New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-11-11
THE GFNFPdL PFSTLT

! The smoke clears from the battlefield o
| Tuesday. Here and there, the Republican line.
| have been forced backward or voluntarily
withdrawn. But every position of large prac
teal importance, which the party had pre-.
viously occupied, it has held fast. The rea
| significance and value OF the result lie in tive
aggressive moyements made by the Rcpuhli-
cans, in which they were successful, and by
which they captured positions of the utmost
strategic value.
The New-York Legislature has been lost
Bat the Republicans gained very little 10y
holding the Legislature at the last session.
There is no United states Senator to be
elected. Nor can a closely divided and barely
Democratic Legislature do any mischief, OF
undo any good thing previously done, so long
as Governor Cornell holds the veto power.
OF the State officers the Republicans lose one
and gain one, but the office which they gain
is at least rs important as the one which they
lose. The moral effect of decrease in the
majority is less important than the dcmonstra-
ton that the party Is able to command
majority for candidates nominated in
opposition to tie "machinc," and after . can
vass conducted mainly by new managers. In
OOuDtClltul, Inc fSlsldllNt HldlDIl1 Is IT,
duced, but il is large enough still for all prac-
teal purposes. In Pennsylvania, the Republic
can majority is cut down by division among
Republican voters, and yet it is large enough
to elect. Decreased majorities in some other
States, too, are of no practical importance
or significance, since they are due TO divisions
on other than National questions.
But the Republicans have assaulted and ear
ried one Democratic stronghold, which gave
over $4,000 majority to Mr.. T'ilden, aud over
5000 for General Hancock, and is of more
Importance than many States. In the City of
brooklyn the Republicans achieved a victory
which is of the highest value. That one city,
through the ability of Democratic officials 10
manufacture majoritieS to ORDER has more than
once changed the result in the State Under
Republican government there is good reason
to believe that great changes will be
made in the future influence of that city We
believe and trust that the power Of that gov
eminent viii never be used to swell illegally
Republican majoritics. Bat the legitimate gain
in strength resulting from The transfer of
power in that city will be very great if the
Republicans use their power as wisely and hon
esty as they have gained it.
1t is the testimony of opponents as well as
Of friends that no cleaner campaign was ever
fought than that of Mr.. Low. Neither by
bargains nor by money did he seek to
change the free choice Of the people, but he
appealed to them irrcsistibly for better and
purer government. Thousands OF Democrats
responded TO the appeal If Mr.. Low gives to the
people of Brooklyn a pure and wise admins
tTatOn, those Democrats will be strongly drawn
TO the party which brings a blessing so long
desired. They will find it easy to believe that
Republican rule, as it is for the good of the
people in Brooklyn, is also for the good of
the people of other States. Not only
can this one city be made permanently
and strongly Republican, if the large respon-
sbIlities placed upon the new government are
wisely and honOrably met, but the example of
genuine reform in one great city will have a
powerful effect elsewhere. In Brooklyn, the !
Republicans have gained not only a great vic !
tory, but a great opportunity.
The effects of the aggressive movement |
against Bourbonism at the South are separately |
considered. The Democrats cannot dispute the |
practical Importance of the victory in
Virginia, for they fully admitted it |
n their passionate appeals before the
election. But the party which achieves
such important triumphs, and at the
same time retains every vital point previously
leld, certainly has no reason to be dishcart-
med by the results of the elections of 1881.
Where the Democrats expected much from Re-
publican dissensions, they have gained nothing
# practical value. Where the Republicans had
eason to fear the usual reaction of can off
ear" they have gained new and important
advantages.