Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1889-10-29
MlscELLANEoUs.
The Conditions of the Election
in 1892.
prom tho Baltimore sun.l

Ten of the thirteen electoral votes
to be cast for the first time in. 1892
by the four new States are conceded
to the Republican candidate for the
presidency in that year, the three of
Montana being considered doubtful,
or probably Democratic. This pre-
ponderance of Republican gains has
led arithmeticians of the Republican
party to make calculations the cut
come of which is that the next ma
tional election can be decided in fa-
vor of the Republican candidate with
out the electoral vote of New York.
In 1888 the electoral college cast 401
votes, of Which POI were needed to
elect. Mr.. Harrison received 233
votes, against 16S cast for Cleveland,
having carried New York with its Sc
electoral votes and Indiana with its
Is electoral votes, in addition to the
States usually accounted surely Re-
publican. Indiana was not necessa-
ry to his success, but New York was.
The change, in the situation produced
it is claimed, by the creation of four
new States is that Indiana alone,
without New York, will hereafter suf-
fee to give the presidency to the Re-
publican party. The electoral col
lege in 1892, without a new appor-
tionment, which is improbable, will
number 414, and 2O3 votes will be
required to elect. The 1917 votes of
the States, exclusive of New York,
that were for Mr.. Harrison in 1888,
with 10 votes from the new States,
make total of POI, or one short of a
majority. This one vote may be had,
it is believed, from Montana, Connec-
ticut or West Virginia. With New
York Republican,, the problem, of
course, would be a vastly easier one,
but that State being naturally Demo-
cratic and hard to carry. the calcula-
tion is made with the object of show
ing that Mr.. Quay may next time dis
pense with New York. The flaw of
the scheme, it will appear, is in as
stunning that Indiana, which is essen
tial to its success, any more than
New York, will go Republican in
1892. 1t is naturally Democratic
State. Unlimited bribery carried it
for Garfield in 1880 and for Harrison
in 1888, but that expedient will not,
it is believed, be available at the next
presidential election. The next cleo
tion in Indiana will be held under the
recently-passed Australian ballot law,
so that the devices of former times
for purchasing votes and seeing them
delivered will in 1892 be of no SER
vice to either party. The probability,
therefore, is that Indiana will follow
its natural bent next time and give
its fifteen electoral votes the Demo-
cratic candidate. The calculation
for dispensing with New York may
be further spoiled by Rhode Island,
under its broadened franchise, be-
coming a Democratic State. The
prospects, therefore. of the Demo-
Gratis in the next national contest are
certainly not such that they need to
be greatly discouraged. If they can
add the votes of New York and In
diana-States naturally Democratic
TO those of the States that were for
Cleveland last year, they will have a
majority and eight votes to spare
Or, without Indiana, the Democrats,
having New York safe, may win if
they can capture Rhode Island or Cal
ifornia. They cannot win without
New York. Evidently the election
is going to be close and exciting
one. The result, tmay be assumed, !,
viii he determined in large part by
contingencies which at present no
one can pronerlY estimate.