New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-17
Why DEMOCRlTS ARE CONFIDENT.

Democratic hopes OF success In tic PrcSluen-
tial election so far as they do not rest upon the
expectation that gross frauds may be perpe-
trated, either in the States or in the counting of
the vote by Congress, are based upon two con-
siderations. The fight was very close in 1876
they say, even after three Southern States were
counted against Mr. Tilden. And again, at the
latest elections Democrats say, the Republican
party was in minority in many of the North
ern States. The inference is that at least as
many Northern States con be carried for the
Democratic ticket as were carried for Tilden
in 1870, while the whole vote of the South will
be secured, or counted for the Democracy.
These expectations certainly deserve the careful
attention of Republicans, for there is no doubt
that they are seriously cherished by many saga
cious Democrats.
As to the South, there is no reason to doubt
that the Democrats know what they can rely
upon They have nearly all the local officers,
by whom the polls will be controlled and the
votes counted and returned. They have to
Guide them the example Of South Carolina in
the use of tissue ballots, and the example of
Mississippi and Louisiana in the employment OF
armed forces to crush opposition. Then they
have the State officers In every State, by whom
the returns are to be made, and 1t Is safe to say
that no return of the choice of Republican
electors will be made from a single Southern
State. If there is not q Democratic majority,
Republicans will be massacred or driven from
the polls, or, If it seems safer, cheated at the
polls, if that fails Republican votes will not be
fully counted, or returns of local officers will
be so ingeniously defective that State canvassers
will throw them out, a la GarcelOn. In one way
or another, we may depend upon 1t, every cleo
toral vote from the South will be 80 returned
that a Democratic Congress will count 1t for The
Democratic candidates.
Nor is there any reason to doubt that a major
ity of the voters in several Northern States,
were recently in one form or another opposed to
the Republican party. The problem for the
Democrats has but one off " in it If they can
unite upon ono candidate all or nearly all the
votes cast against the Republican party at the
latest elections, these votes with Solid South
will elect q President. 1t is not well for Repub
liCans to shut their eyes to these facts. The
greater the danger, the greater tho need of
making such nominations as will secure tho
whole Republican vote in the Northern States
To nominate President Grant, in the notion
that he may get the electoral votes Of some
Southern States, would be sheer nonsense, as
long as the Democrats have the power to count
the votes and make the returns. And it
would not less be n wanton risk to nom
mate him without considering the fact that
there are great many Republican voters in
the doubtful Northern States who will not vote
for him.
But what ground for hope is there if nomi-
nation il made which will command the full
Republican strength OF the NOrthf Much
better, to say the least, than Democratic leaders
are willing to confess, even to themselves. No
reliance should be placed upon the possibility
of Democratic division in this or any other
Northern State The Democrats have the
power TO unite, and will have every interest to
unite, and it would be the height Of folly to
nominate General Grant, or any other man, in
the hope that the Democrats may afterward
throw away visible chance of SUCCESS and
their only chance. The difficulty for them is
that they cannot carry single Northern State
by uniting Democrats alone. The Republicans
have been in a minority, true but the Demo
Gratis are still smaller minority. The inter
mediate body Of voters, who held the balance Of
power In many Northern States at the late cleo
tons, Is composed mainly of men who were Re-
publicans the war and reconstruction issues,
and who have dissented from that party because
of financial policy which they dreaded, but