New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-07-01
C0NGREASInAAL PKOSPECTS.

AS the end of the Congressional session ap-
proaches, speculations are often heard about
the result of the coming elections. There are
few Democrats who are not aware that the con-
duct Of their Representatives and Sena-
tors has damaged the chances of their
party. and many admit that the cleo
ton of a Republican majority to the House
seems probable. Republicans are possibly
inclined to be too sanguine, though there Is Ger
tainy strong reason to expect considerable
gains They will gain by the repeal OF the
shameful Democratic gerrymander in Ohio, by
wbich several seats were stolen for the party of
sCleveand and Reform" They ought to gain
in all districts where there are Intelligent ana
honest advocates of reform, because of the dis
graceful incapacity and indecent wastefuness
of the Democratic House. They will gain in
Eastern States, in Ohio and at the West, be-
cause Of the attempt to break down the protec-
tive tariff. They will gain, also, in many
localities, because of Democratic quarrels about
the distribution of the spoils.
There is something to be said on the other
side Republicans are not wise if they forget
the new difficulties with which they have to
contend. They are not going to have, In elec-
tons in Southern or OTHER States, any Of the
protection against fraud or crime which Repub-
lican Presidents gave. United States laws are
TO be administered through Mr.. Garland, the
distinguished receiver of telephone stock as
gift, and the National poker player or not at
all. That fact may make some difference, Mt
least in the few Southern districts in which the
majority of voters still insist upon their right
to elect Republicans 1t would not be strange
if the Republican representation from the South
should be considerably cut down by unresisted
frauds. Therefore it Is the more necessary for
free voters of Northern States, who want to
have Republican principles prevail in legisla-
ton. to concentrate tnelr vote upon strong Re-
publican candidates.
Patronage, its use and ahuse, will certainly
hurt the Democrats in many ways. But the Re.
publicans who used to be exceedingly anxious
to get favors from Republican Presidents, be-
cause those favors were necessary to help
them in their districts" will admit that in some
way and to some extent they expected to be
helped and that the Democrats are now in
position to get that help. What President
Cleveland and his advisers have been aiming
at, with some shrewdness at times, is to keep
enough Republicans in Office to get sort of
credit for not using the public service as
enough to get the full use of that service for
party purposes They have tried TO pick Re-
pubiicans whose retention in Office would help
Democrats, or would not interfere with the un
scrupulous use of he public service. They
have tried 10 select for places of power men
who are dishonest and cunning enough 10 get
the last vote for the Democratic ticket that
they can. by any use OF public place. 1t is not
good sense to ignore the fact that the public
service will prove a potent engine, In some
localities in the hands of such men. AS for the
revolt of Democratic reformers" against this
prostitution of the public service, that will
come when the sky falls and we AL catch larks.
A little study of Ohio history, and OF the
shameless defence which previously respectable
men have made for the forgers and thieves, the
perjurers and bribers, who tried to capture the
State for the Democratic party, ought to satisfy
any man that it is not safe to count upon Demo-
cratic affection for reform