The Cecil Whig., 1882-11-11
WHAT II MEANS.

WHAT IT MEANS.
Another Democratic tidal wave. simi-
lar to that of 1874, has swept the conn-
try, and. disagrceabe as may be the sit
uation, there is no use in Republicans
attempting to explain away the result of
Tuesday, by placing the responsibility
of it upon any other shoulders
than their own. Two years ago the Re
publcans elected Gen. Garfield by the
votes of majority of States, nndoubt
edly Republican in sentiment. These
same States are, in 1882, not whit less
Republican than they were in 1SS0.-
There has been no increase of Demo
cratic voters in single one of them.
The Republicans are as strong numeri-
of Tuesday is defeat along the entire
line Of States. This result is attributa-
BILE to various causes in various States.
There was enc sort of fight i'll Penn
sylvania and New York--ostensibiy
against what is populaliy styled Boss
ISM and another sort of 4 fight i'll Mas
sachusettS; yet the result is one aud the
same Republican deleat--in these three
naturally Republican States. 1t is very
clear to even the most careless observer
that the same cause did not conSpire to
produce this common result il these
three States. In whatever degree the
interference of the Administration in
State politics may have disgusted New
York Republicans, or the party tyranny
of Mr.. Cameron have been offensive to
Pennsylvania Republicans, certain it is
that neither of these causes were potent
in Massachusetts,. In that State, the
Administration had on the one hand,
made but few changes. and, on the other
hand, the Republicans We're not in any
sense in revolt against bossism." In
no State had the Republican papers
spoken more kindly OF the President.
and nowhere had lie been more kindly
received personally, yet political revolu-
tion could reach no further limit i'll that
State than it has attained by the cleo
tion of Gen. Butler as Governor That
was a political result in every sense more
astonishing and striking than Che repu-
diation OF the machine - in New York
or the overthrow OF bossism in 2ennsyl-
vania.
| Nor were the Republicans chastened
al
disasters, with but unimportant excep-
tionS extend from New Hampshire to
California. Tie extent of these disas-
tiers may be realized from Il single aspect
of the elections. viz: that of the pruba-
BILE political complexion Of the next
| Lower House of Congress. Let it Ee re-
| membered that even So able. astu.2 and
experienced 4 politician as Mr. Blame.
after the Ohio elections, public,v de-
clared that it was still possible for the
Republicans to prevent the House from
becoming Democratic, yet the returns of
Tuesday show that the next House will
contain probably one hundred and Sew
enty odd Democratic members and only
about one hundred and fifty Republican
ones. This is a disaster to the Repabi-
cans far exceeding the loss of even as
prominent = State as Pennsylvania.
But what adds to tie significance of
this tidal wave is that it is the first one
in our political history that has ever
come upon party i'll power. while tnc
country was enjoying general prosperity.
Heretofore such revolutions have appear
ed in the midst of severe and general
public and commercial distress This
one has come at period when the gen
eral prosperity is coextensivc with the
continent.
What, then. does it mean
1t means the dissatisfaction Of the
rank and file of Republican voters with
their leaders.
1t means an emphatic declaration
against personal domination in party
politics, and the assertion Of the rights
of the individual voter over the wills of
mere individual leaders.
1t means the downfall of parry Jcxsex
in the sense of an orderly and peaceable
deliverance of the Republican party from
a long inheritance of evils. i'll the shape
of leaders who have shown their incom-
petence and their folly.
1t means shat the present Republican
Congress. by its River and TIarbor steal.
by its indifference to the continuance of
the burdens of war taxes upoa the peo-
pie, by its arrears of pensions bill, have
dissusted the honest masses Of the pco-
pie. aud who mean this political revolu
ton as an act Of emphatic warning to
the Republican leaders.
The people spoke on Tuesday. and
their voice will be heard alike by Pres-
dent and Congressman. Tho RepuhH-
can leaders will hear it, and the bosScs,
whose death knell it sounds.