The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1878-08-21
TIE FALL ELECTIONS FOR CON-
GRESS

TIC Now Il OEA ACNfS Gay NAA~AC
is great deal of wild speculation which
rejects certain well-established facts
and admits others that are more than
doubtful. For example, the redistrict-
ing of the States of Missouri and Ohio
viii together give the Democrats at
least eight and probably ten additional
votes, not likely to he effected, except
in single district, by any new or out
side element. An increase of two may
be fairly expected in South Carolina,
in the districts of Rainey and Smalls.
That now represented by Cain is also
claimed, but the colored voters on the
seacoast and islands are in great ma
jOrity over the whites, and unless they
split, negro Representative will con-
tinue to sit in the House.
The Second District in Florida, for
which Bisbee, is the present member,
would certainly send Democrat in his
place, but for the i'll feeling caused
by the alleged neglect Of the Com
mittee On Elections in the House to seat
the contestant, Finley, who suffered
from some oft frauds by which the
vote of that State was stolen. Finley
has declined to be candidate again,
and his refusal makes confusion, by
which the district is rendered doubtful.
On the other side of the account, the
Democrats are likely to lose the Ninth
District of Kentucky, Turner, the Rep
resentatiYe, having failed to gain
ground in the House or to acquire the
good will of his colleagues. easy Young
of the Tenth Tennessee District, will
be beaten by an Independent, unless a
sudden and unexpected reaction should
occur in his favor. The retirement OF
Frank Jones from the First New Hamp'
shire District is favorable to the election
of Republican as his successor, because
no other Democrat will be willing or il
able to expend what Mr.. Jones did, in
the interest of his party, to make success
certain.
Present indications point to a loss OF
one Democrat in Massachusetts,, one in
! Connecticut, and one in Colorado, and
perhaps one or two others scattering.
These changes are confined to States in
which the National or Greenback move
ment will not be seriously folt. When
Pennsylvania, New York, Illinois, Indi-
ana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and
that category of States are considered, in
which the new element has a very large
| following, more reserve is needed in es-
timating results. They all have Repub-
lican majorities in the present delega-
tions, and therefore the chance for the
Democrats ought to be better than for
their opponents.
Both sides are demoralized in Penn
sylvania in several districts, and it is
difficult at this time to form any sound
opinion as to which of the two will suf-
fer most from a threatened disintegra-
ton. The same criticism will apply to
New York on a reduced scale. The cur
rent runs with the Democrats in Indiana,
Illinois, Michigan, ard other Western
States, because the Nationals will draw
most of their numbers from tie Repub
licans.
Fairly examined, the Nationals, while
they may hold the balance of power in
several Congressional districts, have not
recognized form to elect many Repre-
sentatives. BY forming Combinations
and making bargains they may succeed
in returning half dozen or more mem
bers to the next House. If the follow
ers of Kearney hold their own, and do
not by their extravagant and impractical
BILE notions drive off a well-inolined sup
port, they can carry the Firft and Sec
ond Districts OF California for their own
candidates without any serious Difficult
ty.
Outside of few districts in New Eng
land, and possibly one or two elsewhere,
the Republicans do not expect to make
gains. They would be very glad to re-
main stationary with their present
strength. The talk of increasing their
columns from the South is simply fool
ish, as is the suggestion that the Nation
ais have an extensive organization in
North Carolina and Tennessee. In the
only Republican district of the former,
where the negro vote in most compacted,
Bragden, the present member, has been
thrown over and q colored man is the
Republican candidate for his place.
Bragden proposes to run as an Indepen-
dent, il he can organize a division
among the blacks, and is ready to turn
Democrat for white votes.
Altogether, taking the gains and
losses likely to occur, and estimating
that the changes to be effected through
the new factor of Nationals will strike
impartially between Democrats and
Republicans, the conclusion would seem
to be warranted that the political COM
plexIon of the next House of Represen-
tatives will not be materially changed
from the present majority. Unforeseen
and disturbing causes may suddenly
arise to upset these calculations, but this
Is the outlook of impartiality, extending
over the whole ground.
hon. Bailie Peyton died in Gallatin,
Tenn, on the 9TH.