Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-12-14
OLYMPIA. WASHINGTON TER.
0LlErlA. FRIDAY EVENING, DEC. II. 1885
The Cause of Defeat.

4 MORBID Discomfort MADE IT pos
sIBLE.
The Louisville Couri,r-J0urnal has
leen al some trouble through its Wash
ington correspondent to ascertain the
Views Of prominent men at the Ma
ticnal capital, as to the cause OF defeat
al the Democratic party in the late
contest. As might have been expected
irom the nature Of the struggle, the
opinions are widely diverse, and prob
.eel"-no one n item adequately ex--
asses the full reason for such radi-
lchange in sentiment in some parts
the country since the preceding
~eral election. According to the re-
President Cleveland attributes the re-
suit to "T'hc uneducated voter, q large
corruption fund and local dissensions i'll
New York county"
Secretary Bayard: General degen-
cracy, illiteracy and debauchery OF the
people"
Secretary Fairchild: Wealth, CEN
traiization and Misrepresentation
Postmaster General Dickinson: THE
triumph of capital over labor; the pur-
chase Of the poor by the rich.''
Secretary Endicott: Money West /;
treachery East"
Secretary Villas: A clear case of
sectionalism."
Attorney General Garland: can auc-
ton sale of the foaters knocked down to
Harrison & Co. as the highest bidders"
Commissioner of Pensions Black
Mistrust of the President on the ex-
tension Of pensions 10 Federal soldiers"
Commissioner Coleman: "a bargain
and sale between INSCRIPTIONS men,"
First Assistant Postmaster Stevenson
ooh, oh, l suppose the Republicans
bought their way in, but ii the Demo
cratic boys had loved us for all we had
done, they could not have been bought.
Secretary Whitney: "The tariff and
disappointed otfice-seekers."
Senator German: "The rank and file
of the party was in bad humor. They
will be all right in '92, and we will win
easy
Senator Kenna: 81 only know about
my State There it was nothing but
money"
Hon. P. p. Thompson: "The Presi
dent had no use for the boys. and when
voting day came the boys had such little
use for the President that they were cas-.
lily induced to trade him off or sell him
out
Others were interviewed, but the
above affords Il fair expression of the
views entertained by some OF the lead
ing men, month after the battle
when calm survey Of the field could
be made. 1t will be seen that there i:
almost an unanimity Of opinion as tc
the controlling influence of money
This is doubtless the principal reason
for the change of votes and the prima
ry cause of defeat; but there are others
and neither this or any other single
factor for producing discomfort, would
have resulted in defeat, with the large
popular majority cast for Mr.. Cleve
land. 1t was the combined power O
all the malign influences suggested
by the gentlemen interviewed, tina
brought about state of feeling border
ing upon despair as election day ap
poached, and had the party not beer
held together by that devotion to prin
ciple which carried it through a quar-
ter Of century of defeat, the result
would have been far more disastrous.
Close observers of the acts of mel
are not surprised ut the result. It i
but logical conclusion, when tn
guiding motive is discovered. Tn
simple fact of the matter is, the peopl
who act from independent conscien
tious convictions, which constitute il
almost every community the balanc
of power, was demoralized. We nee,
not go outside sof this county to flint
proof Of it. No man can lay his han,
upon his heart and declare it to be hi
deliberate judgment that the best mel
were in all instances chosen to admin
lister public affairs, or that there wa
not enough to be found in the publ
career OF some of the candidates VIII
received the largest majorities to hav
relegated them to the shades OF privat
life.
The public pulse sometimes beats a
an abnormal speed. Public sentimen
at times ignores reason. The healtl
of the body polite lie disturbed and tn
malady must run its course. This j
the experience that has just past.
You found me when wae weak,
You tempted me and FELL"