Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1888-11-23


to-day he had accepted Inc results and
was willing, after a little reflection, to dis
cuss the causes of defeat and give his view
OF the proper policy Of his party to pursue
inregard to the tariff issue. To the inquiry.
''What did it in Iadiana?'' he replied rather
seltentiously;
''Votes."
''But what made the votes?'' he was asked.
The governor looked out of the window
thoughtfully and this question was added
SUCCESSFULLY;
''Was it money!"
''No," tbs governor said, money was
used to some extent. 1t always is in cleo
tions, but the purchssabls element in In
diana IS no larger than it is anywhere eIse.'
The governor said this with some warmth,
as If repeuing an insinuation against his
people.
''tWO years ago there was some feeling in
this state Of dissatisfaction with the presi-
dents course. Many republicans were stiil
IN ONCE. The postal service IN Indiana was,
and still Is, full Of republicans. j am not
saying that the feeling was Just. am not
cr1tlclsing the Presidents course. am
only referring to q condition of sentiment
which existed at that time. When this cam
paign came on thought that feeling un-
favorable to the administration had died
out But there was probably more of 10
than showed openly. It seems so now. AS
the campaign progressed we found 1t hard
to awaken the enthusiasm which means sue
csss. There wasn't that spirit among In
diana democrats which prompts men TO
throw up their hats and tear their clothes
for the ticket as you might say"
DEMOCRATIC APATHY.
The governor dwelt for some little time
on the extent of the apathy among Indiana
democrats, and his manner showed that he
regarded that as the most striking factor in
contributing to defeat in Indiana. Reply
ing 10 inquiries, he said the party manage
ment in the state had been all that could be
desired. The leaders OF the party had done
their very best to hold Indiana in the demo-
cratic column. He did not think that any
fault could be attributed to the national
committee. The committee had treated In
diana fairly, so far as he kew; but the fact
remained deeply impressed on his mind
that 1t had been impossible to awaken
among Indiana democrats that enthusiasm
or. as he once more expressed it, "that feel
ing which prompts men to throw up their
| hats and tear their clothes for the ticket"
IL observed the absence Of that peculiar
enthusiasm" Governor Gray continued
''When President Cleveland visited Indian
RpOlis. You might have expected Indiana
democrats would go wild over their presi-
dent, but they didn't. i was afraid then
/ that it would be hard to arouse the party
for him in this state. There was, of courses
great curiosity to ses the president, and q
AI6db crown anu WdELl dBpldusG5 GAe LLAILo
was not that warmth, that intensity Of feel
ing, which We know leads to democratic
success IN this state"
Governor Gray at this point dropped into
an interesting analysis Of the character of
Indiana democracy. He said the party IN
this state was somewhat peculiar. Indiana
democrats were not only loyal to their
DaTty-they were more than that. They
were intense in their devotion to party. lie
proceeded to show how Indiana democrats,
/ holding such sentiments, had judged the
national administration by their standard Of
democracy and had found it wanting.
IT WAS BUT NATURAL.
The resultant Iukewarmness was only nat
ural, but not for a mOment did the governor
admit that the dissatisfaction with the adj
ministratiOn was the disappointment over
the slow distribution of spOils. He pictured
the zeal of the Indiana democracy, which
had been so chilled by the administration,
as something better than the Othce-seek1ng
spirit. 1t was the strongest type OF party
pride in the candidate had helped
General Harrison to carry the state, he said
that some voters had probably been infiu-
euced by that feeling, but not many. No
other conclusion could be drawn from the
returns. When all were in, he thought that
it would be found that General HCVey, the
republican nominee for governor, and the
most of the state ticket had run pretty close
to Harrison and MOrtOn-at any rate
within a few hundred votes. Governor Gray
referred to the returns from this Mar1onl
county, as dispelling any theory that state
or local pride in the candidates had had
much TO do with The result. Marion county,
the home Of Harrison, gave a plurality for
Blaine in 1884, and now went for Cleveland
by plurality, democratic gain OF several
hundreds.
PERSONAL, ANrAGoNIsaIs.
To the inquiry If he thought the personal
friends of Hendricks had been lukeWarm be-
cause of the feeling that the president had
not treated the late vice president fairly the
governor replied that that might have been
the case in some instances, but he did not
think personal antagOnisms we're to be con
sidersd responsible for the results.
''What VIII be the effect of this upon the
democratic parby?" he was asked ''Will il
cause the darty to recede IN eny degree from
the position on tariff refOrmI'
''Eo,'' ne replied promptly aud with en-
phasis, ''the party VIII 60 on IN the course
it has chosen. When a party has taken
position it believes and teals Is right, 10
makes nothing By abandoning or changing
the position"
ssYou think then, that this campaign
doesn't end it; that the tariff question wiz
continue to be the great issue between the
parties and the democrats VIII stick TO their
ayes, I do.'' said the governor; aud he
went on to amDiify his view, that the GemO-
Gratis should, without the slightest WaVeripg.
maintain their position on this Issue, anG
keep up the light IN succeeding campaigns
While he looked upon the tariff question as
only a minor factor IN this particular con
test In Indiana, he thought IL was the great
issue In the country at large, and thas the
democracy would eventually win by sticking
to their side Of it consistently He declared
emphatically that It would be the greatest
folly for the party to retrace its steps or in
any way to dodge the ISSUE and expressed
great condolences that the democrats would
continue the fight for tariff reform more
aggresziVely than ever. Governor Gray was
asked If there was any tariff reform signifi-
canoe IN the gain Of democratic congress
men In Indiana.
ono he replied, ''the gain only restores
r41. losses 7f two, uenra aer1 We oct 7anf~