The American elections, which are just completed, show a distinct
swerve of opinion towards the Republican Party. That party has reduced the Democratic majority in the House of Representatives from forty-two to less than ten, and has in- creased in numbers throughout most of the Western States. The Senate remains Republican, and Congress therefore will not be able to make any serious changes, the President being Democrat,. the Senate Republican, and the House Democrat again. The• Republican victories are attributed entirely to the Protec- tionists, who have been very active, and who have succeeded in arousing the fears of working men. This means that in the absence of any exciting question, the " interests " have succeded in governing the elections,—not an unusual result. The decline in the Democratic vote is not favourable - to Mr. Cleveland's re-election ; but he has two years more to serve, and it must not be forgotten that he was elected on personal grounds, and mainly through the influence of the friends of Civil Service Reform, whose programme he has faith- fully carried out.
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