Watertown Republican

Our friend of the Democrat, in his last week's issue, undertook to be jolly over the result of the late election, and exultingly exclaimed that "the official returns show that the city of Watertown is still Democratic and gave Douglas a warm and hearty support," just as though he were surprised and it were an unusual thing for Watertown to vote in that way. Any one at all familiar with the politics of this city knows that it has always been hopelessly Democratic, and that the Republicans here have always fought against great odds. Let us go back and see if this is not so. In 1856, Buchanan's majority over Fremont was 478, while Hobart for Congress, beat Billinghurst 510, Rankin for Sheriff, went out of the city 512 ahead of Crane, and the rest of the Democratic county ticket run about in the same way. In 1857, Cross, for Governor, beat Randall 264, while Jones for Secretary of State, and the other Democratic candidates had an average majority of 302. In 1858 Larrabee, for Congress, led Billinghurst 247, and Giles for Sheriff, beat Weed 317. Schnasse for Register, had a majority over Struve of 348, and the remainder of the Democratic county ticket had an average majority of about 300. In 1859, Hobart for Governor, got a majority over Randall of 374, Palmer for Lieut. Governor, led Noble 405, and the remainder of the Democratic State ticket went out of the city with an average majority of 400. So that it is in no wise remarkable that Watertown should this fall have gone Democratic. To be sure, the Republicans have twice (in '58 and '59) succeeded in electing a member of Assembly, but that was done through dissensions in the Democratic ranks and by the aid of Democratic votes. These results could not have been brought about had the Democracy pulled true and not frittered away their strength on a third candidate or voted directly for a Republican. But in 1860, we find matters with our Democratic friends in a little different shape. Douglas now gets a majority in the city of only 181, Larrabee a majority of 183, Off, Democratic Sheriff, a majority of 132, and Prentiss, for Member of Assembly, a majority of 184, which is the highest vote given to any of the Democratic candidates. On the other hand, Budlong, for Clerk of the Board, gets a majority of only 80, and Barber, Republican, for District Attorney, carries the city by 83! It looks to us, therefore, just as though Democracy is getting unpopular here, as the general result of the late election shows that it is elsewhere, and that the days of Democratic victories in the city of Watertown are about numbered. We shall never be called upon to chronicle another majority of 500 here for any Democratic candidate. We expect in two years from this time to see the Republicans carry the city by a small majority, and that in four years Watertown will be reckoned upon as a Republican city just as surely and unmistakably as Chicago is now. We do not see how it can be otherwise. The Democratic strength has been gradually, but none the less certainly, wasting away for the last four years, and it will continue thus to decline until there is nothing of it left.