The New York herald., 1879-02-24
THE PIVOTAL STATE.
What Our Congressional Deputatien Think
Of The Coming Canvass
NEW YORK Seen FROM WASHINGTON.
Republicans Who Deride, Democrats
Who Laud TiIden.
GOVERNOR ROBINSON'S CHANCES.
The 'Stslwarts" Gall for blaine---Grant a
First or Second Choice.
REPUBLICANS and THE GOVERN0RSHIP.
Hustled, Sloan, Hiscock, Arthur,
White and Cornell.
A BOLD REPUBLICAN PLAN.
Project to Alter or Repeal the State
Electoral Law.
A HALF CENTURY RETROSPECT.
New York's Record as Index Finger Of the
A BOLD REPUBLICAN PLAN.
Project to Alter or Repeal the State
Electoral Law.
A HALF CENTURY RETROSPECT.
New York's Record as Index Finger OF the
Union Vote.

WASHINGTON, Feb. %, 1872
Even from 80 distant standpoint as Washington
not only is the progress of the political canvass in
the State Of New York closely watched. but people
hero believe they can considerably more Of the
features of the contest than the participants them
selves. Hence the foresight of the HERALD in indi
eating the great political problem of the year $780,
viz. the result Of the Presidential contest Of that
year. is keehly appreciated here The wisest heads
here, speaking Of tho HEnALps Albany letter Of
last Monday, which hrst turned public refec
tion In this direction, believe that the writer
was even shrewder than he thought when he
proposed to show that the coming fall
paign in the Empire State the forerunner
and index Of the result Of the Presidential
twelvemonth later. 1t is not many years ago since
1t was an axiom that went New York went the
Union. In those days New York was the undisputed
leader Of the great ssterhood of States But in the
Of time her nearest neighbor. the great Com
monwealth Of Pennsylvania. grew to be her nearest
rival in population and wealth. and. as the State
elections in Pennsylvania took place in October. the
Keystone State VIZ 1:ed from New York the position
Of the banner State. and for many years,
In tho result OF her October elections, be-
eame to the country tho recognized index
VI the result Of tho quadrennia contest for the chief
uagistracy of the nation. 1t was only when Penn
tylvania changed her election time to November
that, with the old axiom to New York forgotten.
the politician was At sea again and without COM
pass except such was afforded him in the result of
the Ohio October election, criterion more less
untrustworthy for the reason that the neighboring
State Of Indiana, by taking the opposite political
course on the same day. was apt to confound his
calculations.
But in taking up Pennsylvania and Ohio rs politi-
cal weather gauges the politician and particularly
the New Yorker, has gone after strange and more
less dclusive idols. As shall bc shown presently by
convincing facts and figures. the Empire State has
been in its election returns a constant factor in the
product Of the Presidential every Presidcn-
hal election since the time of Andrew Jackson or
,nce the first time when the choice Of the State of New
York for President manifested and determined by
popular election. The words. ''The Pivotal State
at the head Of that Albany letter, expressed i'm
mense deal in u brief space That it contained q
great truth will be readily demonstrated from ref
srence to and consideration of the part which New
FORK mas taken in the recurring elections for Pres
dent for the past fifty years.
rIFrY YEARS coMPARIsoS.
The period Of comparison is limited to this span of
nfty for the reason. as already ntimated that
New York never had popular election for President
until 1898. when General Jackson was the victorious
candidate Of the democratic party Before that year
in msny of the States. and before 1920 in nearly all
the states. the Legislatures cast the electoral vote
Tor President and Vice Prcsidcnt-a constitutional
privilege. which, IL will be remembered South Caro-
Tina svalcd herself Of and preserved up to 1854 II will
now bc shown that during this past fifty years of
Presidential elections. beginning with 1885, tho result
" each Presidential election in the State of Ney York
was tho in its political complexion the result
Of tho State election Of the year Immediately pre-
vfous. As the Presidential year is always leap year.
the odd numbered year next before ia consequently
the significant time which refer to- so that not
only does the state go as goes tho country in the
year Of tho Presidential election but IL goes in the
year before the country is TO CO. In oldcn times
Scfore tho telegraph it was sufficient to accept the
voice OF the State at the Presidential election an
nouncing the general result in tho country. But
then a. now this result might have been seen In the
result Of the preceding State election. For these
reasons IL Is easy TO perceive what significance and
Importance are attached to the Now York election Of
1879 in its bearing upon the struggle Of 1880.
GENERAL JAcxsoSs rrME-1s27.
Going back then to 1897. the odd year Just before
General Jacksons election. wc find New York great
battle ground between the friends Of the hero Of New
Orleans and those Of Adams. Jackson in his party's
opinion, had been unfairly deprived Of tho Presidency
by tho House Of Representatives into which the cleo
ton had been thrown by the failure of Of the cand
dates to get majority OF the Electoral College. The
State election hold In November. and IL is re-
corded IN ammonds History that 'thc result afforded
completes triumph to tho Jackson party. Tho Jack
son ticket for Senate and Assembly in tho city Of New
York received majority Of than four thousand
votesl IL heavy one In those days. Nearly all the
scnscrial districts were carried by the party
and largo majority Of Jackson men were returned
70 the Assembly" In November, 1925 a year after
Jsckson swept the State aud country by this cleo
ton Jackson got. IL Is true. only 20 electoral
votes from New York aud Adams 10; for in those
days and until the law amen a to its present
shape the Presidential Electors were chosen one
from each Congressional district. the two NJ largo
for tho senator's being in turn selected by the
college. The people at the polls elected Is
Jackson and 10 Adams electors. and the IL being
In the majority. elected two additional jackson cleo
TORS All this docs not weaken the rulo Of precedent
which IL IL object TO show existing in the re-
lstons OF fhc wo sets OF election rrsuts-vis that
tho political verdict Of the previous year will bo the
verdict Of the Pr-sidsnta yesr for had the present
Law been IN opcrstion. Jackson would hnve secured
che entire electoral vote OF New. York. A