Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-11-16
The New York Elections.

The New York Elections.
The result of the election in New York is
the subject of genuine and substantial con.
graduation on the part of national republic
cans, though their satisfaction is not I'M
mixed with some minor disappointments.
The catastrophes, such as they are, do not
seriously endanger any republican position,
but at the same time they convey whole
some lesson to republicans everywhere, les
sons which carry them TO the verge of defeat,
and show them how, by disregarding certain
cardinal principles Of republicanism, they
may in future contests be pushed over the
verge into an abyss Of disastrous overthrow.
With the exception of Hustled for state
treasurer, the republican candidates for state
officers are elected by plurality which is
considered safe at twelve thousand, and
may rise to higher figures. The democrats
elect state treasurer, but the republicans
choose the state engineer and surveyor,
thus retaining the same number of state Of
ficers that they have had since the election
Of 1879. In 1879 these minor state officers
were elected by pluralities varying from
about two thousand for secretary of state to
six thousand for controller. In 1876 that
arch political manager, Samuel j. Tilden,
carried the state by plurality of nearly
thirty-three thousand; in 1877 the demo-
cratic plurality for secretary of state was
eleven thousand; in 1873 the republicans
elected court of appeals judge by over
thirty.four thousand plurality, and in 1880
Garfeld's plurality was twenty-one thou
sand. In view of this record, and of the
fact that the late election was held while
the wounds were fresh of the fiercest fac
tional fight the party has ever known, it is
impossible to deny that New York is firmly
anchored to republicanism, and that if the
party goes straight forward in the faithful
and honest discharge Of its high duties,
nothing can detach the Empire State from
the republican column. A survey of the
field in detail shows that voters exercised
the right of suffrage with great deal of in
dependence, and made the most of the op-
portunity presented by an off year for paying
off political scores and wreaking local re-
venges. The result of this vengeful free
dom is seen in the defeat of Hustled, an in
judicious nomination for the state treasur-
ership, who was mercilessly knitted by the
stalwarts for the part he had taken in the
senatorial contest. Half-breed and stalwart
republicans gratifed their petty animosities
by voting for democratic assemblymen in
instances enough to give the legislature to
the democracy by small majority. Having
wiped out old scores, it is fair inference
that the Ratchet will be buried and that the
next legislature will be again republican.
Governor Cornell holds the curb of the veto
power in his hands, and no dangerous parti-
san political legislation can succeed. The
fact that the redistricting the state will
come before this legislation is the source of
the greatest regret that that body will not
be republican. The defeat of Mr.. w. w.
Astor to succeed Levi p. Morton in con-
gress is half-breed att" for the stalwaIt
STAT" in the defeat of Mr.. Hustled, and
shows that republicans, if they would sue
coed, must take their candidates from among
good and able men who have been the parti-
sans of neither faction in that bitter and la
mentable senatorial fight
A relief and an inspiration is found, as
contrasted with these shadows, in the out
come in Brooklyn, where, in the city which
gave Tilden over seventeen thousand and
Hancock over eight thousand majority, re-
publican mayor has been elected by good
majority, and the democratic majority on the
state ticket brought down to thirteen hum
dred. In that city it is conceded by all that
clean and honest campaign in the interest
of purer and better municipal government
was waged. The republicans nominated, as
candidate for mayor, Seth Low, young man
OF fine qualities and great abilities. The
appeal to the voters was for good govern
ment. Money and bargaining, as means
OF securing votes, were eschewed. The
young men entered into the contest, and a
campaign of reason, from house to house,
was carried on by indefatigable labors.
Thousands of democrats, sympathizing with
the movement, engaged in the contest by
voice and by vote, and the result is one
which sounds the keynote to successful
warfare for reform in political management.
If mayor and municipal government
thus elected measurably meet the expecta.
tions of the people, no power OF rings or
machines can prevail against them. The
nigh-water mark of democratic ascendancy
in New York and Brooklyn was reached in
the palmy days of the ring From 1876 to
1880 it receded nearly thirteen thousand
votes in the former city and nine thousand
in the latter. The outcome Of the Brooklyn
campaign shows how the recession may be
accelerated in New York, and how, in the
near future, If, indeed, not already, the dem
ocIatic majority in these two cities may no
longer be standing menace to the Empire
State, and through her, from the pivotal po-
sition she has and may continue to occupy,
TO the whole nation.