Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1886-11-05
WE ARE STILL THERE
The Result in the County.

The result of last Tuesdays election in
the county, as shown by the official returns
published elsewhere, is entirely satisfac-
tory to the Democrats and falls little short
of their best expectations. Democratic
ascendancy in the county is maintained by
fair and safe majority, notwithstanding
the fact that this is an essentially "eff
year." In consideration of the fact that
there was but one candidate in the field
and no local issues were involved, and
the general confidence in Mr.. Compton 8
easy election which existed here, it was
feared that the county would again show
arepublican majority. The local republi-
can leaders sought to avail themselves Of
the apathy among Democrats resulting
from these causes and regain their local
ascendancy with a view to future pros
poets, and to this end good deal of quiet
work was done among the colored voters
in the several districts of the county. The
esult was full turn out of the colored
vote in all the districts.
In view of these facts, the maintenance
of Democratic supremacy by the safe ma
jority of 49 is most gratifying and proves
very satisfactorily that the Democratic
success OF last fall was not spasmodic and
temporary, but substantial and permanent
An examination of the figures Of the re-
cent election in comparison with that of
last fall shows very conclusively that the
diminished majority of this fall is due
chiefly to absenteeism among Democrats.
The total vote in the county at last falls
election was 3,454 against 3,1s3 at the
election just passed, showing falling off
of 271 in the total vote of the county
The republican State ticket received last
fall 147S votes against 1877 for Tuck at
the late election, showing a gain of only
80 votes for the republicans. The Demo
Gratis give Com 2ton this fall 1905 votes,
against 1877 cast for the State ticket last
year, showing falling off of 27t.
Now, assuming that the colored vote
turned out in full force this fall and the
reports from all the districts concur in
that respect, and we can estimate the re-
publican gain of hundred votes as due
to about SO of the colored voters who act
ed with the Democrats last fall again
wheeling into the line. There were prob
ably SO or more colored voters who acted
with the Democrats last fall who did not
vote at all at the late election as the alb
senteeism among the colored voters seems
to have been confined chiefly to those who
were Democratic last fall. Deducting the
100 votes thus taken from the Democratic
column of last fall from the 371 which the
total Democratic vote of the late election
falls below the total vote of last fall and
We have 271, which exactly corresponds
with difference between the total vote Of
last fall and this.
1t seems fair to assume that of the 371
votes which represent the falling off in
this falls Democratic vote as against last,
about 200 is due to absenteeism among
white Democrats and the remainder to ab-
sence and change of sentiment among col
ored voters who acted with the Democrats
last fall, and in a small degree to the fact
that few respectable white republicans,
who last fall repudiated the local misrule,
have in the recent election reasserted their
political faith upon national questions.
But the one fact which stands out prom
inent in the returns of Tuesdays election
is that the local republican leaders have
failed utterly in their endeavor to reclaim
to any considerable extent the lsrge num-
Der 81 colored voters who broke loose from
them last fall and asserted their manhood
by voting the Democratic ticket. This is
most gratifying and gives abundant pro-
mise of continued good local government
to the people of Charles county. All that
is required is continued unity of purpose
and harmony of action among Democrats
and taxpayers and we have every assur-
ance against any future reinstatement of
the bad local misrule Altogether the re-
suit is most gratifying and encouraging