Year: 1874

Democracy seems to be triumphant. from one
end of the Union to the other, with the exception
of here and there a green spot in the great waste
1t is natural to suppose there mnst be some cause
for this sudden and tremendous change. The
Democratic triumph will probably be only tenn
Porary and brief. One year of Democratic rule,
or two at most, convinces intelligent people that
Republicanism is preferable, with all its faults.
The Republican party needed a reverse, and will
come out Of 1t all the stronger, and relieved OF
the scum that always floats TO the winning side,
and ultimately brings disgrace to any party.


Ihe causes that led to the recent results are
various. Some are natural, but most of them
were blunders of the Republican party. First, is
the general apathy that usually takes possession
OF the victorious party, after an exciting Presi-
DENTAL contest, rendering it an easy prey to a
vigilant enemy. All the disappointed ones, too,
who fail to secure what they expected, or to ex-
perience condition of things that they hoped
tor, seek revenge by voting with the opposite
party.


The veto Of the Currency bill had disastrous
effect in the West aud South; aud as the cleo
tions occurred in the West first the result had its
effect elsewhere.


The Civil Rights bill, although not yet law,
did terrible execution. Il is well known how
every step had to be fought for, from emanciPa-
tion to negro suffrage. But the Civil Rights Bill
is regarded by thousands upon thousands, as
forcing social equality by law; and the prObabiI-
ity of it's being passed by the Republican party,
cost that party dearly.


The condition of affairs in the South has been
very unsatisfactory to all parties, and the Ad-
ministraton aud the Republican party have had
to bear the censure.


The gigantic schemes of corruption, such as
the Credit Mobilier and the Boss Shepherd Swim
die, although not chargeable upon the Republi-
can party, have contributed to damags it.


By no means least among the causes of disas-
ter, is the fact that in a number of the States,
men with all zeal and no prudence have managed
to have the Republican party saddle upon itself
the temperance issue-s questson that has no
business in politics. 1t is an impossibility to
legislate away mems appetites and opinions.
The party that attempts to carry through the
temperance question, may as well insert in its
platform plank requiring that every household
shall have regular family worship, that every
person shall attend church on Sunday, and that
everybody shall be baptised by immersion. This
issue has contributed to defeat the Republican
party, as it will every time the experiment is
undertaken.


The Third Term scheme has had immense in
fueDce against the Republican party. Grant
may not have contemplated such scheme, but
there were suspicious circumstances connected
with the talk, which Grant took no pains to clear
up. This, with his greed, and passion for pleas
ure seeking. and his uncOcern for the interests of
anybody but himself, have contributed vastly to
the Republican defeat, and to scatter his Third
Term aspirations, if he bad any, to the four
winds.


This back. get will have beneficial effect upon
the Republican party, by causing it to see its
mistakes and corrects its errors. 1t comes just
in time, too, to allow the party to recuperate,
and to enter, thoroughly purified, and with 4
fresh candidate, upon a triumphant campaign for
the next Presidency.