The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1873-11-15
Communicated. !
WHAT IS IT?

The enigma Of November 4th is
put by some of the Wisconsin pa-
pers in the form of the curt and
mysterious interrogatory above.
1t Is 100 soon to discuss the cauS-
es OF the late republican de eat III
that comp ehenslve aud phiIoSoph-
ical manner which distinguishes his
tory IN It's true sense, from lhe crude
thugs said and written immediately
following any noteworthy event.
The fact is that Wisconsin has
been republican ever since the most
OF our local readers Settled IN this
section of the State-Sume eighteen
years-as will he remembered by
the faithful, who during that long
period, have watched by the Demo
cratic lamp kept trimmed and burn
lng OF these solitary shores.
The State government has been
republican. The local governments
have been republican, aud SO aImo t
the entire delegation IA Congress.
In one day a political reverse is
sustained, sweeping, irresistible,
complete. 1t does not appear TO
have been the result OF any open,
well organized opposition, animated
with the sense OF imminent public
peril, or widespread local disc n
tent. Nor Is II brought about by
reason of popular dissatisfaction
with The State administration.
According to Judge Orion and
other speakers Of that side at the
Capital the other night, gentlemen
more respectable in character amd
ablilty never occupied public posi-
ton, aud as To the Executive OF the
State, it was not a personal victory
over him" "
The State never had a more capa-
bic and upright governor than Gen.
Washburn who led the ticket His
fearless opposition to railroad mo-
nopoly, salary grabs and like NAL
feasances, has been SO constant md
marked N his speeches and official
life as to characterize him every
where as the infeXible advocate and
exemplar Of honest dealing, obedi-
ence to law, aud strict puoIic ac-
Countabrh Y.
a political power so-long IN place
may come - teei SUCH a,.curl,y III
it, position, as to leave The event OF
an ordinary election to party ma
chlnery aud organization, and So
from lncOuslderate confidence if is
prestige, may awaken 10 an over
whelmIug reverse. The opposition
strains every nerve for victory, and
achieves it over apathy AMI neg Get
as it has now done in Wisconsin.
The hard times, scarcity OF npney
and disastrous failures IN the EasJ,
doubtless changed many votes on
the principle that where there is So
much trouble, somebody is To blame,
and must suffer.
Subdivisions of the solution 10
"What is 1T were peculiar to our
own affairs, and may BE- referred to
some of the ralrcad Companies
whose hostility was aroused bv Il
construction on The part Of the Stale
administration, OF certain of the land
grant laws, differing from the in-
terprelaJion by those corporations.
lhe liquor interest, more sensitive
and quicker than any other perhaps
to take alarm at INVASION of It's prIv-
ilege, threw all its wcil-ummed
strength, numerical and moneyed,
against he reelection of Wa>hburn,
because he did not veto the prohIb-
itory liquor law.
Disappointed politicians, iobbers,
and otticesev kcr>, and disatftcted
persons generally, Of whom ali great
parties must ever carry Il weight,
used the opportunity to square ac-
counts.
IN this county the large vote
against Wa>hburn, IS explained
partly by the absence or neglect Of
many OF his friends to attend the
polls, partly by the superior mum
berS and organization of the rank
and file OF the democrats who Ter
stand the duty of voting, and the
merit of coheslyeneSS to their ticket.
1t would seem however that party
lines might III this instance have
been ovtr->tepped IN favor OF Gov.
W ashburn, who has always stood
up bravely and mmtulv for this
town IL al It's troubles. \ graceful
tribute TO friendship couid thus have
been paid, without serious violation
OF political allegiance or principle
Such an exhibition Of regard for
one who has rendered ii important
services, might have gained for the
town additional lu>ter aud have fur
nished an inducement to public men
20 exert themselves for us in the tu-
ture. Further answer to the query
with which we started may be re-
served for the present.
1t seems to have been a concur
ence of tortmtous circumstances
that lost the republicans the late
election, not Likely again 10 occur.
There is no name tor 1t unit the
miscellaneous elements which com
bined--rai road companies, Granger
clubs, liquor sellers, malconJeu.s
&c, shall have become organ zed