The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-11-21
THE ELECTIONS.

J0hn FOJ,
THE ELECTIONS.
The election results have disappointed
the Republicans and have greatly de-
lighted and elatpd the Democrats and
their mugwump allies. Various expla
nations are made and wonderful infer
ences are drawn by the Democrats from
,hese ret uls, but no Intelligent man
need be delu1en as to the real causes
that have wrought these temporary
changes, tt ere is the fact that this is
the of year" alter stupendous and
exhaustive presidential election. The
law of action and reaction, of ebb and
flIw. prevails in the political world as
well as in the natural. Great excite
ments aud strains are inevitably sue
ceeded by rest and indifference. All our
presidential corh cts have been followed
by decline in the popular vote of both
parties, and the successful party gener-
ally has suffered the q ca est loss. But
Experience proves that this was only
temporary and fugitive Effect and not a
permanent loss. In the succeeding cleo
lions, the losing party recovered its for
mer strength and made deCi led gains.
Beside the effect of reaction, there 10 the
incessant criticism and vllhfcalion of
the new admiuistra ion by the defeated
and disappointed opposition, before con-
sress meets and the new government
can vindlcate itself by exposing the
falsehoods aud by presentation of wise
measures and policies. Since the inaug-
uration of Harrison theI e has been con-
stant stream of misrepresentation by the
Democratic and mugwump press. They
have condemned and denounced him for
acts which, when committed by Cleve
land, they excused or praised. Cleve-
land broke his pledges 10 thousands OF
instances he appointed more criminals
and disreputable men to Office than all
his predecessors he made more remov
ais for partisan reasons than any other
President, and yet he was ''reformer,
while Harrison is spokesman, although
his record is cleaner than Cleveland's.
When Congress meets and Harrison
sends in his message there will come
revelations that will surprise the people
and yindicate the changes that have
been made in the civil service. But
here is no doubt that this malignant and
unscrupulous defamation has had its
effect and produced distrust and apathy.
Another cause for these election r, suits
in the different States, are the local,
State and personal Issues that are sus
pended and swallowed up in presiden
tial contest. Take Massachusetts,, Mr..
Bracket is elected by diminished vote
of 5000, while his associate for lieutenant
governor has known plurality of over
II 1000, which will be largely increased
by the official count. This is probably
true of all the other candidates on the
Stale ticket. The Legislature is RepublI-
can by large maj )rities in both branches.
This demonstrates that the Republican
sentiment and strength are practically
unchanged. The decline Of the Bracket
vote was caused by the defeat of consti
tu.ional prohibition and the well known
preference of Bracket for high license
and local option. Then he lost the votes
of Republican farmers because of his de-
layed letter on The butter question and
the Democratic Misrepresentation of it
when it came. The Democratic leaders
are trying to pervert the result into a
verdict for "tarif reform" and free raw
materials, but sensible men smile at this
absurd and ridiculous claim. Gov.
Di dOhGlbY ilhC wv Ae'SC anu oONs AhOO'
inson, goes in by reduced vote, but his
future majorities will return, as theirs
did, to the old time size. There is moth
ing in this election TO indicate that the
Republican party has lost any permanent
popular confidence much less, that the
people of Massachusetts, regard with
more favor the principles and lea er,hip
OF the Democratic party.
In New York the Democrats elected
their State ticket by the open alliance of
the liquor interest with Tammany Hall.
by notorious frauds npon the ballot box
and by the indirect aid of the prohibit
tionists. But the Republicans saved the
legislature in both branches by safe ma
jorties, and this will essentially aid in
securing the next United States senator.
In Ohio the Democrats elect their gov
ernor and defeat Foraker, but the Re
pubicans save the rest of the State tick
ct. This was personal issue complicst-
ed with factional quarrels, the third
term, and the Sunday liquor law. The
Democrats lave the legislature and will
elect a Demot attic senator in place of
Payne, who is a Democrat. The power
full liquor interest and the vast wealth Of
the Standard Oil Company, were potent
factors In this result, but Ohio Republi-
cans have been beaten before by these
forces and are always solid and enthusi-
astic in presidential contests and they
will be 80 again.
The most unexpected result was wit
messed in Iowa, so long Republican
stronghold, but here too local, State and
personal questions decided the result,
and Democratic governor Is elected,
but the rest Of the Republican ticket lie
elected and the legislature is Republican
by a good majority, which secures the
reelection of Senator Allison. The peo-
pie revolted against the prohibition pol
icy, because trial and experience had
demonstrated that it did not prohibit
and that its oonstabulary force, as in
Massachusetts,, proved failure and an
abuse. There we're other State issues in
volved, but there was no revolt agsinst
the national principles Of the Republican
party and no sign of conversion to the
'reforms" of free trade and plantation
dt mocracy.
The Democrats carry New Jersey by
saloon votes aud money they carried
Maryland by ballot box stuffing, by re-
peating ruffians from other States, by
the usual German tactics and infamies,
which he practiced under Cleveland,
with his consent and patronage and
they sweep Virginia by frauds as motor
ious as they are stupendous. They call
these crimes victories Of reform" and
the progress of Democracy. They are,
in reality. the mockery # free govern
ment and the shame OF our civilization.
! In Pennsylvania the tariff issue was
/ the leading one, and crowded out all
minor and local que tions. and the YER
dict was rendered against free trade by
a majority of sixty thousand.
And finally, brethren, 1t Is fortunate
that this "off year" came when only
State offices were at stake, The reaction
will have spent itself before members Of
congress are chosen. Then we shall see
the return Of the tide from the ID mo
cratic fats, back to the old point Of Re-
publican enthusiasm and victory. NORTH
Adams Transcript.
The worst feature about catarrh is its