San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1880-11-13
rRO,l wAs.INGToN.

causes, but among them all of rs will
agree that three or four rank
first in order of influence. First and
most important, was opposition to a
"Solid South" MS representing Il. ques-
ton rs to the inyiolability Of the Union.
Beyond doubt thisidea that somebody
in the South was led to overthrow the
Government, and would be aided by
a Democratic victory, turned the scale
in many States. lido not think sensi'
BILE people in the North gave much at
tention to such nonsense until Gen.
Grant began to preach it from the
stump. There are thousands OF peo-
pie in the North-educated and igno-
rant-who invariably think OF Grant
and no ono else whenever the affairs
of the country are mentioned 1t IL
not worth while now that the election
is over to quarrel with the superstl-
ton.
Next in importance, as an ISSUE
was the labor question rs affected by
the tariff. The votes OF operatives
in mills, workshops, and factories,
turned the scale in several states
An impression was abroad, false oil
course, that control by the Democrat
ic party party meant free trade and
reduction of wages. Hancock
election meant no such thing, but, nc
matter who should be elected II re,
auctions of wages was sure to come
Those thousands who voted fol
Garfelp to prevent it, and who per,
haps changed the face of the election
will find, during the next year or SO,
that they voted against the inevita'
BILE
Third in Importance among the
causes leading to disaster was the
putting of ex-senator Barnum at the
head of the campaign. He was
never fit for leadership. 1t was
Tilden, not Barnum. who achieved
victory in 1876. But aside from the
question as to his fitness, he repre-,
sented in the public mind, much
that was thought to be irregular IN
the previous campaign.
In connection with this subject OF
campaign management wish to say
a few words. In the minds OF hon
est Democrats there is an objection
always to mere management" A
central authority, authorized to pass
on questions about which it can know
nothing, is rcpulsive. The State
Committee, or, better, still, the Dis
trict or county Committees should
hereafter control matters in their
own neighborhoods. When any
thing is needed in the way of speak
ers or documents there should be a
committee, with headquarters in this
city, to supply what is wanted The
practice of ''bossing" campaign in
thirty-eight States, from any one
point, is q failure. 1t might have
good results once in a hundred
times, but hardly oftener than that
At this time-I write on Wednes-
day morning-it seems certain that
both Houses of Congress are to be
returned to the Republicans. This,
though an evil, is less evil from
the fact that Garfield will be far
better President than he has been
Congressman. The instincts OF the
general are all right. As one OF a
body of three hundred men he has
never been able to fix properly ms
own personal responsibility, and has
done those things which he ought
not TO have done. As President, he
will, I have no matter of doubt, see
his way clear and do his duty IN a
way to astonish his friends and
Democratic enemies. He will be
Just in all things.
The defeated candidate is proba-
bly, the best soldier the war produc
ed ON the Federal side. His Con
servative political ideas at one time,
and his soltlierly honor at another,
kept him during the civil war from
the high preierment which Others
grasped for. He mas IDEAS us clear
as crystal ON the subjects likely to be
important to the country for all
time. He is not only an able soldier
but c man of highest honor He
can want four wears. Dew.
The International AT New BraunfelS.
Gentleman inst from New