Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 November 1874 — THE ELECTION. [ARTICLE]

THE ELECTION.

There comes up from all over the State a demand for its redistrictment for Congressional and Legislative purposes. The apportionment law of the last Legislature is so grossly unfair and unequal, practically disfranchising so many people, that even journals which advocated the election of the Republican ticket this fall admit the injustice df the law and deiftand its repeal. It is probable that a National Independent Refoim party will be organised this winter, and the foundation laid for the Presidential campaign of 1876. Opposition to monopolies, opposition to protective- tariffs, opposition to long terms of office holding, and favoring an increase of national currency will probably be among the measures advocated.

Twenty-three States and three Territories held elections this week. An unusual degree of interest was felt in the result by politicians, frnm the fact that more than two hundred members of Congress were to be chosen, and there was strong probability that the result would change the political character of the House of Representatives and give a ma* jority in that body to those —who* oppose the Republican party. — The returns of the election published in the papers yesterday were meagre and indefinite, but sufficient to indicate that Republicans had lost, largely everywhere, except in the Territories and perhaps in Kansas. Massachusetts, the stronghold of Radicalism, it is reported, has elected a Democratic Governor for the first time since the rebellion broke out, and returns three or four Opposition members of Congress, among whom is Hon. Nathaniel P. Ranks, who carried every town in his district save the one where his competitor, Mr. Gooch, resided.— Hon, George F. Hoar,. Republican, whose majority was upwards of 6,000 barely saves himself with less than 400. Hon. Benjamin F. Butler is defeated by a large majority, for which let all good people rejoice, and American newspaperdom be glad. New York has gone Democratic by* about 25,000 majority, electing Tijden Governor over Gen. Dix; she also increases her Opposition representation in Congress. Pennsylvania has probablygone Republican, but her majorities are SO much depleted that the Republican press is not elated over them. In Michigan a new Constitution was submitted for popular acti on i w Inch con tai neiTli cl a use extending the privilege of suffrage to women. The whole instrument was rejected, but the suffrage clause received a larger vote than had been anticipated lor it. Michigan elected Republican State officers by reduped majorities, but sends three or four Opposition Representatives to Congress. The Inter-Ocean claims Illinois for the Republicans by 20,000 majority, but concedes a loss of several Congressmen. Everywhere m the Southern Stales there have 1 een Republican losses. The elections in these States are said to have been very peaceable. Louisiana is reported to have been earried by the anti-Admini st ration coalition; and wbat causes universal disgust to the papers that harped so much about the outrages perpetrated upon the colored people is the fact that about twenty per cent, of the colored men voted with those who were reported to be outraging them ! Jt is not definitely known yet, but indications are strong that’ the summing tip of results over the country will place the Republicans in the minority in the Lower House of Congress after the fourth day of next March. If such is a fact, people may expect to hear of the revelations of unparalleled official corruption and downright stealing which have been carried on for years at Washington by men who were elected to office upon the strength qf their cant pretentions to loyalty and Christian statesmanship, and their false professions of honesty; The President will be satisfied that a third term is not possible for him.