New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-05
THE ELECTIONS.

to say. In the second year Of Presidential
term the party in power always sustains some
reyerses Its voters are apt to take things
easy, and a good many OF its energetic men
who have been applicants for office are I'M
ayoidably disappointed. But this year the Re-
publcans had such especial obstacles to over
come that it is not long since Democrats OF
the highest repute as prophets were unanimous
ly predicting fifty majority or more in the next
House, and sweeping victory in nearly all
theIEastern and half the Western States:
In this city, 1.-THE Dutch have taken Hol-
land''; Tammany and the liquor interest have
their own way again. But the attempt TO
capture the Legislature, and with it United
States Senator, power of appoitionment, ana
power to alter the liquor laws, does not at this
hour appear to have succeeded. Neither has
the tremendous effort to capture pennsylvania
resulkd in anything of practical value to the
Democratic party, the Republican State ticket
having triumphed by large majority AlasSa-
chusetts of late years has had occasional fits OF
political WEAKNESS or weakness, and another
was due this year and has arrived On time. The
loss of three. Congressman in that State and q
few in New-York has been anticipated, and
is about the only substantial gain that the
Democrats have made. The Bay State soon
tires of Democratic Governors.
At the South, the Republicans have wisely
counted upon next to nothing, for the Demo-
Gratis do the counting there. Hence the scat
tering Republican victories already reported
there give especial satisfaction. But at une
West the Republicans had extraordinary difii-
cultes to meet, and appear to have met them
with grand success. In Ohio the Repubhcan
State ticket prevails, and the infamous gerry
mander has been beaten in several OF the DIS
tlicts it was intended to steal. In Mr.. Mchln-
ey's district reports promise bis election, which
would be marvellous triumph indeed, but the
fight is close, and full returns cannot yet be
obtained In Indiana three districts which the
outrageous Democratic gerrymander did steal
two years ago appear to have been recovered,
and in illinois the Republican Committee
claims a gain of two members. 1t is too early
to determine the exact figures as to the next
Congress, but the general tenor of dispatches
thus far received from the West is encouraging
This is the last general election that will be
held under the old apportonment it may be
we'll to remember because OF enormous gains
in the population of Western States, the Re-
publican party has in the elections this year to
get along without about fourteen votes in Con-
gress to which an appOrtionment according to
the present population entities it. At the next
election this increased power OF Republican
States will be felt and it is therefore in the
highest degree cheering to see that the party
continues strong, and is even gaining Ill
strength by the news thus fur, iii that section
which gains most rapidly in power 1t is also
to be remembered that if the Republicans OF
the Senate do their duty this is the last Ma
tional election that will be held without the de-
fence of the peoples rights which al Election
law will give. Had there been yesterday a
free vote and fair count, with no dishonest
gerrymanders to defeat the popular WILL there
is no room for doubt that the Republican tn
umph would have been beyond all dispute.
1t is marvellous thing that the new tariff
has been so far sustained by the people, before
its beneficial effects could be realized and while
all its real and imaginary burdens were most
fresh in the minds of men. In spite OF the
carefully cultivated scare about rise OF prices
the people have shown that they not only ad-
here to the principles of Protection, but heart
lily uphold Congress in brave application Of
them. Though the burdens were wildly ex-
dSScIdOCu, Wullc lilo DcuCute SrC JCu w OVhiO
the people in nearly all the formerly Repub-
lican districts where free and fair vote was
possible have sustained the Republican party
and its policy. In many respects this is the
most honorable triumph ever achieved by free
suffrage in this country, for it shows stronger
faculty of deliberately diSregarding present
convenience in wisely grasping future pros
perity than the people have hitherto displayed.
Whether it shall appear, in the light of com
plete returns, that the gerrymanders in five
states, and the denial of free suffrage in ten,
have deprived the Republicans of their scanty
majority in Congress or not, the result is q
| most cheering triumph. For it proves that,
with the apportionment which new census
| justifes, and with law to secure fair and free
elections the popular vote will insure an over
whelming Republican victory