Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-11-10
M1 NOVEMBER 10. 1886
Democratic Defeat the Result of 0ver-Con-
fidence.

Democratic Defeat the Result of 0ver-Con-
fldence.
BUMGARDNER's STRENGTH HIS WEAKNESS.
Give the Captaincy Again to John 3.
Barbour.
The hurly- burly is done, the battle fought
and the victory won-but not by the Demo-
Gratis. The very unexpected result OF the
late elections in this State illustrate the
fact that the race is not always to the
swift, nor the battle to the strong.
The hare, though fleet of foot, was beat
en- by the slow-moving tortoise. The hare
was so confident of winning the race that
it thought it would have time to stop and
rest and sleep on the way, and when it
reached the goal, it was surprised to find
that the tortoise was already there to re-
cieve and triumph over its super-conident
competitor. The vote in the recent cleo
ton in this State shows that the victory
won by the Republicans was not due to any
increase in the vote of that party, for it
cast less vote than it did two years ago,
but to the lamentable fact that the Demo-
Gratis failed to cast their full vote by many
thousands. Though there may be other
reasons which prevented some from voting,
yet we feel assured that the chief cause of
the comparatively small Democratic vote
was over Confidence feeling that there
was no danger of Democratic defeat, and
this was due in no small degree to the fast
that some of the Democratic press boosted
that the Democratic majority was SO great
that there could be no danger of Demo
cratic defeat. This made many voters con-
clude that there was no necessity for them
to lose time by going to the polls to vote,
and as they thought their votes were not
needed, they stayed at home and devoted
to work the time that they should have
given to the performance Of very impor-
tant duty that should at no time be neglect
ed,-the duty of casting their votes in the
ballos-box.
The weather was fine and favorable for
IL
this way: Gas the Democrats have such a
majority that it is impossible for the Re-
pubicans to overcome it, it is useless for
me to lose my time in going to the polls to
vote, when my vote is not needed, and
when it is such good day to plough, there
fore will remain at home and work on
the farm
Each one thought that his vote would
not change the result, and therefore it was
not necessary for him to vote-not knowing
that thousands of others reasoned and act
ed in the same way. The Republicans, on
the other hand, seeing the apathy that
pervaded the Democratic party, and the
overconfidence that paralyzed all effort,
wisely concluded to avail themselves Of the
opportunity thus presented for a minority
TO win the victory, and they quietly, per-
sistently, and energetically rallied their
forces and got their voters to the polls, and
thus won the victory over their somnolent
opponents, who failed to be aroused to the
performances Of their duty till they found
themselves, through their own remissness,
suffering humiliating defeat.
Ths strength of Bumgardner proved to
be his weakness. He was so strong that
his political, and many of his personal,
friends thought that there could be DC
possibility of his defeat, and hence they
made no effort to get out the vote, and
many failed to vote because they felt that
there was no necessity to do so, and thus
enough of his personal and political friends
remained at home to give the Republican
candidate a large majority, though he did
not receive as many votes as he did when
he was defeated by Tucker by a majority
Of 1, 1877 in the District, and $50 in this
county, showing that the defeat of Bum
gardner was not due to the number of votes
cast for his competitor. but by the number
of Democrats who failed to vote, chiefly for
the reason that they did not deem it neces-
slry to secure Bumgardner's election. If
his strength had not been SO great, his
friends would have made more effort to Sc
cure his election, for then they would have
deemed such effort necessary; but they re-
lied so confidently upon his popular strength
that they failed to make any effort in his
behalf, and thus it was that, as paradoxic4l
as it may seem, his strength proved to be
ms aoedEness.
Though Yost received less votes than
when defeated by Tucker, yet, because of
rau,icSpasr .f tr fbourJ,
ike the lightning bug" he had not ''the
wing of fame" like the ''b-b"-in the
minstrel song, she got there all the same"
We endeayored to guard our party
against the danger of over confidence, and
earnestly urged the Importance of casting
every Democratic vote. We hope it will
teach our party salutary lesson, and that,
ia future, every Democrat will resolve to
vote whether he shall deem it necessary OF
not, for that is his dusy-for suffrage is not
privilege merely, but an important duty
! thsstGhould at all times be faithfully aud
Ssiotically performed. II
s N, this effect, it will
III blessing in disguise,
,slit in future.
m soute Importance of
sas @ sn and cyer-watchful
ssity of having an able
8sead of the State and
4Aeoaofso .es, such as Hon. John S.
Barbour. l Dour had been in the State
and in the 4 .f,e exercise of the d1ltias be