New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-04
THE LOCAL ELECTIONS.


The paople of New-York plainly do not in
tend to have their votes counted again as they
were counted by the tools of Hill in 1891. No
doubt other and very influential causes exist for
the Democratic defeats in cities and towns
throughout the State. But the fact that pc
culiar attention nas been given by voters every
where to the Supervisors, and heavy ma]orlhes
have been cast against Democratic candidates
for that office in places where the majority was
in favor Of other Democratic candidates, makes
it certain that a strong body of voters resent
and are determined to punish the knavcy OF
Hill and his tCtls.
Tho Republicans have gained in every part OF
the State 1t may be said that this is natural
reaction from that foolish epidemic OF senseless
voting which followed the false charges against
the last Republican Congress and the new tariff
But the returns show something more-not mere
" a return swing of the pendulum, but smash
ing of the Democratic machines and candidates
in Democratic strongholds, which can be at
tributed only to Indignation of Democrats at the
infamous conduct of Hill and his tools moral
nausea has forced thousands of Democrats to
throw up Hill and all who are associated with
or represent or support him. The reaction III
many counties reaches the proportions OF revo-
luton. Republicans are chosen where only
Democrats have been elected for ten or even
twenty years Even in Elmira, the city 50 long
debauched by Hills own methods Of corruption,
the Democratic defeat is overwhelming. The
violent storm which swept over the State made
the result even more significant, because bad
weather almost invariably costs the Republican
party more votes than the Democratic, and yet
while in some places the vote was moderate, In
many others it was astonishingy large.
These elections take from Hill the power TO
count the votes in great many counties OF this
State Ii is true that among the state officers
who will organize as a State Board of Can
yassers there are two men who have proved
themselves utterly without shame or conscience
But il the county officials do not furnish pre-
text for fraudulent acts by sending in fraudulent
returns, the State Board, even with these ex-
perts in dishonor, can scarcely create them. In
creased chances of getting a fair count greatly
strengthen the hopes of Republicans respecting
the electoral vote of the State and the choice OF
Congressman next fall. They have much to
overcome principally the consequences OF their
own neglects or disagreements But there Is
now scarcely the faintest possibility that the
Democratic forces in this State can be fully
united on any candidate.
The local elections ought to be fatal to HILL
Not merely in this State, but in the deliberate
Judgment Of Democrats from other States, they
are likely to have weight, IA proving that the
New-Yorlk trckster has sought his own advan-
tagc so shameessly that he has seriously i'm
perlled his party. When the revolt against
him takes form in a second State Convention
and another delegation to the National Conven-
ton. one Of the strongest arguments the delega-
ton can employ will be that Hills dishonoiable
methods have caused an irresistible reaction
against the party he has been permitted to repre-
sent and control.