The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-11-14
The November Elections.


The general result of the November
elections is substantially the same as
given last week. In Massachusetts, Rob-
inson's plurality over Butler is little
more than 10000. In New York General
Carr, the republican candidate for secre-
tary of state, has majority of over 10000,
according to the Albany Evening Journal,
aud the democratic candidates for the
remaining state offices-treasurer, sur
veyor, etc.-have majorities ranging from
10000 to $4,000. In the legislature the
senate stands nineteen republicans and
thirteen democrats the assembly seventy
three republicans and fifty-fve democrats.
The republican majority in Pennsylvania
is reported at over 81 900. The Connect
icut legislature has republican majority
of sixty.fve on joint ballot, against
similar majority of twenty.nine last year.
A year ago, in that state, Governor Wal
Ter, democrat, was elected governor by
nearly twenty-five hundred majority, on
total vote of over lis 900. This year the
sheriff vote shows republican majority
of over $500 in a total vote of $4,000.
This is very satisfactory and suggestive
change for the republicans. New Jersey
elects Albeit, democratic, by over $500
majority. Mississippi as matter of
course is democratic. Maryland is demo-
cratic by $4,000 majority. In her legisla-
ture the senate has fourteen democrats
and twelve republicans, the house of del
egates sixty-three democrats and twenty
eight republicans. Nebraska is republi-
can by 10000, and Minnesota by not less
than 10000 majority. Virginia has estab-
lished the fact that the hoped for break in
the solid South will not be made. The indie
pendent movement there, headed by Ma
hone. was protest against Bourbonism.
In its political methods it may not have
seen exactly an ideal movement. 1t was,
however, opposed to political system
that was certainly very far from the ideal
which lovers of true liberty wish to see
established in this land of freedom. Its
methods might not have been justifiable
in law-abiding communities, but they may
not have been unwisely adapted to the
character of the warfare it had to wage.
Malone has made gallant fight against
Bourbonism. In measurably fair field,
he had carried the state with him till the
late election. Last week Bourbonism tri-
umphed, it is claimed, by the old familiar
agency, resorted to by the South when
other means fail. The shot gun has done
its perfect work. The bloody murder at
Danville and the evidences of intimida-
ton in other parts of the state explain
Mahone's defeat. The methods which
have now prevailed in Virginia have been
more generally associated with the meth.
dds of the extreme southern states. Their
appearance in Virginia is not reassuring.
The Old Dominion has hitherto tolerated
a reasonably free expression of opinion
and fair degree OF liberty at the ballot box.
The unmeasured denunciation of Malone
by the northern republican press and the
consciousness that his defeat would be
hailed with joy by an element of the repub
lican party North has undoubtedly given
encouragement to the importation and ex
ercise of the brutal measures which in two
successive presidential elections have
solidified the South. The Malone party
is better than Bourbonism, just as con
stitutional monarchy is better than an alb
solute monarchy. The conduct of the
ultra prohibitionists in voting against and
defeating republican candidates has beer
sharply criticised by republicans who have
indirectly helped to defeat Malone, but
the temperance enthusiast easily justifes
his conduct by the same logic as his crit
les employ to excuse their own politica
action. The solid South is a fixed fact
again, and as such will bob up serenely
in the coming national canvass.