Year: 1873

disliked, and, likely, we shall be much nearer
the millennium if we give all the rogues full
authority to conduct their own trials to please
themselves.


The Elections and Their Lessons-A


Warning TO the Party I'm Power.


The latest returns from the elections in the
several States indicate significant and
decisive loss to the republican party. The
example set by Ohio has been followed by
Wisconsin, which elects democratic Governor
for the first time in some years; the verdict
in Virginia is very decisive; the republican
loss in Massachusetts,, in its moral effect, is
almost equal to defeat; and in every direc-
ton the steady report of democratic gains is
confirmed as details are received In this
State the entire democratic ticket is successful
by good majority, calculated at ten thousand,
putting the canals and all the State Offices,
except the Governor and Lieutenant Governor,
under democratic control; the city of New
York goes back to its old Tammany majorities;
and, what is more remarkable still, the Legis-
lature is closely divided, and the Senate,
which is to take part in the election of o
United States Senator as a successor to Senator
Fenton, is so nearly balanced as to render it
uncertain yet which side will have majority.
The republicans could not have been indiffer-
ent as to the result in the Senate, especially
when the bitter animosity that exists within
the administration circles against Mr.. Fenton
is remembered and hence it is fair to conclude
that their most vigorous efforts were made to
carry the several Senatorial districts. Their
failure is the more significant on this account.


The rival political parties, naturally enough,
take conflicting views of the Interpretation to
be placed upon these results. The confirmed
democracy is disposed to be jubilant over what
it regards as revival Of the old organization
which in former days stood up SO stoutly for
the constitutional rights of slavery, opposed
an appeal to arms against the rebellious States,
and for some time after the triumph of the
Union cause refused to accept the conse-
quences Of the war, looking hopefully to their
ultimate reversal Repubicanism, on the
other hand, inclines to ignore the disasters
which have overtaken it, and processes to
believe that its defeat in some States and its
reduced strength in all are solely attributable
to an Indifference observable in ''off" years,
but remedied when the more important con-
tests recur. The one explanation is as INSULT
cient as the other. There is no more inten-
ton on the part Of the people to
restore to life the old Bouron democracy
than to re-establish the institution of
negro slavery, and the rebuke administered
to the republican party, North and South,
East and West, has far wider significance
than the mere carelessness of voters in an
''off'' year. The result in Ohio was in fact,
q revolution. The results in Wisconsin and
in this State, the fearful falling off of the re-
publican vote in Massachusetts, and the general
tone of all the returns are of q similar char
acter. The people are dissatisfied with the
party that has been in power for thirteen years
and has yet three years Of an unexpired Pres
idential term to fill. They distrust the
present objects of repubicanism they con-
denim its present action. No matter whether
their displeasure takes the shape Of absenting
themselves from the polls or of voting with
the opponents of the party, it is nevertheless
evident, and if not removed will assuredly
make itself still more distinctly felt in future
elections. The democrats are successful be-
cause they happen at present to be the only
opponents Of republicanism with candidates
in the field; but the sentiment of dis
trust of one organization is not to
be construed into confidence in the other. The
people evidently desire political change from
their present rulers; but time, and probably
the action Of those who now return to power,
will determine in what form the change will
be made-whether by democratic restoration,
by republican purifcation and renovation or
by the creation of a new party.


Republicanism has accomplished much good
for the nation, and it will be no doubt painful
to many to strike down the organization that
carried the war for the Union to successful
termination and swept away from the Republic
the curse Of human servitude. But past rec
ord, however brilliant it may be, cannot justify
or excuse grievous faults in the present The
people have again and again honored the
republican party and expressed their conf
dence in its integrity in the face Of serious
suspicious. They were disposed to believe
it when it avowed itself the cham
pion of reform and Of purified
official life ; but when they found it ignoring
or justifying the corruNtions of its own
friends they began to distrust its sincerity.
Republcanism denounced Tammany rascality,
because it was democratic rascality but con-
cealed or excused the Credit Mobiler infamy
and the mean pilfcring of back pay, because
they were republican offences. 1t condemned
democratic ring thieves, but was driven by
party discipline to sing the virtues Of de-
bauched ring Senator's and Assemblymen and
TO make the futile effort to foist them on
another Legislature. For these acts the