefited by it.