The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-11-22

THE EFFECT.

The Republican party having gone
through with performance anala-
gous to man kicking himself down
stairs, the questions of the hour are /:
What will be the effect and what
shall be done about it? 10 consider
ing these questions there is dispo-
sition among those who Believe
themselves TO be molders of public
opinion to discuss the bearings of
the late lam-nt-d election on those
who have held office, or are now in
Office, or on those who expect to or
would like to hold office. SO far as
the feuds and resentments of the
campaign are concerned this is all
well enough, because any man can
see with half an eye that one faction
of the Republican party exhibited
fair degree of skill in cutting the
throat of the other.
But the main point now TO receive
attention is that relating to the effect
the defeat will have on the Republi
cans who have never held office and
who never expect to hold office-on
that great army of active workers
who have grown into the habit of
voting as matter OF principle. How
will the spectacle of the old party
tumbling down stairs strike the ay-
erage man who votes the Republi-
can ticket?
1t is not easy to answer this ques-
ton IN way to extract a comfort
ing sort of lesson from defeat. The
voters. of the party are somewhat
dazed, it must be admitted-have
lost their party legs. as it were-and
if they were called into line to-mor-
row for another such contest as that
of Tuesday, not very heavy blow
with a feather would knock them
down.
Fortunately no important contest
will take place for a year, This
gives time for recuperation, but H.
der what conditions will the rank
and file fall into line in best shape
for the heavy work that will be ask
ed at their hands? After all other
features OF the upheaval have been
considered and discussed this ques-
ton will overshadow all others in
its Importance and significance.
Putting aside the right or the wrong
of this or that faction, all who GEN.
tire their hopes in the future of Re-
publicanism will admit that the
very first step in reorganization is to
reassure the great army of voters.
Those most concerned in the recent
factional fights may be exepcted to
nurse their resentments and to un-
cover the secret intrigues of each 9TH
er, but the mass of the party cannot
be kept face to face with the mistakes
or blunders Of a canvass that result
ed so disastrously.
Had the Republican party never
before INDUCED in eccentricities the
wild freak of Tuesday last might
well create dismay. But in the try
ing days of 1862, when the rebel
armies were overrunnihg Maryland
and threatening Washington, and
Lincoln had issued his emancipa-
ton proclamation, the party that had
elected the President was defeated
at the polls. Maine, New York,
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, and
Illinois, the States of Blaine, Sew
ard, Cameron, Chase, Morton and
Lincoln, all gave Democratic major
tiles. The surprising, startling re-
suit was paraded by the Democrats
as a rebuke to President Lincoln,
and condemnation of the war pol
icy ofthe Republican party. Sold
iers sat around their camp fires daz.
ed. distressed and discouraged, and
the staunchest of the Union men at
home were troubled with missgiv-
ings, aid puzzled by questions no
one could answer. Were the loyal