The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1883-11-22
Confessions Of Defeat.

The New York Tribune, which can
not be accused of any lukewarmness to
The Republican parry, and whose polit-
cal knowledge and editorial judgment
! S in no sense behind that of other pa
/ pers of its party, grayely 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
| TACT 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-
| ton of a self-evident truth that paper is
now being roundly denounced as con-
| ceding the election of Democratic
President. The Republican, ofthis city,
worried at the announcement of such q
! truth, denies the conclusions at which
| the Tribune 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 instancing the Read
ulster triumph in Virginia and the indie
pendent strength in North Carolina. 1t
seems to forget that Virginia gave its
Electoral Vote to General Hancock, and
that North Carolina did the
same, and that the conditions are even
more favorable now for National DEM
ocratic success in those 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
q 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 victory in a
National election quite another. The
hostility in Virginia between the regrI-
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
W~ih Nv
comedies a National Democratic tri-
umph. 1t says: 1T is folly to pretend
that the Democratic party is not likely
to secure forty-eight Electoral Votes in
the North when last year and this it has
elected Governors in ten Northern
States having one hundred and forty
five Electoral Votes" Being satisfied
upon the point, it tries to show that the
Republican hope must hang upon Elec-
toral Votes in the South, and names
Virginia, North Carolina, Florida and
West Virginia as the doubtful States
which will seriously interfere with Dem
ocratic calculations. So between the
New York Iribune's judgment of solid
South assured for the Democracy, and
the Republicans assertion that 1t is
folly to pretend the Democracy could
not get the other forty eight votes''
necessary to elect, the chances of Dem
ocratic success are made tolerably clear,
and that out of the mouths Of political
enemies. If the Republican party con-
cedes the Electoral Vote of the South to
the Democratic nominee, which is a
reasonable conclusion, and the doubt of
his getting the other forty-eight votes
from the North is declared folly"
which is equally reasonable, there would
not seem to be much use for the Repub-
licans to make a fight. The Tribune
and the Republican are both right in
their conclusions. The Democratic
nominee UaH get the South, and he will
also get the forty-eight votes he needs
from the North. 1t is no wonder that
Judge Edmunds declines being a candi-
date, and that the nomination seems to
BEGGING a-begging.-Anaerlcan Register.