New-York tribune., 1881-12-17
GREAT CITIES BfCoYING EEPrBLICAy


Boston as well as Brooklyn has become a
Republican city. For many years both have
been Democratic, but the gradually lcsscning
majority of the Democrats has entirely dlsap-
peared on local issues, and both cities have
elected Republican Mayors and Common Coun-
ellis. The Republican strength has been of
regular growth, and these two large cities
wheel into line evidently to stay there. Phil
adephia has long been Republican, and in
New-York the Democratic majority has been
gradually reduced from $1,000 to $4,000 on
other issues, and last year, on direct issue
of municipal reform. it fell on the Mayordlty
vote, to about 5000.
There are good reasons for these gradual
changes, and good reasons too, for believing
that they are permanent, more especially in
New-IOrk and Brooklyn. The large major
tiles of the Democrats here years ago were
fictitious and fraudulent. They were obtained
by repeating and false counting and because
of the disgust and indifference of men who
thought it useless to oppose such well organ
lied corruption. When the Registration law
corrected some of the abuses, and the United
States COmmi -sioners suppressed false natural
ization and made repeating too dangerous AN
occupation, the majOrlties of the Democracy
dwindled to natural figures in both the cities
named. Mr.. Tildcn's majorities in 1876 Of
$1,000 III one city and $1,000 in the
other were not fraudulcnty obtained. But
these have been reduced, year after
year, little by little, but with great uniformity.
to $4,000 on the State ticket in New York
and 300 in Brooklyn. While the correction
of abuses of the franchise explains part, il
does not account for the whole of this great
reduction; and we must look for a full expla-
nation TO the spread of Intelligence among the
masses, the greater interest shown in elec ions
by the independent and thoughtful voters. and
to the fact that of the young men attaining
the legal age and right to vote the great
majority attach themselves TO the Republican
party.
This latter is fact to which the Rcpubli-
cans have not themselves paid as much atten-
ton as it deserved, and which the Democrats
have vanly tried not to recognize as
they must eventually do. 1t il true
not only Of the young sons of Repub-
licans, but also of many of Demorratic
paIcntage. Ii is not at all unnatural that they
should so act. There is nothing in thc
achievements of the Democracy for the last
twenty years to attract youth, which il charmed
only by success in the past and lives on hone
of it ill the future. All of past glory. present
strength and future prospects-the prestige of
repeated victories in the time of the great
crisis of the country, and the undisputed con-
troll of the entire machinery of the Govern
mcnt-thcse are irresistible attractions which
the Republican party presents to the ambitions
youths as they attain their majority year after
year; and So Il constant recruiting to its ranks
goes on. Moreover, young men see the
Democracy cinging to old issues and
led 10y ancient political fossils, while the
Republican party il principles and III leader
ship recognizes the growing aud progressive
nature of the country. Possibly the average
young man called on to east his first vote does
not exactly reason this out in this way but he
feels 1t, and that answers every purpose, for
the enthusiasm of the youth is quite as eilcc-
tive rs the argument of the man.
The steady growth in the Republican party
from this source will continue rs long as no
serious blUnder is made or no unexpected con-
Iingency arises, and as long rs honest and able
retains the confidence and love
Of the people. In the end, with such conf
1ence held aud such enthusiasm mala-