Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-10-15

Some Facts About the Mugwumps'
\ In view OF the fact that the Mug wump
journals in New York are doing all they
can to elect the Republican ticket in that
State, it becomes a matter Of some interest
to know whether the strength OF the Mug
wumps is anywhere near as great as they
claim it is. The Mugwumps insist that
/ If it had not been for their help Mr.. Cleve-
/ land would not have been elected. There
are very excellent reasons for thinking
that this is a mistake. Indeed, MIR. VIM.
Henry Hurlbert, former editor Of the New
! York W0rLd in n letter to the New York
/ Sun, presents figures to show that Mr..
Cleveland would have been elected by
much more pronounced majority if the
Mugwumps had played no part whatever
in the Presidential campaign. On the
ground that they rendered Mr.. Cleveland
great help. they have been able to make
their influence felt In Mr.. Cleveland's adj
ministration. If Mr.. Hurlbert's figures
tell the truth, the Mugwumps have been
getting pay for services which they did
not render.
MIR. Hurlbert says, and very reasonably,
that the Congressional vote shows pretty
fairly the strength OF the two parties, and
that if, as the Mugwump journals claimed,
Mr.. Cleveland "was stronger than his
party" his vote ought to have been greater
than that cast for Congressional candi-
dates. But what was the fact, In 1854
the Democratic Congressional vote in the
whole country was 4.942. 637, and Mr..
Cleveland's vote was 4, S74, 1856. From this
it appears that Mr.. Cleveland ran behind
his party vote 81, 651 votes. This certainly
does not look as if he were stronger than
his party.
But how was 1t with Mr.. Blaine? 1t is
admitted that the Mugwumps are boiling
Republicans, and if their number in the
Presidential campaign was so great as
has been represented, Mr.. Blaine's vote
ought to have fallen behind that Of his
party. But as a matter OF fact, did it? A
glance at the figures shows thatin 1884 the
Republican Congressional vote was 4,641,-
75l. while Mr.. Blaine's vote was 4, S51, 9Sl.
From this it appears that he ran ahead
of his party 30, go votes. This was a
rather queer condition OF affairs. II the
number OF Mugwumps who refused to
support Mr.. Blaine, and voted for Mr..
Cleveland, was so great, how was it that
Mr.. Cleveland ran over 10000 behind his
party vote and Mr.. Blaine ran over 200,-
600 votes ahead Of his party vote?
If it is assumed that the votes cast for
Gen. Butler were mainly Democratic
votes, and those for st. John mainly Re
publican votes, it appears that if the Mug
wumps had not figured as factor in the
campaign, MIR. Cleveland would have had
a popular majority Of 115, 657 votes, in
stead Of a beggarly plurality of only
23O05 votes.
The showing which the figures make, as
presented by Mr.. Hurlbert, Is that Mr..
Cleveland's vote in - OF the IS States
fell behind the Congressional vote of his
party, aud that in 30 of the 80 States Mr..
Blaine's vote ran ahead Of the Congress
sional vote Of his party.
But if the Mugwumps rendered Mr..
Cleveland any service at all worth con-
sdering, it was in the state of New
York. They boosted that in New
York they controlled $1,000 votes. all
drawn from the Republican party, and
that these votes would be given to Mr..
Cleveland. In New York both Mr.. Cleve-
land and Mr.. Blaine ran behind the Con-
gressional vote Of their respective parties.
The Democratic Congressional vote was
lis. and Mr.. Cleveland's vote was
j63, 04S. The Republican Congressional
was SCHOOL Mr.. Blaine ran behind
his Congressional party vote OH
votes. Were these 5,7l7 votes the
full strength of the Mugwumps? II so,
how was it that they do not appear to
have been transferred TO MIR. Cleveland?
Notwithstanding the alleged help which
Mr.. Cleveland received from the Mug
wumps, he fell short Of the Democratic
congressional strength of the State by
1870 votes. Clearly, he could not have
received great deal OF assistance from
the Mugwumps. II there had been no
Mugwumps, and he had got the Demo
cratic vote OF the State-the vote that was
cast for Democratic cOngressmen-he
would have carried the State by much
greater plurality than he did.
The Mugwumps were given too much
credit for the part they played in the last
Presidential campaign, and their claims
FOR recognition have been altogether out
Of proportion to the service they rendered
the Democratic party. 1t is pretty safe to
assume that their influence in the cam
paign that is now IN progress in New
York, is very much over-estimated by
themselves.
From the propress the United States