Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-10-29
An Enemy's Opinion.

Speaking of the lessons of the recent
elections, the New York Tribune Glib
raj, } Essays:
The same thing that has happen
d now has been happening,
only In larger degree, once in four
years ever since the Republicans came
in;o power. The Democrats have
achieved something like success the
year following the Presidential elec-
tions since 1860. Every time they
have done it it has been through some
blundor or fault of the Republicans,
and the consequences have in every
instance been the same. The Demo
Gratis, inspired by their momentary
success, have lost their heads entirely,
and instead of taking good fortune with
sobriets and prudence, haze gone drunk
ouer the spoals, forgotten their discre-
ton, talked loosely and wildly, and
at the very next election been slapped
in the face and remanded to the back
seats which fate has asslg ned them.
On the other hand, the Republicans
have invariably shown the conserva-
tism and wisdom of those who hold
power and appreciate its responsibilities
In every instance they haye first fallen
back a little-repulsed but not defeat
ed-and waited till the enemy, like
Jubal Early's army in the Valley, had
become demoraized with the plumber
of the camps, and, then re-organized
and reassured, have pumped down
upon them and driven them in a dis
astrous rout from the field.
| The experience of the past dozen
years has shown that very little sue
cess is sufficient TO demoralize the De-
mocrats, and sufficient as we'll to put
the Republicans on their mettle to re-
trleve their blunders and more than
make good their defeat. One needs
but to look back over the political
record of the past twelve years to dis
cover the truth of this statement. Be-
tween the Presidential elections of the
last twelve years the Democrats have
gained some notable victories. In
every case they have been intoxicated,
and their opponents have been sobered
by them. 1t may safely be said for
the Republican party that it does not
fail to profit by the lessons Of defeat.
1t means to keep in power, and for
that purpose means to reflect tire pop
ular will. 1t is wise in its day and
generation, which its opponent is not.
! History is after fashion repeating
| itself now The Bourbon element of
the Democratic party seems to- have
| had partial success in Ohio. Straight
way it loses its head. 1t talks about
the great reaction" and the "tidal
wave" and all that sort Of irredeem-
able and unmitigated nonsense, as
though there was something definite
and conclusive about political scrim-
mage in which tens Of thousands o.
voters felt no interest and took no
part. The meaning Of the Ohio cleo
tion is plain enough. A great many
thousand Republicans, disgusted with
their party and ashamed of its record,
have refused to vote for its candidates
In consequences the Democrats have
secured the Legislature, the United
States Senator, and possibly the Gov.
| AS as event in national politics it has
but the most trlaing significance. A
Democrat remains in the United States
Senate-that is all. The party is as
weak as ever in Congress it has gain
| ed nothing except pretezt for belong
ing an enfeebled, useless life.
| Speaking Of the Republican party,
which the Tribune did its utmost to
kill last year, it says:
But the people are not ready to repudi-
ate it (the Republican party) when
the only alternative is the success of
the Democratic party. It may be an
unpleasant statement, but it is a fact.
It is not in the range Of possibilities
for the Democratic party to come again
into power. That is the lesson it will
not learn, and SO it lags superaaous
on the stage, hoping for victory and
bowling over whatever gives it the
slightest. excuse for keeping up its or
ganization. The Democrats have no
capacity for learning. That, in plain
phrase, is what ails them. It remains
to be seen whether their opponents will
take the lessons Of their narrow escape
and profit by them.
NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILWAY