Middletown transcript., 1897-11-20
arF-YFAR ELEorIoNs.

The New York World makes some
comparisons with election figures which
are very interesting and what is more
unusual they appear to be unbiased
and can be accepted by all parties.
The World said:
eIt is difficult to find. or perhaps to make,
a strictly judicial statement of the results
of the late elections and their bearing upon
the future. The tendency in each party is
to magnify its gains and to minimize its
loses. As ans independent paper, The
Word has endeavored to strike a balance
that shall be exact and fair to all parties.
1t is to be observed in the first place that
reaction more or less severe against the
party in power has been the rule in the
first or second year after q Presidential
election. This has been the case even
when the new Administration had done
nothing particularly bad. The perform
ance of party in power is usually and
perhaps inevitably so far short of its prom
ises and below the expectations of the peo-
pie that indifference or resentment seems
to be the natural consequences.
In 1888 Gen. Harrison carried Illinois by
22O00; in 1890 it went Democratic by nearly
10000. He carried Indians by 2.300; two
years later the Democrats won by 2O,OoO.
He carried Iowa by $1,000; the next year 1t
gave the Democrats $500. he carried
Michigan by $4,000; in 1890 the Democrats
had II 800 He carried New York by 49,
90; the next year the Democrats recovered
it by 10000. He carried Ohio by 10000; in
1889 the Democrats elected the Governor
by 10000.
1t was the same with Cleveland. Carry
ing Illinois by $1,000 in 1892 the, Demo-
Gratis lost it by 123, 900 in 1894. Carrying
Indiana by 1000, they lost it at the next
election by 1900. Carrying New York by
$4,000, they lost it by $4,000 in 1893 and by
10000 in 1894. Carrying Wisconsin by
6 500, they lost it by $1,000 in two years.
And Ohio, which gave a plurality against
Cleveland of only 1,o72 in 1892, gave the
Republicans $4,000 the next year.
These figures show the fluctuations of
American politics. The results this year,
except for the remarkable revolution in
this State, are not so severe upon the
Administration as were the reversals
which we have mentioned.
As the Senate is now the chief stake in the
struggle for supremacy, the Republicans
must be conceded to have done well in
gaining Senator from Maryland and re-
tanning one from Ohio. The Demo
Gratis made sure of q Senator from Virginia.
In the Legislature of New Jersey, though
the Democrats made an encouraging gain,
the Republicans still hold majority. And
in this State while the Republican major
ity in the Assembly was nearly wiped out.
the Senate is strongly Republican, and it
will require another landslide to give the
Democrats majority on joint ballot.
Aside from the victory in this State
the Democrats most notable gain was in
Kentucky. The plurality for Shackleford,
the free-silver candidate for Clerk of Ap-
peals, is 17.173, though he lacks little of
clear majority. The gold Democrats polled
only ,159, and will not again run separate
ticket. Kentucky with her Is electoral
votes, IL of which helped to elect Mckinley,
must be regarded as safely back in the Dem
ocratic column.
To balance this in a measure the Repub-
licans carried Kansas by some 10000. re-
versing Mr.. Bryan's majority of $4,000 last
year. They carried every Congressional
district, though they have but two out of
the eight Representatives in the present
House.
The Republicans likewise held Iowa by
secure majority. They cut down fusion
majority of 1s4,oo0 for Bryan in Colorado
to 5000, Senator Teller and his free-silver
Republicans again acting with their old
party. And they carried South Dakota,
which went for Brian by small plurality.
The gains and losses, taking the country
together, are thus seen to be pretty evenly
balanced. The Democratic party is manifest
ly consolidating. Populism, as separate
organization is disintegrating. And the
Republicans, outside of this State and
Ohio, are united and active"