The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-26
Tho Grand Old Party in the Bay State

A controversy OF rather an amicnble than
animated sort has been going on between
Hdrper's Weekly and the Boston Transcript
on the alleged decline OF Republicanism In
the Bay State and its causes. Massachu-
sets gave In 1868 a Republican majority Of
77.069. Four years later 1t gave 74,212. In
1876 it gave 1925. In 1884 the Republican
majority had shrunk to 24.372. In 1888 it
was 80. O37. The State has now Democratic
Governor. and 1t has been carried by the
head OF the Democratic ticket for two years
in succession. an achievement without
precedent. Seven Of the twelve Massachu-
sets members OF Congress are Democrats.
and tho Transcript publishes. and Harper's
Weekly rcproduces, a table designed to
show tho Republican breakdown in detail
and the corresponding growth and increase
OF the Democrats, particularly In tho man.
ufacturing cities Of the Bay State. It COM
pares the vote OF these in 1880. when the
Republicans were ut the flood tide OF sue
cess. with the vote cast ut the recent State
election. when. as Is everywhere known.
several thousand Republicans voted. on
purely personal grounds. for WILLIAM E.
RUSSELL for Governor.
the intervening eleven years the Republican
vote In the large cities OF Massachusetts,
increased very little. and that In the towns
OF Lawrence. Fall River. New Bedford. and
Taunton 1t actually fell off, The Democratic
vote. on the other hand. increased 400 In
Lowell. 1000 In Lawrence. !. 800 In Fall Rivor.
1900 In Lynn. 1900 In Springfield. 1870 In
Holyoke. 100 In Brockton. and 2.lOO IN
Worcester. Upon tho strength OF these
figures tho breakdown OF Republication In
Massachusetts Is asserted.
That comparison OF the vote OF an Inn
portant Presidential election with the vote
cnst at State fight in an of year Is we'll
calculated to mislead. Is quite evident: and
1t ought to DO added that Mr. RUssELL's
vote does not represent the Democratic
strength. his Democratic associate for
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS having been beaten
by 6. 800 in 1890 and by II 800 In 1891. and tho
Republicans elccting majority OF tho
State ticket In both years. But this defeat
apart there has been since 1880 constant
influx OF foreign immigration into tho
cities and towns OF Massachusetts. Ac-
cording to a recent report. tho annual
immigration from other places into Massa-
chusetts now amounts to 10000. OF which
10000 Is made up of French Canadians. n
majority OF whom 10 to the manufacturing
towns. and OF about $4,000 Irish. whose oh
jcctivc point Is usually Boston. While this
stream of newcomers has been expanding
the urban population. the country districts
of the State have bcCn steadily losing Thus
Barnstablo county fell Off between 1880 and
1890 from 3l,04j to 29l72. In Plymouth and
similar counties tho changes where they
marked an increase were small. But In tho
ten years Boston gained 10000. Lowell In
creased from $4,000 to 1900, Worcester
from 5000 to $4,000. Fall River from 40 900
to 4.O00, Lynn from 3. OOOt to $1,000, and New
Bedford from 10000 to 10000.
Tho newcomers are, nearly all of them,
Democrats. The outgoers. who leave Mas
sachusetts to seek fortune and moro fertile
farming lands in tho West. are usu-
ally Republicans. What wonder, then, that,
all political considerations aside. the
numerical disparity between Democrats
and Republicans In Massachusetts should
be constantly decreasing Ten years ago,
the date selected by tho Transcript. the
Democrats carried Suffolk county. which
includes tho greater part OF Boston, by
majority OF 500. Last year Mr.. RUssELLs
majority in Suffolk was Is. 900. though outside
OF this county he was beaten in the State.
In estimating at their true value the
causes which have led to the increase OF
the Democratic strength In Mssss chusetts.
the improvement Of Democratic leadership
and purpose s4oWd not b lost s,ght Of.