The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1889-11-14
LOCAL CAUSES" TO BLAME.
The Administration View Of the Elec'
tions.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6.--For an "off
year" in politics there has rarely, if
ever, been 80 much interest shown here
in an election of any sort as that which
has been exhibited in the result of yes
terday's contests. This interest has CEN
tired on Ohio, Virginia and Iowa. New
York. Massachusetts, and New Jersey
have each had its fair share of atten-
ton, but the results in these States
were generally expected, and the ques-
tion has been one more OF maJoritieS
than of the successful party.
Last night the Republicans would con-
cede nothing, and were troubled. To-
day they concede everything, and are
dazed. Some of the more prominent
Republicans declined to talk about the
elections at all. Others take their cue
from persons high in administration
circles and gravely attribute the defeat
to "local causes" and to the apathy
from which they say the successful party
in Presidential year always suffers in
the next succeeding State elections.
President Harrison is not submitting to
interviews on the subject, but to those
to whom he does talk he declines to
accept the idea that the national ad-
minlstration was on trial yesterday and
that 1t received vote of want of con-
fidencc. Opposition on general princi-
Piles to third term he regards as a
sufficient reason to put forth for For
aker's defeat in Ohio, and if he is she'd
ding any tears over the blotting out Of a
rival for the Presidential nomination in
1892 their traces are not to be seen on
bis countenance. The loss of the State
of Ohio is another thing, and the eX
pressions of regret at the White House
appear to be genuine.
Whatever private consolation Malone
may receive for the crushing defeat Vir-
ginia has dealt out to him, it is evident
that he need not expect any public de-
monstration of sorrow from the Presi-
dent. Gentlemen who have called on
General Harrison to-day have been told
that the President was not responsible
for the candidacy of Malone, and by
the Presidents friends it is declared
that such assistance as Malone has had
has been no more than any Republican
nominee has received Had the result
been different, the little ex-senator
would probably have been called upon
to divide the honor of his election with
the Chief Executive, but Malone de-
feated must take all the responsibility.
Outside of the White House there is a
general disposition on the part of de-
cent Republicans to regard the political
burial of Malone as deserving of very
mild grief They would have been glad
if by his help the solid South had been
broken, but they would have been better
pleased if it could have been broken by
a better man.
In Iowa also the President finds local
causes. for the surprising success Of the
Democrats. Personal opposition TO GER
tain candidates on the part of the farm
crs and the introduction of the temper
ancc issue into the campaign are some
Of the local causes which he thinks ac-
count for the result. By pretty nearly
every one else in Washington the defeat
of the Republican ticket in Iowa is re-
garded as BY far the most significant
and important incident ot yesterdays
elections, in their bearing upon national
politics. 1t is realized that in the Iowa
contest the tariff was almost wholly the
issue, and thinking Republicans confess
tonight that the farmers OF that State,
ut least, have learned something about
the tariff since one year ago. The effect
of Iowas vote upon the tariff legislation
to be proposed by the Republicans at
the approaching session Of Congress is
already being discussed, and predictions
arc already heard that the next Allison
Aldrich tariff bill will be far less radical
than the last.
Amid the general gloom which pre-
walls at the White House in Spl'c of the
announcement that the administration
was not on trial yesterday, and there
fore has not been rcbuked by the peo-
pie, Private Secretary HalfOld presents
a cheerful smile to all comerS. Like his
chief, he sees local causes at the bot
tom of Yesterdays defeats. He has
also discovered that ''once in four years
the people must find a vent for their
personal prejudces against certain can
didates," and this is one Of these occa
slons. "During a Presidential ccc-
tion," says Mr.. llalford, there are sins
of omission and commission, and when
party principles are not at stake the