Daily Republican., 1882-11-23
THURSDAY. NOVEMBER III. 's2.
Republican DoHcaun.


THURSDAY. NOVEMBER 23. 'S2.
Republican Defeats.
1t is one of our failures to magnify
present calanities as the greatest that
ever overlook US and this disposition
to magnify is particularly applicable to
politlcal disasters. Hence there are
thousands of Republicans who languid.
ly and despairingly look upon the re-
cent over throw OF tho Republican party
as a disaster that is irremediable. We
also note disposition in some quarters
to assign the wide spread reverse of the
Republican party o deliberate premedi-
tation, The latter cause is no doubt
partially true, for with united Repub-
lican party it is invincible. Surprise
at the extent of the political storm is as
wide and general as the storm itself.
But with it all there is no reason
why Republicans should be so discour-
aged as to cease to labor for success.
Those who are wringing their hands
over what they think is the wreck of
their grand old party and think that it
Is beyond resuscitation, forget that it
has passed through just such defeats
before and came out in the end grandly
victorious. The Republican party has
passed through three of these ordeals,
When it was called to endure the first
1t had enjoyed power less thau two
years and it was prosecuting desper-
ate war of offence and defence against
fully half of the Democratic party in
arms and against the other half as sym
pathizers with the former. This was
In 1862, an off year in politics, year
Of exceptional darkness throughout the
land and year OF defeats in tho field
and in The forum. As we listen to the OK
Aggerated phrases of som e of our Re-
publican friends, we are led to ask if
they have forgotten the political cyclone
In 1862? 1t is true that some of them
were young then and have but faint
recollection Of those dark days, and |
therefore ONE allowances will have to
be made for their youth ard inexperi-
ence, but there are thoFe of older years.
who, in the prime of manhood lived
amid the smoke aud battle of great
civil war. who have certainly not for
tba panuhl50on ne 1870
In the great States of New York, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana,
Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa
and Minnesota, Abraham Lincoln re-
ceived a majority Of more than two
hundred thousand votes in 1860. When
the polls closed in November, two years
later, that immense majority was not
only wiped out as with sponge, but
there stood registered against the Re-
publican party on poll for Governors
and Congressman, more than thirty five
thousand for the Democrats. New
York aud New Jersey elected Demo. !
cratic Governors, and Pennsylvania, !
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin |
gave Democratic majoritieS. The Con- |
gressional delegates in these ten States |
stood seventy-eight Republicans to !
thirty Democrats in 1860 In |
1867 they stood sixty-seven Democrats
to ffty-seven Republicans. This re-
corded Democratic Congressional gain
in ten Republican States of fifty-eight
members.
The Democratic cyclone of two weeks
ago cannot show more radical change
than that. 1t was great, but not so
great as that. 1t struck terror to the
souls of timid people no doubt, but the
first cyclone was still more terrible.
Did the overthrow of 1862 destroy t1e
whole Republican party? We have
only to read history to learn that it
made the party more formidable than
ever. The party gathered itself together
and won brilliant victories in 1868 In
1864 Abraham Lincoln was reelected
and the party reclaimed every thing |
worth reclaiming and remained invul- |
nerable to Democratic assaults for ten |
years. But in 1874 the tide turned |
again and its wave swept away Repub |
lican control in the House and suDst:- |
tuted for it Democratic majority Of |
seventy nine. 1t WAS not till 1880 that |
the Republicans regained control of the |
House by o meagre majority. At the |
Late election the Republicans were once
more swept out of power in the House
and a Democratic majority, approach
ing that of 1874, takes its place. Wei
have no desire to belittle these vibra-
tions of the pendulum of political con-
troll, but facts are facts and b istory Ia
better than the frothy tume of stump
orators. The people must formu
judgment in the light of the facts Of
history and not in the light of penny |
dips. The Republican party 10 routed |
along the eutire line. 1t must reform |
its lines, close up its ranks and push |
forward to greater achievements in |
the future.
Wa1teFBr N Gn the war Path.
Mr.. Watterson, of the Louisville !
EouFier ,Ionrnal OnA nf the recoan izAd /