The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1889-11-22
Look at the Elections.
In considering the disasters sustained

In considering the disasters sustained
by the Republican party in several
States, and its loss of votes in every
part OF the couEtry-the city OF Phila.
delphia eXcepted-some weight is TO oe
attached to the consideration that this
is an off yesr in politics, and that the
worst off year is usually that which fol-
lows q Presidential election. But there
are off years and OFF years. Mr.. Cleve-
I land had his iE 1885, and then as now,
/ the Republicans made q bard light to
/ carry New York and Virginia. The
/ former had voted for Mr.. Cleveland in
! 1884 as for Harrison in 1888. The Re-
/ publican State ticket had the active
I support OF the Mngwumps. But 1t was
! defeated then as now. and general Lee
/ had l6, 600 majority 10 Virginia. Not
a single State was transferred from tie
: Democratic to the Republican column.
and municipal victory in Chicago was
about all the party had to show for its
efforts IN year proverbial!y unlucky
for the party in power.
Il is useless, therefore, 70 disguise or
| conceal the extent of the Republican
disasters of this year. Their expiana-
tion must be sought in other causes
than "the lassltude which follows a
q 4
show that the number of those who care
enough for the Republican party and Its
candidates to take the trouble to vote
has fallen oy a heavy percentage in
every contested State, and that in Penn
sylvsnis as everywhere else, while the
Democrats have sustained no such
losses.
Iowa may be specified IS the one
State in which pure local considerations
determined the election. In all the
other States there are national elements
and Influences In the problem, and first
Among these we must place the unhap-
py tone which the present. sdmisistra-
tion is giving the party. By the indi-
cation of its preference for such pollti-
clans as Quay, Malone and Platt, IL is
helping TO demoralizs the Republican
party everywhere, to give the worse
self In it a predominant influence, to
enable such State nominations as ex-
pose the party 10 defeat, and generally
TO steer the party down the easy de-
scent to disaster. In a years time
there has been a notable decay in its
political and moral fibre, a diminished
urgency for righteousness, fair play aad
reform. The virtues learnt in the
school OF adversely have vanished like
the morning dew before the sunshine OF
prosperity. Thus the very conditions
OF Republican success, the attitude of
the party toward public questions which
insuTes the interest OF the most inde-
pendent or the voters who accept its
principles, has been abandoned IN the
interests of machine politics. We do
not think Mr.. Harrison can contem-
plate the result with any marked salts
faction, or confidence as regards the
future OF the party. We assure him
that unless he caE lift up its flag from
The low g-ound where it has been plant
ed since the All OF last March, the dis
Rs'ers OF 1899 will be only the begin
ming of the chapter. The Republican
party rallied cheerfully to support him,
but It had no idea that in doing this it
was bringing to the national direction
clique Of selfish, unscTupulous, low
toned gamblers in politics and much
as IL may esteem General Harrison,
much IS II may regret 10 see a Demo
cTat come back TO the White House, it
will no more identity itself with dishon>
or in 1890 and 1892 than it Would con
sent 70 do so IN tunes past, when the
demand was made that il sacrifice its
principles and its selfSrespect in order
20 secure q "Machine'' triumph
Wharton BdrkeI's american (Rep).