The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-11-15
Confessions Of Defeat.

The New York Tribune, which can
not be accused of any lukewarmness to
the Republican parry, and whose polit-
ical knowledge and editorial judgment
is in no sense behind that of other pa
pers of tsparty, gravcly declares that
the Electoral Votes of the Southern
States are certain to be cast for the
Democratic nominee. 1t does not ar
rive at this fact by roundabout reason
ing, but concludes that such will be the
fact from the force of current events.
1t knows why the South is Democratic,
and is wise enough to see that there is
nothing in the recent history of the
Republican party which is likely to pro-
duce change. For this faithful asser-
tion of self-evident truth that paper is
now being roundly denounced as con-
ceding the election of Democratic
President. The Republican, of tlis city,
worried at the announcement of such a
truth, denies the conclusions at which
the Iatbane has arrived, and tries to
break the force of the statement by de-
claring that the South is not solid for
Democratic restoration, and supports
its assertions by instaneing the Read
juster triumph in Virginia and the indie
seems to forget that Virginia gave its
that North Carolina did the
same, and that the conditions are even
more favorable now for National. DEM
ocratic success inthese States than they
were in 1880. 1t forgets, further, that
the heavy Republican vote which Vir-
ginia cast for General Garfield is now
all torn up and disorganized by the
dictatorial conduct of General Malone,
and that as he is opposing all the men
who contributed to swell that vote for
Garfield, no assurance can be given that
coalition will be formed for the Re
publican National ticket which will be
strong enough to wrest the Electoral
Vote of that State from the Democratic
nominee. A local triumph over State
issue is one thing, and a victory in a
National election quite another. The
hostility in Virginia between the regu-
lar Republicans and the Malone follow
ers does not indicate that unity and
harmony of action which underlies an
enthusiastic campaign. So far as men
can Judge the conditions are all against
Republican success in Virginia next
year. North Carolina is even less
likely to assist Republican hopes than
Virginia, for the Independent movement
there has signally failed to affect the
Democratic strength, and the dominant
party there is abundantly able to hold
| the State to its Democratic anchorage.
In attempting to answer. the New
York Tribune the Republican virtual,
comedies q National Democratic tri
umph. 1t stys: ..Itis folly to pretend
that the Democratic party is not likel,
to secure forty-eight Electoral Votes il
the North when last year and this it ha
elected Governors in ten Northern
States having one hundred and forty
five Electoral Votes" Being satisfied
upon the point, it tries to show that thu
Republican hope must hang upon Elec
toral Votes in the South, and names
Virginia, North Carolina, Florida ant
West Virginia as the doubtful State!
which will seriously interfere with Dem
ocratic calculations. So between tht
New York Iribune's Judgment of a solit
South assured for the Democracy, ant
the Republicans assertion that lit il
folly to pretend the Democracy coulC
not get the other forty y-eight votes
necessary to elect, the chances of Dem
ocratic success are made tolerably clear
and that out of the mouths Of politica
enemies. If the Republican party con
cedes the Electoral Vote of the South Il
the Democratic nominee, which is ;
reasonable conclusion, and the doubt o
his getting the other forty-eight vote
from the North is declared ''folly,'
which is equally reasonable, there woult
not seem to be much use for the Repub
icans to make a fight. The 4rtbat'a
and the Republican are both right il
their conclusions. The Democratic
nominee mill get the South, and he vii
also get the forty-eight votes he need
from the North. 1t is no wonder tha
Judge Edmunds declines being candi
date, and that the nomination seems +
be going a-begging.-Anarican Regis