Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-11-22
CLEVELAND AND THE ELECTIONS.

Republican ROSTERS have been crow
ing Justify from very high perch over
Democratic losses and Republican pros
poets. 1t is the small boy proceeding
whstling to keep up courage and very
amusing in view OF the actual situation.
The Democrats have lost a few members
of Congress and so have the Republicans;
they have lost in the, popular vote in
some localities and so have the Repub-
licans. But what effect will these
changes have upon the last half OF Presi-
dent Cleveland's term, and what upon
the succession in 1888? These are the
only material questions to be considered
in discussing the results OF the Novem-
Der elections.
The Democrats have not lost their |
President. Mr.. Cleveland will be Pres- |
dent until the 4th of March, 1889. That |
is certain. They have not lost the House |
That will be Democratic until the end OF
Clevelands term by a good working ma
jority-22 according to the estimate OF
Senator Kenna, Secretary of the Demo-
cratic Congressional Committee.
The Democrats. !. have not lost the
Senate. That body is Republican by
majority until the 4th OF March next.
But how will it stand during the last half
OF Cleveland's term2 The Democrats
have lost one Senator in Nevada and
gained four-one each in New Jersey, In
diana, Colorado and California-making
the Senate stand after the 4th OF March
next, 81 Democrats, 39 Republicans and
one ReadIuster, Riddleberger. Should
Riddleberger conclude to act with the
Democrats after March 4th, as he is lia-
BILE to do, the Senate will cease to be Re-
publican.
In this estimate of the Republican
strength in the Senate are included Van
Wyck, the Independent Senator from Ne
braska, and Senator Mitchell Of, Oregon,
elected by Democratic votes. Therefore,
as the net result of the November cleo
tons in their bearing upon the last half
OF President Cleveland's s term, the Dem
ocrats retain control OF the House by
ample majority, and the Republican ma
jority of eight in the Senate is reduced
to Riddleberger.
The success of the Democracy in retain
ing control OF the House during the last
half OF Cleveland's term is remarkable
and significant fact, contrary to all pre-
cedent in National politics for half a
century back. As Il rule, the majority
in the popular branch of Congress
is politically in accord with the
President during the first half
and politically opposed during the last
half of his term. The House was Re-
publican during the first half, and Dem
ocratic during the last half of President
Arthur's term. So it was with Hayes,
with Grant, with Buchanan, with Pierce,
with Fillmore, with Polk and with Van
Buren,. The remarkable fact i'll the result
of the November elections, therefore, is
not that the Democratic majority in the
next House was reduced somewhat, but
that there is any Democratic majority al
all.
Our present Democratic Administration
has broken the ironclad rule of American
politics. When the ROSTERS OF oul
esteemed Republican contemporaries
shall contemplate the full significance o.
this remarkable fact, they will roost
lower and crow less Justify over what
they are pleased to term Democratic
set-backs."
In estimating the bearing OF the late
elections upon the succession in 1888
the fact that the Democrats retain the
control OF the popular branch OF Con
gress is one OF the greatest significance
1t is a stubborn fact full OF promise anC
inspiration for the Democracy, to say
nothing OF the uncertain tenure by which
the Republicans will hold the Senate af-
ter March 4th.
Then in looking the field over, we fine
New York, the key to the situation, more
strongly Democratic than in 1884, Colo
rado Democratic for the first time in hei
history, California Democratic with both
Governor and Legislature, Connecticut
and New Jersey Democratic by increased
majorties, Massachusetts more certain
to go Democratic in 1888 than Indiana is
to go Republican, with New Hampshire
doubtful and the 1000 Republican ma
jority in Minnesota wiped out. On the
whole, Democratic prospects for 'SS are
good enough for us. We don't want the
earth.