The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-11-09
TIE ELECTIONS.

If The HERALD were a political
newspaper it would probably be
democratic, and if it were demo
cratic it would rejoice over the
grand and overwhelming victory
the great party of the people
achieved on Tuesday. No such
triumph has been gained by the
democrats since the historical tidal
wave of IA, when the country re-
volted against republican roguery
and corruption, and declared it.
self in favor of a change, and of
honest government. The causes
which have led to the democratic
success at this time, are not all en-
braced in republican misrule, nor in
a marked desire for a change in
party. OF course these things have
figured prominently and had their
effect, but the revolt has been
against republican bOssism, and
presidential interference in local
politics. The Conklings and Cam
erons have held republicans by the
throats for years. They have ruled
imperiously without consulting the
party. Conklingism and Cameron
ism have been made to serve
as republicanism, and the
voters were forced to support
the first two isms, whether or net
they comported with their own
ideas OF republicanism. The boss
has ruled, and the party has humbly
obayed. At last. however, the
rein has been drawn too tightly,
the lash applied with too little con-
sideration, and the result is what
we see in this revolt which drives
the bosses out Of sight, and it may
be, drives the party into obscurity.
There can be no more absolute boss
ing in the republican party until a
new organization is brought about,
and then the Camerons and Conk-
lings will have gone by the board.
1t has not been the custom of
Presidents to figure personally and
prominently in state politics.
Grant, Hayes and Garfield all did
something to control states for their
party, but they did it through ap-
pointments, and not by going on the
ground and taking part in the tricks
and dirty work Of the ward poll
tician. President Arthur has de-
scended from his high position to
the level that he occupied before
filing the executive chair, and
while his conduct in trying to manip-
ulate the local affairs of New York
might have been shrewd and pro-
per in Chester A. arthur, it was
disgraceful in the President of the
United States. He has been re-
bukad and his party punished for
his interference. AT the same time,
while we attribute the democratic
defeat largely to the causes indI-
Gated above, a widespread feeling of
discomfort among the people, ex-
cited By republican reckless and
maladministraLion has had much to
do with bringing about the happy
results announced in our telegraphic
columns. Therei is a feeling that the
republicans are unnecessarily ex-
travagant and that it would be bet
ter for the country if they would
devote themselves more to the pub
lie affairs and less to party politics
and efforts to keep themselves in
power. Not all the votes on Tuesday
were cast against bossism, some be-
ing thrown in opposition to the re-
gular conduct of the republican
party as the administrative power
of government.
The victory is greater than any
body anticipated. Last month THE
HERALD made a careful estimate of
the probable result of the election
for Congressman and presented a
table in accordance herewith. We
were careful to place all doubtful
districts in the republican column,