Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1884-11-13
NORTHERN TRIBUNE.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1884.
Historic Close Votes.


The Democrats are having a great
ia mbOree over New York, as though the
fact Of close vote were an extra0rdin-
ary phenomenon and meant all sorts of
riOtOus and extreme consequences. Close
votes are nothing new in this country.
Mr.. Hendricks. who Is one OF the lOudest
shOuters in the present instance, knows
that we'll enough. Or, IL he does not, he
need go no further than to the Guberna-
tOrial vote of Indiana in 1872 in order to
refresh his memory. He was elected
Governor of Indiana that year by plu-
rality of only 1,l48 votes, and yet the
Capitol was not overturned nor did the
heavens fall.
The idea that there must be row be-
cause State or National vote is close
is wholly B0urbOnsse, unworthy any par
ty or set of men. The situation of af-
fairs in New York has frequent parallels
in the experience of the past. but there
was an entirely peaceable and lawful
settlement of the interests at issue and
no one ever thought of stirring up an
instruction or clam0ring fraud against
the properly constituted arbltratOrs Of
the vote.
As early as 1924, in the contest be-
tween Adams and Jackson, there was a
difference of only 100 in Maryland's vote
ON these two candidates, in favor Of
Adams, but it did not occur to Old
Hickory to incite his minority to sack
the cities and tear up the soil of Mary
land, Four years later that State voted
on these same candidates. and though
there were nearly $4,000 additional votes
divided between them, Adams still led
by 1881. In 1882, when Clay and Jack
son were the rival candidates, Delaware
gave Clay but 1865 more votes than Jack
son got, and in Maryland there was an
actual difference Of only four votes, Clay,
getting 49, 100 and Jackson 1885.
This is healthful precedent for Mr..
Hendricks to look to, remembering that
his party prototype did not therefore de-
mand the execution Of the Maryland
tribunal. The vote in New Jersey that
year stood Clay 1892, jackson 1886, a
trifling yet all-important difference of
464 votes. In 1885 when Harrison and
Van Buren, were the petitioners of suf-
frage, there was difference in COnnec-
ticut of only 76S votes. in Louisiana of
go in Mississippi of 20l, and in New
Jersey of 545.
In 1910, when Harrison ran against
Van Buren,, there was difference in the
vote in Maine of only All, in Michigan
of 1886, in Pennsylvania of 1.345. in a
total vote of S7,O97, and in Virginia Of
1902. Between Clay and Polk in 1874
there were differences in Louisiana of
7O1 votes, in New Jersey 1923, and in Ten
nessee, Folks heme, Clay led him by
Just 113 votes. In 1848 between Tayler
and Cass, the difference between the
votes for the Two was, in Alabama 981,
in Delaware 523, in Iowa 1.009, in Miss
issippi 615, and in Virginia 1,462.
The race of Pierce against Scott In
1852 was correspondingly close in some
states, the advantage being in Delaware
only % votes, in Louisiana 1892, in
North Carolina 686, and in Tennessee L.
$50. In the memorable and remarkable
contest of 1860 Lincoln only had 657
votes the better of Douglas in California.
In 1864 Mcclellan got only 612 more
votes than Lincoln in Delaware. In
California in 1868 Grant received but
5O6 more votes than Seymour, and in
Oregon but 1874 majority. In 1872 again
between Greeley and Grant, Delaware
held her party votes within 900 Of each
Other,-Inter Oeean.