Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-11-08

eighty six organized counties in Dakota
give Clifford majority of 23,00S and
Day majority of OF 1,579, net majority
OF II ,434 for Clifford. The returns from
many of the fifty-four counties are yet
subject to change aud in these changes
they are as liable to increase as to de-
crease G,FoEd's majority. thonPh in the
aggregate :g they viii not probably change
it materially. OF the counties yet un-
reported eleven lie north of the forty
sixth parallel and the balance south OF
that line. In 1884 these unreported
counties cast vote of 12,949 end gave
Clifford over Wilson majority of
1881. Estimating the counties not
heard from upon the basis of the major
tiles OF the counties heard from, the
best that can be expected for Clifford
therein is 5000 additional majority
Giving his opponent the benefit of all
doubts, Gifford's majority can be placed
at %, 5,000--certainly not less than that,
with liability to greater proportions.
This shows falling off of over 10000
from his majority of 1884.
The prospective result is surprise to
even those who were prepared to
be surprised. Every person politically
posted knew that the majority of 1884
was fictitious malorlty--tbat it was
an exaggeration of the real voting
strength of the republican party of Da-
kota-yet the closest figurers hardly ex-
peeted to see 1t cut down one-haIf or
more The republican vote has this year
gone much below the actual numerical
strength of the party, Many causes have
contributed to this result. Local dis
sensions are to considerable extent
responsible. In a majority of the coun.
ties OF Dakota there have been
revolts among republicans against the
time honored domination of machine
| Po.is;ciaas-e.h sche2se.s .shese business
it is to pack caucuses and conventions
Against this class of operators there have
been widespread neighborhood warfares
and this could not occur SO general,
without affecting the head of the re-
publican ticket.
Another cause is thenc ession to power
in national affairs OF lLe democratic
party. This carries with Its success
class of voters who have no clearly de
| fined political principles, but are
always found smuggling up TO the party
in power. Among this class Dakota re
publicans have lost that proportion
which represented their fictitious
strength. This will return to them will
the election of republican president.
| Democrats who are usually Indifferent
have voted this year, adding generall,
silent quantity to the democratic column
| This has aided materially in swelling
MIR. Days vote.
| But the great detection in the nortl
is the chief cause of th
reduced republican majority. Thi
is genuine surprise to th
republicans of Dakota, who were no
prepared to believe that the defeat o
the northern political leaders in the re
publican convention would affect tn,
masses of republican, voters in tn,
north. The victors in the republican
convention doubtless by this time
, realize their lack of wisdom il
placing the management of the cam
paign in the hands of the defeated as
pirant from tbs north. 1t was an act O
graceful stupidity for which the resul
brings no compensation.
There was no canvass on the repubIi
can side, while on the democratic sid,
there was an active canvass. Nothing
but the great republican majority il
Dakota has saved the party from th,
defeat 1t invited when it placed tn.
management of it's affairs in the handl
OF men who did not favor republican
success this year.