Year: 1874

Nelson, Of The New York Book Concern,
dilsted on the fearful edgency in which the
human race was placed by sin. Owing to the
vacation season the attendance ut the various
churches yesterday was generally slight


Tho Recent Southern Elections and


Their Bearing Upon tho Prcsiden-


ttal Succession.


The genernl results Of the recent elections
in Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi. and most
notably in North Carolina, indicate an ex-
tensive popular reaction against tho party in
possession of the national government. The
election of October last, have been operating
in the North to the prejudice OF the republi-
cans, from the New England to the North
western States inclusive, are evidently at work
throughout the South, Notwithstanding the
apparent diversity of opinions and purposes
between the opposition elements Of the two
sections. The republicans charged their de-
feat in Ohio last fall to short vote, to general
apathy in their ranks and to the interposition
of such side issues as the temperance question,
which carried off the balance of power. To
general apathy and the new disturbing faction
Of the grangers they charged their November
losses in the Northwest and their narrow
escape from 9 complete overthrow in New
York to too much confidence in their fifty
thousand majority Of 1874


The results in all these cases were held by
the republicans as of no material Importance.
inasmuch as no national candidates or issues
were directly involved. In short, 1872 was
that ''off year" in our party politics, the
year Immediately following the exhausting
strain and excitements of the Presidential
contest, which, in the results Of its State
elections, signihed nothing, because the sue
cessful party Of 1872 had nothing to lose or
to fear from these elections of 1873, and could
therefore well afford to rest a season from their
labors. But the republican organs argued,
our reserves which remained at home in 1873,
will be brought out to the Congressional cleo
tons Of 1874, and it will then be made mani
fest that the integrity Of the republican party
has not been shaken, and that the apparent
political reaction Of 1873, like that Of 1857,
really signifies nothing.


But the elections, 80 far, Of 1874 teach us .
different lesson. From New Hampshire and
Connecticut, from Oregon, Kentucky, Tennes-
see, Mississippi and North Carolina, we have
the suggestive record of republican defeats
and opposition successes or of opposition
gains and republican losses Disturbing local
divisions and factions are still pleaded as the
explanation Of these republican reverses; but
if these disturbing forces exist from New
Hampshire to Oregon and from Oregon to
North Carolina, is not the general outlook
for the year to the republican party unusually
dark and discouraging? The truth is that
that spirit Of unity, harmony and active CO.
operation which has heretofore existed be-
tween the party and the national administra-
ton exists no longer. The objects Of the
party are no longer the purposes of the
administration. The compact between the
President and the party entered into in 1868
has expired. The engagements of the party
were fulfilled in his election for second
term, and the reciprocal duties Of General
Grant have been discharged in the completion
of the republican programme of Southern
reconstruction and restoration. Grant is no
longer bound os an agent of the party, aud the
party is no longer bound to his administra-
ton.


But with this release as an agent can Gen.
eral Grant rightfully claim the employment
of the patronage of his agency in new de-
parture for still another term in opposition to
the party from which he holds this agency
Whatever may be the moral law or obligation
upon this subject it is sufficient for our pres
ent argument that General Grant considers
his Executive patronage his personal property,
and that he has SO disposed Of it from the
nomination of his first Cabinet to this day.
Here the trouble begins which threatens the
party electing him; the deadweight of another
Tyler or Fillmore or johnson. Here we
reach the solution Of our State elections since
last October. No reasoning man can doubt
that General Grant is aiming for third term !;
no man believes that the republican party out
side the intrenched camp of the ofice-holders
desires or expects his nomination as the party
candidate for 1875, and no republican feels
sure of the continued support of the party by
the President in the nomination of any other
man in his place for the succession.


Nor since last autumn has General Grant
shown any feeling but that of indifference in
regard to the results Of the State elections.
The administration did nothing for the repub-
ican ticket last spring in New Hampshire OF
Connecticut, and did nothing to save the
party from its recent heavy defeat in North
Carolina. On the other hand, in 1872 NO
stone was left unturned by the administration
ried The conclusion inevitably follows that
General Grant now desires to prove to the re.
publican party that he is necessary to its sue
cess nd upon his own terms, or that he de.
sires new party in its place and under the