The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-11-24
peeline Of the Repubhoan Party.

In this issue We publish an article on the
decline 81 the Republican party. from the
Philadelphia Tslegraph, Republican jour
nal. The Telegraph says those superficial
observers who think the Republican party as
strong as ever in PENNSYLVANIA will do well to
look cold facts squarcly in the face, and il
then presents for their examination the vote
the past four years in the seventeen counties
constituting the Northern Tier and most of
the Wcsiern counties, ..lhe sections" the
Teleqraph says, 'in which Republicanism had
its birth. and which for twenty five years never
fsItered in devotion to the party and its can
didates The figures show that in the sey-
enteen counties in 1880, the Republican ma
iorities aggregated 36, 897; in 1881, 81, 9S7; in
1882. l6. ss1; in 1883, l6,6O7. They show
loss Of 3, $40 il 1881, Of 20,ll7 in 1882, and
Of e, 200 in 1889
The Telegraph reminds its party that the
state outside Of Philadelphia went Democratic
Mt the late election, and that the Democratic
strength in the oId-line Democratic counties
Of Berks. Northampton, Lehigh, York, Clear
field, Centre and other ''rockribbed Demo
cratic counties" which always comes out
every four years, was not out.
The TelegrapA thinks that Stalwartism is
the cause Of the decline of the party, and says
that II the Stalwarts in the Legislature stand
by their nItimatum on the apportionment bill,
the Republicans cannot hope TO carry the
Legislature next year and that the Presidency
win he endangered.
The Ieiegraphs facts and figures are inter
esting, but it does not give the whole cause OF
the decline Of the Republican party. It has
been on the decline since 1868. In 1872
many of its old founders and leaders left 1t.
There was a further decline year by year, and
it was defeated in 1876, but Tilden was count
ed out by an Ski Commission This act dis
gusted many of the rank and file of the party,
and the wholesale purchase of voters in 1880
Disguised many more. The fraudulent naval
contracts, the Chorpenning job, the credit mo-
biler Job. the collection of an enormous sur
plus to become the prey of corruptionists, and
the many other unlawful and highhanded acts
of the party for the past twenty-years may be
counted by the Telegraph as further causes OF
decline. The people overlooked or would
not believe the charges of corruption and NAL
administration at first, but now, that both are
too glaring to be mistaken, they look at the
past as well as the present and they see that
4 change is necessary ''The Republican
party must 60 is not meaningless, neither is
Turn the Rascals out. The people have
determined upon change in public affairs,
and they win have it in 1884. Pennsylvania
may be steadfast to the Republican party, but
if that state is carried by the Republican nom
inees next year it viii be by very close vote
and by the very hardest fight the party has
ever made there. The Telegraph can make
a note Of this and lay it away for reference a
year hence.
The decline of the Republican party IS not
confined to Pennsylvania; it extends to every
state. The election returns show that the de-
cline elsewhere is as great as in Pennsylvania
The demand for change is universal, and
the Republican party viii be overthrown next