Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-08-23
New York Tribune
The United States Senate.

Inc O0lCeO St8toS ScudeO'
The statement of . democratic leader,
quoted in Washington dispatches on Monday,
in regard to the effort of the democrats to
capture the United States Senate, should be
seriously considered as a warning by all re-
publicans in States having Senators to elect.
The difference between the two parties in the
Senate is not as great as some appear to sup
pose. The readiness of some republicans to
throw away their votes on legislative candi.
dates who are in effect only assistant demo
Gratis implies a belief that the democrats can
BY NO possibility secure the control of the
Senate. If the party of free trade. debased
money and foreign aggression can secure the
Senate, it will by the same elections in all
probability secure the next House, and thus
the power to make laws as it pleases. That
is what the assistant democrats, who know
well what they are about, especially desire
they mean 10 turn over the entire control of
the government to the democratic party. But
that is not the end desired by anv man who
honestly cares for republican principles.
With the election of a republican ia Cali
forns, the Senate stands as il did before the
death Of Senator Miller of that State, forty
two republicans against thirty-four demo-
Gratis, and will so remain during the next
short session. The election of democrat in
place of Senator Malone of Virginia, how
ever, renders it certain that after March 4,
1887, only forty-one seats now filled by re-
publicans will be SO filled, against thirty. FIVE
democrats The recent election in Califor-
mia was for the unexpired term only, aud the
legislature to be elected this fall will have
the choice of q senator for the full term.
That State, New Jersey, New York, Indiana
and Pennsylvania now have democratic gov
ernOrs, and are TO elect senators in place of
republicans. In Connecticut and Michigan,
though the Governors are republicans, the
democrats indulge hopes based on success IN
other elections. On the other hand, the
democrats now hold seats from Nevada and
West Virginia which the republicans may
possibly gain. These are commonly recog-
nized as the disputed States. In the remain
ing States which are to elect Senators, it is
commonly agreed that the result is not doubt
full; Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Missis-
sipp, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas will
doubtless be represented by democrats, as
they are now; and Maine, Massachusests,
Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio. Rhode Island.
Vermont and Wisconsin will doubtless be
represented by republicans, rs thev are now.
Thus there will be thirty-four republicans and
thirty-three democratic senators holding over
or from States in which the result is meas
urably certain the question 10 whether the
democrats can retain Nevada and West Vir-
ginia, and gain four States now represented
by republicans, in addition to Virginia already
gained.
There would be no room for doubt, if
republicans were sure to be governed by
their national principles in the election of
State legislatures. They have the power. to
elect republican legislatures in nearly all the
disputed States, and now control them In
enough States to settle the matter, if the
present legislatures could elect Senators.
The only hope of the democrats is that a
sufficient number of republicans can be in
duced, on various pretexts, to forget the
United States Senate and the overwhelming
Importance of preventieg national legislation
BY reactionary, free trade and soft money
party, and to throw away their votes for
legislative candidates on temperance and
labor tickets. In all the disputed States
such tickets are being put up with great
parade and pretence of strength, and especial
care to attract as many re-
publican voters as possible. Dem
Ocratic managers are not able to conceal
their hope that in this way they may elect
democratic legislature in New York, another
in New jersey, another in Connecticut, and
even in Pennsylvania, according to a demo.
cratic leader, they have the same hope.
If the voters whose aid is thus expected
really desired to transfer the government of
the nation to the democrats, there would be
no occasion for any such DISCUSSES. But they
avow no such intention. They profess to be,
and most Of them certainly are, profoundly
convinced that lhe control of national legs-
lation by the democratic party would De in
the last degree disastrous to the country
They claim to understand that it would bring
a sudden and terrible prostration of industry
and fall in the wages of labor, if the party
which supported the Morrison bill and the
surplus resolution could pass such measures
in the Senate. If these voters do realize this
thing, thew will not be deluded bv any tricks
of assistant democrats, but will take care not
to throw away the control Of State legisla-
tares this year in any State which has a
United States Senator to elect. The respon-
sibility rests with them, and if they allow
themselves to be befooled aud defrauded, the
cannot complain that they were not fairly
warned.