The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1884-11-20
4 srRoNG 0ANDLDArE.


defeat, are declaring what might have
been under this or that contingency, or
with this or that candidate, It L. after all
q pertinent reflection that Mr. Blaine re
tires from this contest with the prestige
Of brilliant leadership that will in no
sense detract from the lustre- OF his fame,
and having demonstrated in the cam
paign the kind of popular strength that
was claimed for HIM by his most admiF-
ing adherents. His manly and dignified
personal attitude. his wealth of political
resources, his broad craftsmanship shown
in the discussion of political prob
lens, al no moment IN the
campaign left q ground for
legitimate criticism, and his bearing
now Is such as TO show that he was not
only strong for battle. but strong to bear
defeat; and he will retain the distinction
he has won as the most brilliant, states
msnlike and thoroughly American po-
litical leader of his time. Though a.
sailed by the biiteTest personal defsma-
ton, and the object of vindictive hate
from 9 faction OF former Republican
Leaders, there Is yet good reason to be-
lieVe, in the light of his magnificent can
vsss that under no other leader could the
Republican party have done better in
this campaign.
What has been accomplished In the
fret place SET down the decisive fact that
! 1853 electoral votes of the solid south
were as certainly counted for Mr.. CleVe-
land on the day of his nomination as o l
the day of his electiOn-and that fact is
the key note Of the situation-as
Mr.. Blaine indicated in his yesterdays
address at Augusta, that Is still the great
American problem. Then remember
further that during the three years since
the death of General Garfield many To-
cal causes have led to trouble and DIS
cOuragement IN the Republican party in
the north. Massachusetts, Connecticut,
Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Indi-
ana, Wisconsin, Michigan. Kansas, Col
orado, Nevada and California we're all
carried in 1882 or 1888 by the Demo
Gratis. Three-fOurths OF the states
that voted for GARFIELD
were under the rule of
Democratic governors the day Mr.. Blaine
was nominated for the presidency. The
outlook was certainly not cheerful, and
every one knows who has the right to
know that Mr.. Blame was extremely re-
luctant to abandon the cOngenial task In
which he was engaged, 10 lead in po-
litical fight which was surrounded with
so many disheartening elements. Never
before in the national contests of the
Republican party had the prospect been
so unpromising; never before were the
Democrats so confident OF their ability
to win In a national struggle.
What has been the result? Under his
leadC rehip. Ohio, aiteI two successive
years Of overwhelming Democratic VIC
tory gave him q msjOrity only once or
twice surpassed in the history of the
state. Michigan recovered from the
10000 adverse majority under which
the Republican party was buried in
1882 SO. The great northwest was a
unit for Blalne-Wisconsin, Iowa and
Nebraska increasing the majorities
which local causes had pre-
viOusly reduced. Pennsylvania sus-
| tanned him by a majority of more
than eighty thousand; Minnesota by
ffty-three thousand; KBnsas by over
| sixty thousand. The Pacific states
which four years ago were alienated and
| two wears ago elected almost solid Dem
ocraIic delegations TO congress, now
have q single lonely Democratic repre-
sentative. California gave Mr.. Blaine
the largest popular majority she ever
cast. Oregon treble0 the majority she
gave to Garfield Colorado and Nevada
came back the Republican fold with re-
neWed Vigor and increased faith.
In Illinois in spite of the personal
popularity of Governor OglesbY his ma
| jority was Is, 600 less than that given to
Blaine and Logan, and the Democratic
majority in Missouri was never so small
as this year. MIR. Blaine has united the
Republican party in Virginia and he
| gave The inspiration to the close con-
1 test in West VIrgInia-whileI In these as
| In other southern states Democratic VIC
tory was only assured by fraud and in
timidatIon. Even in the four states of
the north CARED by Mr.. Cleveland,
change of little more than five thou
sand votes would have made them Re-
! publican, dDO "uCu luo SOScIuOI VI
one of these finds his phenomenal ma
jority of 192, 600 reduced to a plurality
| of scarcely 200-aided though he was,
as it has we'll been expressed 'by the
bolt of the Independents, the detection
of the ProhibItlonists, the ambuscade of
the Conkling stalwarts and the intoler-
ant remark of DR. Burchard," the
clOseness of the vote may plainly be
regarded as q moral, though not an ac-
tual victory for Mr.. Blame.
These facts and figures do not seem
to indicate an imminent disintegration
of the Republican party. Though it has
lost the executive control of the govern
ment, its organization remains intact,
there are still issues for it to meet, The
issues OF commercial extension, protec-
tion for American labor and citizenship,
the freedom OF the ballot and the moral
elevation of the nation still offer ques-
tions for solution which the past record
instincts and tendencies of the RepublI-
can party hest fit it to solve. II will at
tain new vIg0r from its enforced expert
ence in touching the earth.