The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-11-17
Accounting for the Democratic
Losses.


Democratic opinion continues to be
freely expressed upon the causes Of the
heavy losses to the Democratic party in
the late elections For example, the |
County Committee of the 18th Assembly |
District of New York, the Presidents
State, after preambling that the re-
turns from the various States show |
great and damaging losses TO the De-
moeracy in the late election, 50 much so
that the supremacy of our party is
imPeriled in the House of Representa-
tives-a result brought about by the
disgust of working classes at the timid
ity and irresolution of the national
Administration in dealing with the
myriads of Republican oficeholders who
are still in place with pay and power
proceeded to pass the following resolu-
tons:
Resolved, l. That the President of the
United States Is hereby respectfully
requested to enforce the demands of the
people who have emphatieally pro-
AOGhNNA III 1dfOI III NEE OlS44cslA OF
Republican ofiiceholders.
?. That the Civil-Service law and its
rules, as at present in force, is no more
than device TO cheat the people out of
the fruits of their great victory in 1854.
Hon. John S. Barbour, the great
leader of the Democratic party in Yir
ginia in the campaign which overthrow
Malone and his party, says in regard to
tie reverses in his State:
have been abroad for several
months, and have no personal knowledge
of the causes that led to the Republican
victory in our State. From what | have
| heard | should say it was due as much
| to indifference of the Democrats as any
| thing else. They did not turn out to
vote. The policy of the administration
| has been discouraging to the Democratic
party. Then men turn out to work
for the success of their party they like
to receive some recognition If they win,
or to have their friends recognized, and
not have things go on as they were
/ before. That's human nature and you
cannot change it. Sentimental politics
may be all right in theory, but they do
not win victories or inspire men with
much enthusiasm. President Cleveland
is probably sincere in his course, but if
he would give US little more practical
politics it would be better for his
party"
Congressman John J. Adams, of New
York, who voluntarily declineda renom-
ination, says;
"The President is decidedly to blame
for the apathy of the mass of the
Democratic voters in the recent elections
mot so much through what he has
done "a through what he has not done.
His whole course has disguised the pe0-
pie and weakened the whole party"
Representative Kleiner, of Indiana,
when asked his opinion, frankly said;
The Democratic reverses are due
principally to apathy. However, in
| different portions Of the country differ
/ ences among party leaders had much to
do With it. Hard times played its part,
too, but that which had most to do with
the whole thing is the fact that the adj
ministration Is not Democratic enough
in its appointments. In other words,
the Presidents civil service policy has
been a damper upon party enthusiasm.
Ex-senator Mcdonald says:
Washington special: "When the fig,
ures are studied, it will be shown that
wherever there was q Democratic loss
i in Indiana it was due to the fact that
Democratic voters stayed at home. II
was the stay-at-home vote that defeated
|
among the Democrats, and many OF
them openly opposed our candidates
but / think that the Democrats who
; voted for the Republican candidate:
could be counted on ones fingers. Mr.
r Lowry's district, for instance, is Demo
, cratic by at least 1000 votes, yet he was
defeated by large majority. The Dem
, ocrats abstained from voting" The
Democrats of Indiana are dissatisfied
+ with the Administration, not because il
, enforced the civil service law, which
the Administration is bound to do, but
because it likes to enforce it, and because
it enforces it with an appetite which i
too great for the digestion of Indiana.
New York World: president Cleve-
land has yielded to his fancies What
j, Grant gave to his friends, and yet tn,
disafection of office-seekers and the dis
appointment of the rank and file at the
predominance of the mugwumps' iuflu-
ence and the queer personalism of the
| administration would have all beer
wiped out and have counted as nothing
if, as we have said, the President hac
met the expectations of the people as t.
: the general results of the change, anC
had shown a generous sympathy witt
the aims of his party, and purpose t
give effect to his ideas. 1t is because Of
what has not been done rather than Of
: what has been done that disappointment
came which led to Democratic apathy
and to abstain from voting. The Dem
ocrats are still alive and as numerous as
ever. All that is needed is leader tC
, arouse their enthusiasm and stir theil
zeal. Is it too late for the President tc