The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-10-23
The Consequences of Dragging,

The Consequences of Dragging.
The Chronicle 0nd Constitutional
7%, OF Tuesday, gives the Democrat
Some good advice. 1t asks, "'Wlv
should there be such IL whirl and
tempest of despair because State
Democratic only by accident, and
never when Il full poll is made, l,as
elcctcd' after unparalleled outside pres
sure, to revert to Rcpubliranrontrol, -,
some time before the election TI,r
NEWS AND HERALD called attention TO
INC danger incurred by the Democrats
ny co'lfldcnt assertions of CARVING y
"'"'c lhat had always been Republican
on full vote. UnthinIliny minds are
lcd 10 believe that The fight is a fair
one, and when ilc result is decided
they assume that the Republicans have
won decided victory, and inmcdi-
acly begin TO dcspond. Vet the
democracy have gone along all sum
mcr attacking inprcgnablu Rcpubli-
can positions amid u general beat
ing OF ton-toms and kettle drums
and when they have lai,,I a.,
they were bound TO do, ;hcv
lind they have given the Radic, Is iuS,
cause TO boast. Maine has been Re-
publican for twenty odd years. Last
year the Republicans had plurality
or fifteen thousand votes, but as thcv
1a'lcd Ola majority, the Dcmocr,is
were enabled by fusion with Grccu-
back legislators to choose a Demo-
cratic governor. This year they set
out TO win by the same luck. But
luck docs not always fall twice in the
same place. Blaine managed to Get
out the fifteen thousand Republicans
wi } had not voted last year. Yet,
though his candidate had Il plurality
or about twenty thousand, he failed
TO secure clear majority and again
the election is thrown into the Lcgis-
Mturc. Fortunately for Blaine bc
managed to secure majority in that
body, and thus TO elect his candidate.
This was hailed as a great Republican
success, when in reality it was a Door
comc-out for party that gave Graut
clear majority Of twenty thousand
Vc:cs. The opposition vote this year
exceeded the vote Of 1878, but Blaine
managed to get out cnough stay-al-
homes TO save the Legislature. THAT
is all. Yet tho Republicans arc al
lowed to cxult over this as great
victory.
Again, in California the Republic
cans were solid, while the Democratic
party split ia into three tnctions.
Every one might have seen how this
would result. Yet the Democrat
toolishly claimed the State until tho
day after the election. California is q
sure Republican State on square, lull
vote. Yet the Democrats claimed Il,
ana were paid for their folly in doino
so, by Eaving the onus Of dcfc II
thrown upon them, when in reality
the Republicans were in a minority OF
twenty thousand votes. 1t is truc
that a minority vote. ifit be a Dlurali.
ty vote, counts. Yet it leaves tho
State in doubt, provided tho third par.
ty falls to pieces.
The moral of this is that premature
Boosting, while it may do in doubt.
ful State, Is q bad policy when the
chances are decidedly against you. II
produces oil inevitable letting dow,
and decentralization. In 1876, Ohio
California and Maine all went Rcpub.
lican. Yet Tilden was elected bv q
large majority. Counting South Caro-.
lima rs Republican, Tildcn received
196 votcs to 173 forgHaycs. Tho theft
OF Louisiana and Florida gave HAYES
bare majority Of one. In 1880
Louisiana, Florida and South Carroll
na will all go Democratic, loss of l.
votes from tho Hayes column. Ever
should tho Republicans gain tho Ii
votes of New Jersey and Connection
IN 1880, this would give them only 1s1
votes. Tho 1873 votes of tho South
with 35 from New York and 10 iron