New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-07
TIE PENDULUM SWING.

NunicIDal elections In several cities In various
n,rts Of the country which gave Republican
naforifics last November have resulted IN the
defeat Of the Republican Candidates and the sue
cess Of the opposition party. IN the chaotic con-
dltlon Of the opposition 1t Is hard TO say wnat
IL Is precisely, or 10 know by what name 10 call
II: but II is perhaps safe 10 call 1t Democratic
for the moment At any rate, the victories
whether Democratic, POpulst, Popocrauc, So
cialist or what not, are all claimed by the Demo
Gratis and 50 far as we know, Republicans raise
no objection 10 tho claim. The opposition by
whatever name Il Is called or calls Itself, has
had so little comfort OF late that there IS no
disposition anywhere 70 interrupt us reJo!cings
bv the Interpolation Of a single dlscordant note
II is not surprising that the ancient foes Of the
Republicans. no matter how split up and divided
among themselves. should plume themselves
UPON results which though they cannot, strictly
Speaking. be called Democratic victories are at
least Republican defeats. They are fairly en-
titled 10 all the comfort they can get out Of them
and no Republican Is disposed 10 disturb their
iublations with rude interrOgatOns as 10 which
O. the factions into which they are broken Is
entitled 70 the glory Of the triumphs
It's proper 10 say. however, that there Is moth
ing IN any OF these elections 20 indicate change
in the political opinion or belief or the party
affiliations OF a single voter in any Of the cities
which so appear upon the surface to have re-
yersed their politics since November. In none
Of these municipal elections has single Issue
been raised having the slightest relation 10 those
upon which the November election turned. For
all the bearing they have upon National or even
State politics they might as well have been cleo
tions OF church wardens or of boards Of directors
of railroad corporations. II is consequently the
merest Stiffness Of parrisanship 10 treat these
elections as though they indicated a reaction
from the Republican tide which swept over the
country last fall Without exception they turned
upon issues purely local and personal There
was no question Of tariff or coinage or any other
phase of National politics entering into Of
them. To say. then. that these defeats Of Re
publican candidates for municipal offices upon
purely local and personal grounds convey a
solemn warning 10 the Republican party at large
is 10 talk ridiculous nonsense. A shadowy pre-
text for II may perhaps be found in one or two
instances where the defeat OF Republican can
dldates grew out Of the revolt of Republicans
from the dlctatlon of some local Republican
Boss" who was using the prestige Of the party
and the machinery Of It's organization for the
promotion Of selfish purposes. But that has 10
general significance. and IL Is the wdness Of
partisan exaggeratiOn TO set up those rare in
stances az solemn warnings 10 the Republican
parry.
The truth IS that these apparent party re-
verses. even In their broadest and most forced
application, are only what might naturally have
been expected. Whatever there is Of reaction
In them is only what is natural the inevitable
swing Of the pendulum Nothing is more GER
tain than that the party which achieves so great
a victory as the Republicans did in November
viii see It's vote reduced at the very next con-
test at the polls, no matter what the issue, or
whether the election be local or general. II has
put forth IT'S greatest effort IN the larger field,
and II Is not in human nature 70 prOong the
strain without some relaxation. There are al
ways TWO drawbacks TO a great political victory.
One Is that, while 1t puts the successful party
in the position OF power, IL imposes responsible
ties. IN the discharge Of which It must inevitably
provoke criticism and complaint, which are al
ways loud and aggressive while the applause
II deserves for fidelity to It's trust is always sub
dued and undemonstrat!ve. Another is that in