The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-07-19

phTI.
Having plead Justification for his remark.
Mr.. Blanchard next proceeds to furnish us the
facts and figures to prove that it was no
idle boast, and he refers us to the returns OF
the election OF 1878 in substantiation of the as
sertion that "the State Is Democratic, no
matter how the city may go" The correct
ness OF all that the DEMOCRAT said about the
elections of 1879, 1874 and 1876 is conceded;
but Mr.. Blanchard thinks that the results OF
the election Of 1878 Justify the belief that
the State, outside the city, Is Democratic
We hope, most sincerely, that such may be
the case; but, even If 1t were, it would scarce
~ be the part Of wisdom to entirely dispense
with the reliable Democratic majority Of New
Orleans In the representations in regard to
State elections.
We should like to enjoy the abiding conf
dence Mr.. Blanchard expresses himself as
possessed of In regard to the strength OF the
party In the country, but we must confess
that the election returns Of 1878 fall to inspire
US with any such feeling. That election was
held in an off year and under an anomalous
condition OF affairs. The Republicans had no
ticket in the field, and, except In the Con-
gressional elections made no campaign what
ever They simply made no fight. But in
1880, with the whole land convulsed with the
tremendous issues of the national campaign,
the case will be very different. 1t Is with ref
ence to this election that we should study the
returns Of the election Of 1878 as compared
with those OF previous years. A comparison
of these returns with those Of the election Of
1876 will show how delusive are the conclu-
sions announced by Mr.. Blanchard.
The following summary, compiled from the
election returns, will Illustrate what we have
said:
DEMOCRATIC VOTE
1s76-Vote Of parishes FOR Nichols. 80 800
is7s-Vote Of parishes for Burke. 159
Falling off in 1878. 23l
REPUBLICAN VOTE.
s76-Vote Of parishes for Packard -6 81 "a
Falling off In 1878. 35 1903
CITY.
1s76-vote for Nichols 25 ,o97
1s7s-Vote for Burke OH
Falling off In 1878. $3.50
REPUBLICAN VOTE
1s76-Vote for Packard ..15.o 30
ls78-Yote for Gardner ,.-..-......-.---. 1923
Falling off in 1878. -...--.......-....---.. 6.Oo7
II this showing proves anything, it Is sim
ply that the Republicans did not cast their
full vote in the country. But suppose there
had been Republican ticket in the field and
an organized Republican campaign which
would have brought out the 35,303 votes that
took no interest in the election, what would
have become of the 33,O18 Democratic majority
rolled up by the country parishes? It these
votes shoald be polled in 1880, the country
will come down to us with 5000 Republican
majority to be overcome by the reliable
/ 10000 Democratic majority of New Or.
| leans. There was also LARGE failing
off both in the Republican and Democratic
votes in the city In 1873. Yet this is accounted
for by the yellow fever epidemic and the
enforced absence Of large numbers of oul
| people. Still, we find the relation preserved
showing that the Republicans did vote in tht
city, and yet we maintained the usual ma
| iority, within fraction.
These are pregnant figures, which we com
mend to the consideration Of our friend Mr.
Blanchard, who has certainly proved himsel
in past campaigns to be one OF the mos
| efficient party leaders in the State