The American pendulum has been swinging again. The last elections
gave the Democrats a heavy majority in the House of Representatives, and increased their minority in the Senate, and it was supposed that the people had finally turned round. The Republicans were seriously alarmed, and inclined to coquet with all manner of dangerous ideas. Several elections were, however, held on November 2, and the Republicans have recovered their nerves. Pennsylvania, which last year elected a Democrat Governor by 5,000 majority, this year elects a Republican, Mr. Hartranft, by a majority of 20,000. Massachusetts, which elected a Democrat in 1874 by 7,000, in 1875 elects a Republican by 6,000. The victory in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and New Jersey is as complete, and in New York the Republicans have added heavily to their vote in the State, and have carried the City. It was at first reported that they had carried the State officials, but this is erroneous, though they may have gained a majority in the State legislature. The Democrats have nothing to set against these successes, which were unexpected, except the continued strength of their party in Maryland and Virginia. The immediate cause of the change is the adhesion of the Liberal Republican party under Carl Schurz to the main body, but the ultimate cause is distrust of Democratic designs about the currency and the Debt. The change in the attitude of the Liberal Republicans is due to their leader, Carl Schurz, who had proclaimed war on President Grant for fostering corruption, but who does not desire to let in the Democrats or support Repudiation. Unfortunately, not being of American birth, he is not eligible for the Presidency himself.
