Year: 1877

| 'ilNiC 10 HO eAulldllOn over the result
OF the recent elections in any quarter.
AS far as gaining the offices is con-
cerned the advantage is on the side
OF the Democrats, but forsome reason
or other they hesitate to claim that
which they seem to have won. There
IS something about the returns that
suggests doubt as to the value of
the apparent victory. Singularly
enough, the Republicans, although
their candidates for State officers in
New York and Pennsylvania were
defeated, are entirely satisfied with
the result of the elections in both
States. They had nothing to expect
in New Jersey, the election of Gen
eral Mcclellan being accepted as a
foregone conclusion the dav of his
nomination.


The intelligent Democrat who
studies the returns has no difficulty
In discovering that the Republican
party has an inherent vitality which
can Withstand internal dissensions
as well as outside assaults. All the
world knows that the Republican
party is divided upon the two lead
ing measures of President Hayes
Administration, but notWithstand.
lug the difference of opinion as to
the merits of the Presidents civil
service order and his Southern Pol
lcy," the party surprised both its ad-
herents and its opponents by the
strength which it displayed on Tues
day last. There was a great deal to
make dissatisfied Republicans stay at
home, but in Lcint of fact the great
body of them went to the polls and
voted the regular ticket. There is
nothing in the returns to show that
the Democrats won over any cOnSid-
cradle number Of Republican voters
to the support of their candidates.


The result in Pennsylvania and
New York is, under all the circum-
stances, more than satisfactory ; it is
highly encouraging. In the former
State there was a combination of un-
favorable circumstances that nder-
ed defeat absolutely certain, and yet
the Democratic candidates are elected
by majoritiey so slender that if the
Republican strongholds had gone to
the polls the result would have been
reversed. As will be remembered,
the State Convention did not endorse
the Presidents Southern policy,
although number of delegates who
were not satisfied with the halfway,
nOn.cOmmittal resolution that was
adopted. In making the nomina-
tions it happened that candidate
in whom Governor Hartrantt took
some interest was turned down, and
this circumstance was Immediately
heralded over the country as conclu-
sive proof that the CameronS were
making war upon the Governor. OF
course these things did not tend to
promote harmony, butin the absence
of other causes supposed difference
of opinion between the Camerons and
Governor Hartranft as to the merits
of candidate would not have given
the State to the Democrats. The OPP
position press, and notably the Phil
adelphia Times, at first assured us
that the honest Republicans of the
State were going to stay at home and
allow the Democrats to win as re-
buke to the Camer0ns. After chat
tering in this strain for two months
the tune was suddenly changed, and
we were then informed that it was
the Camerons who were in the
dumps, and that they were going to
allow the election to 60 by default
out of spite against the President for
refusing to send the elder Cameron
to the Court of st. James. Just be-
fore the election, however, the Phila'
delphia Times discovered that there
were five thousand high-toned Re
publicans in Pennsylvania who were
watching the proceedings of the Uni
ted States Senate while in executive
session with much anxiety. Should
Senator Cameron move for the con-
firmatiOn of Mr.. Welsh these patfi-
otic citizens would vote the Republi-
can ticket and elect its candidates ;
otherwise they would vote with the
Democrats,


This was nonsensical twaddle. TIE
Camerons and the Republicans who
oppose them all desired the success
of the party, hut there were forces al
work which neither faction could
control. The discomfort Of the labor
ing classes and the 'inflation" delu
sion were making inrOads upon botf
both parties that upset all the calcu
lations ofthe political managers. The
Republicans, however, had good rea
son to apprehend serious losses in the
towns in which the great Labor