Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-11-12
THE CAUSE OF DEFEAT.

II IL neither pleasant or profit
able task to examine or enquir
into the causes which brough
about the defeat of the Democrat
party, and the consequent triumph
Of tho Republican party.
Every intelligent and fair-mindet
person will admit that the first ant
foremost cause was, distrust ON TIL,
part Of q majority Of the people Q
the North Of the Solid South. II il
not to our pupose TO discuss thu
question whether or not this distrus
was well founded. Whatever may be
said Of the Republican leaders and
the means which they employed tc
carry out their party purposes, it is
as much to the credit Of Repub.
licans who, in choosing between
OWLS, voted against the Democratic
party because they believed il
could not be safely entrusted with
the reins OF government, M it is to
the credit of the Democrats of the
North that they worked for the
SUCCESS of the Democratic party,
believing that the people Of the
South are truly loyal, and that the
triumph of the Democracy would
put All end to sectional strife, and
result in the establishment of purer
government.
The lavish use Of money. the
combined influence of federal office
holders, and the devices of party
and of politicians, were potent
causes in bringing about the defeat
of the Democratic party, But the
primary cause OF the defeat, we
believe to have been distrust Of
the South. The Democratic party
las been judged, not by the loyal
statesmen and soldiers of which it
is SO largely composed, Or by the
distinguished patriot-soldier whom
IL chose as its candidate for the
Presidency, but by that wing Of the
party which had been disloyal TO
the Union
In the control of both branches
Of Congress, the Democrats had IN
excellent opportunity presented to
rise above mere parti2an strife, to
forget the dead ISSUES Of the past,
in the discussion Of live issues of
the present, and to contrast DEM
oeratic with Republican legisla-
tion, That they did not rise TO the
Lowell of the occasion, has been the
verdict Of II majority Of the people.
The party has been judged by its
errors and Inconsistencies and not
hy it's virtues.
II tho temporary defeat of the
Democracy upon the issues forced
upon the country, means that see
tionalism is ut IN end, that the
jcalousics and distrusts which have
been created by one section of the
country being arrayed against the
other are To be forever buried, that
the party spirit which enables the
demagoguo % ride into place and
power, is to be destroyed and par
ties rc-arranged SO rs to deal with
The present and not with the past,
then every good citizen will have
cause for rejoicing.
The Democracy may yet turn its
defeat into victory by returning TO
and consistently advocating the dis
tinetivo principles Of its faith. Free
trade is one Of these principles, and
promises TO become n live issue in
tho next congressional elections.
The tariff question was sprung
upon the people Of the East during
The last moments of tho campaign,
and the Republican party by cham.
pioning tho cause Of protectionists,
succeeded in carrying tho manufac.
turing districts, and thus regained
control of Congress. The Repub-
lican party has placed itself on