Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-11-04


lay In almost ali the doubtful states, and have
made threatening inroads on the territory
where the republicans bear acknowledged sway.
The chief interest, of course, centered I'm New
York. In this state, the democrats find them
selves this morning the undIsputed yictors
with pluralitJ of about Il, 1000 votes. Evil
IDENTIFY, therefore, the mugwumps do not hold
the balance Of power in New York, as they SO
fondly hoped. So far appears, the battle in
that state was fought on strict party lines, and,
that being the case, the democrats had the ad-
vantage OF numbers, for New York Is naturally
democratic state. 1t went for Garfield, to be
sure and occasionally republican state ticket
In elected, but some special combination of cir
cumstances is generally required 10 bring re-
publican success. Thus, in 1879, Cornell was
elected governor through the Kelly bolt, and
Carr was elected secretary of state in 1883
through the antagonism OF the liquor interest
20 Maynard the democratic candidate. In that
year. the other democrats on the state ticket
were elected by pluralities ranging from 1850
70 1882, or just about the pluralities OF yes
terday; and this is probably the normal rea-
tive strength of the two parties in the state.
All that made New York doubtful I'm 1884 was
the detection OF Tammany, which showed itself
In the Butler vote and ty stealthy votes for
Blaine. Had the party been united, Cievelands
majority would have run high up in the thou
sands.
Next to New York, Virginia has attracted the
most general attention, owing TO the interest
felt in Nahone's fortunes. Few supposed that
Wise would carry the state, but 1t was held that
Malone might figure out a majority in the leg
islature that would re-eect him to the Senate.
This expectation has not been realized. The
legislature is strongly democratic. and Ma
homes picturesque career is probably ended.
Senator German has had better luck. The
movement in Maryland to GUST him has broken
down. The republicans have Jared very badly
in that state, and talk this morning in a dis
outraged vein. The democrats have an almost
unprecedented majority in the legislature, and
the control OF that body will be in the hands Of
GOrmans friends.
In Pennsylvania there was another slaughter
Of mugwumps, as both Quay for state treasurer
and Rowan for sheriff OF Philadelphia county
were elected In spite of special efforts to defeat
them by the enemies of the machine" The
vote for Quay fell off considerably from that
for Blaine, but he gets a humping majority
still greatly To the sorrow of those who hoped
10 give the machine another "lesson" similar
to that taught by the election of Gov. Pat
terson. As compared with the vote for state
treasurer in 1855, Quay gains, although he was
obnoxious to the Independents.
From the other states the returns are frag-
mentary, and do not possess so general an in
terest. In Massachusetts,, Governor Robinson
supposed he would be. In Connecticut the
democrats gain a number of seats in the legis-
lature, but not enough TO change the political
complexion of that body. In New Jer-
sey the republicans seem to have made some
gains in the legislature, probably ensuring the
election Of a republican To succeed Senator
Sewell. In the remote western states and terri
tories, where elections OF one kind and another
were held. the indications are that the republi-
cans keep their power intact
And now everyone will ask, and having
asked, will probably answer to suit himself the
question: How do the elections bear on the
Cleveland administration? The first and OBJ
vious deduction to be drawn from the figures is
that the country at large Is not discontinued
with the government. The success of the DEM
ocrats u not confined 10 any one locality, nor
can 1t be attributed to special local causes, but
is almost national in its character as the vote
Of last year. Hence, 1t must be accepted as a
ratification of that vote. And at the same time
one cannot fail to notice that the statistics of
the election point 70 re-setion In favor OF party
discipline "a against tine independent theory
which has Of late years become such a disturb
ing element in politics. Yesterdays result was
significantly q democratic victory. The politi-
cal free-lance, by whatever title he preferred to
b known-independent mugwump, reformer,
gentleman in politics, better-element or ma
chine-smasher, was severity snubbed. OF late
years the boys and the bosses have had to take
some hard slugging from the amateurs but
yesterday they knocked the gentlemen out
The exception to prove the rule, occurred in
Chicago, where . much-needed reform in the
election machinery was carried. The new law
provides for small voting precincts, and is
framed very closely after the New York law
which has been found 70 work so satisfactorily.