Year: 1875

IN ANGON k1tEhE ~ - HE NJ AAs


Less than two weeks remain until the
canvass will be closed and the verdict OF
the people rendered at the ballot-box. 1t
is well for men to closely study the polit-
ical situation, for the present is time in
which every man of Republican princi-
pies must feel that his vote and his influ
ence should not be lost nor thrown away
upon some hair-splitting distinction. The
campaign, as we predicted in the outset,
has assumed national significance, and
that such would ultimately be the result,
we have never for a moment permitted
ourselves to doubt. This fact, joined to
the vulnerability of the leaders Of the In
dependent movement, has not been with
out its anticipated effect. 1t must have


long been apparent that n party which
devoted the most Of its time to the abuse
of its own mem bers, which betrayed in
almost every move that the chief idea Of
its organization was the glorifcation and
aggrandizement of its leaders, would in
evitably lose all the confidence of the
moro honestly disposed. Such is the case
to day with the Independents. The three
leading journals which have supported
the movement are sedulously engaged in
4 the attempt to backen the character and
a.perse the motives Of each other, and
| have succeeded so well that people are
pretty we'll satisfied that each of the three
| is venal sheet, caring nothing for the
public veal when it is brought into con
fict with the desire Of its directors to
dictate the nominations and policy of the
party. As for the few Democratic jour
mails which at one time countenanccd the
move, they have succeeded in the object
sought-the division Of the Republicans
and they are now all safe back in the
Democratic camp.


Our latest advices land they are such
as we can rely upon) are all to the effect
that the Independent bubble has burst,
and that the elements of which it was
composed are returning TO the support OF
the parties TO which they belonged, re-
spectivcly, prior to their new aft iatons.
In the great centers Of population, any
change of popular sentiment is more eas-
lily noticeable than in quiet country places
! where the cbb and flow of the political
tide is less readily observed. There is
now not county in the State which the
independents can hope to carry for either
| their State or county ticket. Under these
circumstances it would be madness on the
part Of old time Republicans who cherish
the past history Of their party and know
that in its continued supremacy rests our
only hope for good government to throw
away their votes upon n party which has
no prospects of present triumph and no
hopes Of II national future. All such lost
votes contribute to give to the Democrat
ic party that prestige which they will rely
upon to carry the State in the President.
ial contest Of 1876. With the Democrats
the objects OF the present campaign are
thoroughly understood they realize the
extent to which its results will be regard
ed as n test, if successful, ms they surely
will be, if the Republican vote is divided
to any great extent. Divide and con
quer," has been the Democratic motto,
and if we continue divided, we can have
no hopes of success. In many of the
counties which have heretofore been the
strongholds of Republcanism, there were
hosts of Democratic aspirants, led to tho
path for office by the prospects oS divis.
ion Of Republican strength, consequent
upon similar condition in the State.
For it cannot but be apparent to all that
tho rank and file, MS well as the leaders
in the Independent movement, were tax
en- bodily from the Republican party.
There were but few Democrats connected
with it, in proportion TO its numbers, at
any time, and these have nearly all with
drawn and returned to their old afila-
tions rs soon as they saw their party
coming up with united front. If Re.
publicans are wise they will pattern after
the example set them, and remembering
that it is only Sin Union there i.
strength" march on to victory, as oil
| wore