El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-11-05
The Era OF Normal Politics
XII-CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGNS.

THE 20 years intervening between
the Democratic landslide in the
- off year of 1874 and the Repub-
ican landslide in the off" year of 1894,
the two principal political parties were
so evenly matched that neither could
boast of complete mastery except for
the brief periods of two years each
During the life of the 51st congress,
Benjamin Harrison was president and
both houses of congress were Repub-
lican. During the two years of the 53rd
congress Grover Cleveland was presi-
dent and both houses of congress were
Democratic. These temporary triumphs
resulted in overwhelming disaster in
the next elections, for in those times
the political pendulum was short and
it swung quickly.
During that double decade party
spirit ran high, party organizations
were highly developed, and party 10y
atty was made fetch 1t was the
era of 'yollow dog" politics. Repub-
licans respected Democrats and Demo-
Gratis respected Repub licans, but both
despised the ''bOlter." To be a turn
coat was to be subjected not only to
political, but social, ostracism. indie
pendents and "mugwUmps" were al
most as odious as traitors And yet
both parties were compelled in cam
paign years to sue for 'mugwump"
favors and to court with promises, with
demogogery, and with money, the
smiles of the more or less mythical
silent" voter
Political Power of Patronage.
In this era war Developed the political
power of public patronage. Both par
ties protested, at che time or another,
to favor civil service reform. but both
were more ardently devoted 10 the prin-
ciple expressed in the slogan turn the
raScalS out" Since this era of our
political history came 10 an end I6
years ago. politicians always have
harked hack to this halcyon age for
their profession. and have spoken of
its political conditions as normal" In
those years there were a few states,
mostly in the east and middle west,
which were described as pivotal These
states. sucn as New York, Connecticut.
Indiana and Ohio, are even now in the
language OF the politician denOminated
as normally doubtful states, althc,,c-h
with the exception of state elections,
and of one congressional campai ign in
Indiana. they have been reliably Re
publican Ior nearly two decades
In the congressional CEmpaign of
1874 the Democrats carried the house,
not because OF any positive policy or
program OF their own manufacture. but
solely because of the misdeeds and
shortcomings of the post -beIlum Re
publican majority. Two years later the
Democrats swept the country, carrying
both house and senate and disputing
the title TO the presidency. Hayes was
seated, however, but he opened his ad-
with both houses of con-
gress under Democratic control. In the [
off year election of 1878 the Demo- |
Gratis again were successful. so that |
Hayes's administration the |
congress was always in opposition, an !
experience shared by but one other !
president-John Quincy Adams. 1t is |
worthy of remark that these two presi- !
dents, both of them much reviled while \
in office and both of them retired to !
private life amid the thanksgivings of !
their partisans, will nevertheless occupy |
high places in history. Adams already |
has won his laurels, and wnen a few
more years have gone by the great SER
vice Hayes rendered to his country will |
be appreciated. Hayes removed the
federal troops from the south and re-
stored civil government throughout the
union, thereby making reunion possible,