The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-11-28
Democracy Is Not Dead.

There Is something in the note OF
warning sounded by the New York cor
respondent of the Philadelphia Press
with immediate reference to the munic-
ipal problem in the metropolis when
possesses general interest and value.
After pointing out that the average
vote cast at the recent election for the
Tammany candidates reached about
1O5, 900, he continues:
Therefore 1t is seen that in spite of the
revelations before the LeXow committee
Notwithstanding the overwhelming i'm
pulse in the direction of Republican sue
cess, Tammany was able to control 100000
votes, and in these figures are to be seen
the menace which is constantly before
those who have undertaken to establish
good government here. II that organiza-
tion, in the face of emphatic public con-
demnation and in spite of the mighty in
fluences that were making for Repub-
licanism, is nevertheless able to poll 1850
votes or considerably more than one
third of the entire vote polled, then 1t is
not safe to assume that the organization
is going to be broken down simply be-
cause is has been once defeated. The Re-
publicans are inclined to the opinion that
they could have elected their candidate
without any Democratic help, but an
analysis of the official figures does not
Justify that claim. Had it been straight
party issue between the Republicans and
the Democrats, the Democracy would
have carried this city apparently by from
between 10000 and 1900 votes. In fact
hasty generalization permits the state
ment that the straight Republican vote
and the straight Tammany vote here
would not upon comparison, vary in fig
ures more than two or three thousand.
That would leave some $1,000 voters In the
city who are Independent enough to swing
from one party to the other, and these
persons have the balance of power. For
that reason 1t Is going to require great
prudence q very thorough knowledge of
the situation. and good understanding of
what public sentiment may sustain, for
the Republicans to gain permanent fruits
of the victory.
In the larger arena of national poll
tics, almost similar condition prevails.
We are not of those who believe that an
Overwhelming number of American cit
liens lately voted for Republican candi-
dates for the single reason that they
were Republicans. Neither do we be-
lieve that the Democratic party has
been permanently defeated. Upon
straight party lines, which are the lines
that the majority of our citizens OBJ
serve unless specially aroused by a
crying necessity for concerted action,
the Republican and the Democratic
parties are about equal in point of num-
bers. The people have repudiated
Democratic servants whom they deem
dishonest, unwise or unfit to govern,
and have elected Republican servants
believing them to be, in an emergency
safer and ADLER. But the self-same fact
should admonish the latter that they
can remain in power only during good
behavior. The time has gone by in this
country when controlling element in
It's citizenship can long be fooled by
partisan names and partisan claims
which do not have behind them the
collateral of prudent and effective legls-
lative results.
The Tammany vote in New York, like
the southern Democratic vote in ma
tional politics, is the foundation stone
upon which Democratic ambition will
build new structure that will yet be
crowned by the capstone of political
success unless Republicanism, as re-
Elected by its leadership, shall be saga
cious, circumspect and faithful to its
trust.