Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-09
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star

In its issue of November /, 1890, the
day before the presidential election Of
that year which resulted
Elections in the choice Of James
NJ 1aao A. Garfield as the Chief
VI 1OOV' Executive Of the United
States, The Star makes the following
editorial comment:
GAS to the presidential election to-
morrow, both parties are on common
the South, with its 1873 electoral votes,
win be solid for Hancock The Repub-
ncans concede this. but no more. They
are disposed to claim a solid North for
CARRIED. Late advices indicate that
the fight Is so close in the Pacific States
as to render 1t not improbable that
California and possibly Nevada may
vote for Hancock. This, however, would
fall very far short Of electing him, com.
bined with the South. The State Of
New York Is the real battle-ground, and
its vote will, in all probability, settle
the presidency. Since the Ohio and
Indiana elections, the Republicans hAve
been claiming New York with great
confidence, but, while they have eceap
Quoted an aggressive canvass, theirs are
too many Democrats in the State 90
warrant any Republican feeling 4bgoa
lutely easy and comfortable IS 10 IL
result. The Democrats insist that NJ
need only to hold their party togothaR
State; that they do not need any -
cruits from the Republicans. The Re-
publican managers claim that they are
sure Of thousands Of votes that have
heretofore been cast for the Democrats:
that the opposition Of business men 70
q change politically, and the fear Of
workingmen Of injurious tarin legisla-
ton by the Democrats, assure the sue
cess Of the Garfield ticket. It Is evi-
dent that the Democratic leaders win
make the best possible tight for New
York, and as goes that State, 50 goes
the presidency. The Democrats main
tain also that Maine, New Hampshire,
Connecticut and Indiana are In doubt,
which claim the Republicans scout as
without foundation. In q general way
the Republicans have altogether the
most confidence in the result tomorrow,
but this has been year Of political
surprises and the apparently well
grounded expectations OF the Repub-
iicans may be as rudely upset tomorrow
as were those Of the Democrats prior
to the October elections. For one thing.
the elections so far this year show that
each State is law unto itself In vot-
ing. The big Republican majority In
Vermont had no perceptible effect on
Maine, and the result in Maine, ad-
verse to the Republicans, counted for
against them in Indiana and
Ohio. It is the turn Of the Democrats
now to have the surprise in their favor,
but with the probabilities against them.
Whoever wins, 1t Is to be hoped that
he may be elected by a majority SO
large that there may be no repetition
Of the feverish contest Of 1876"
On November 8, 1880, the day afte
the election, The Star commented 8
follows on the overwhelming Repub
lean victory:
Among the causes for the sweeping
Republican victory yesterday, two were
common. The first, undoubtedly, was
the dread of business men that q
change would affect their interests In
iurtously. There was general prosperity
throughout the country, and they pre-
terred to let well enough alone. In this
connection the reputable management
Of public affairs by the present admin
stration no doubt afforded q powerful
argument against o change. It Is a
rather remarkable fact that in al the
Intensity Of this canvass, in which pub
lc and private character has been ran
lacked for material Of defamation. no
mt administration In any of its de-
,artments. Especially there was rem.
raj feeling In business circles that the
financial management Of the Nation
vas in safe hands. With the manu-. /,
acturers, again, there was q decided
to have change that
would call for tariff for revenue oniy.'
That plank In the Democratic platform
10 doubt lost that party thousands Of
'utes In the States they could not
Ihord to lose. The extent that this
ceiling enlisted for the Republican
icket Is shown by the remarkable vote
n New York City"