New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-11-05
THE COMING ELECTIONS.

THE COMING ELECTIONS.
The approach of State elections in New
York and other important States-of the can
didates and special issues of which full details
will be found on another page-causcs less
excitement than usual, even in an "oif " year.
In Virginia, it is true, local feeling and the
conviction that large National interests may
be at stake make the contest exciting. In
Brooklyn, the people have an opportunity TO
recover control of their government from the
ring which has so long ruled the city. III
other localities in this State, and III Senatorial
Districts in New Jersey, there are vigorous con-
tests. But the fact remains that there is less
evidence of general public interest in the re-
suits of the State elections than is usual, even
in the years following Presidential campaigns
This is largely because the people are too
much inclined to rest in the belief that the
election of 1880 settled affairs, at least for
some years to come. The overthrow OF the
Democratic party last year was so signal, ana
was attended with so much disgrace, that
it seemed to persons unfamiliar with the force OF
marty ties that the course of the Government for
MANY wears had been settled when General
Garfield was elected. Yet the Democratic
party, IDOuRD CONtItu Win ohdiH'J 'HNNs'
proved to be utterly unworthy of public con-
fdence though disheartened by many defeats
and weighed down by the disgust OF its own
patriotic and intelligent voters, goes on just as
before appeals to the people as impudently as
ever, and hopes to get a new start this year
through the confidence of good citizens in the
completeness of its overthrow. IT. from that
or any other cause, it can gain a little in 1881,
it will revive the hopes of all the hungry
oflice-seekers in its ranks make new alliances
with Greenback or other dissatisfied voters,
reorganize its rife clubs and get ready new
tissue ballots for elections in Southern States,
and be ready for another desperate struggle.
Some men wonder at "the vitality of the
Democratic party" In truth, ignorance is the
one permanent force in free government.
Men who have intelligence and patriotism
will differ as TO methods. But the
Democratic party has the support of power
full body of voters who know nothing OF
political principles, have no higher motives
for political action than an ignorant prejudice,
and never know when their party is dis
graced. To this strong body the party has
added the machinery of crime and fraud by
which the freedom and purity of elections at
the South have been destroyed. So long as
that party can control the electoral votes and
the Congressional representation of the Solid
South, in absolute disregard Of the will of the
people, so long it can hope at any election to
snatch the few remaining votes that are
needed to give it power, through the ignorance
or indifference of many voters III few
Northern States. The party is a standing
menace and peril to free institutions. 1t will
be until its fraudulent hold upon Southern
votes has been broken. Until that time comes,
when every citizen at the South can cast a
free vote and have it honestly counted, it will
be the duty of Northern men to neglect not a
single opportunity. Until the South is free,
the North can never be safe.
The elections this year are not unimportant,
as some imagine. The control of the Congress
which will meet In December may depend
upon them. The control of the United States
Senate after March, 1888, will probably de-
pend upon legislative elections this year. But
the larger and far more important reason for
effort and watchfulness is that Democratic
success this year would give new hope to the
managers, workers and voters of that party,
and so would render as doubtful as ever the
control of the Government hereafter. The
great fault of good citizens is that they are al
ways prone to rest after every struggle for
the right. When victory has crowned splen-
did effort, they go to sleep. The consequence
is that all the reactionary and dangerous forces
in our political life make head again. New
combinations are formed; new frauds de-
vlsed the old conspiracy against free govern
ment reorganizes itself and takes new courage.
The result is that good citizens are obliged to
fight again, as hard as ever, at the next cleo
ton. The only way to make Democratic de-
feat easy in 1882 and 1854 is to make it GER
tain and complete in 1881.