Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-11-13

Major j. M. Carson, the able and bril-
liant Washington correspondent of the
Public Ledger, sums up the result of the
Congressional elections in the following
Before the elections occurred the Re-
publicans feared the loss of and the
Democrats hoped for, if they did not ex.
pect, the gain in the majority in the
National House of Representatives but
certain as were the fears of the former
and confident as were the latters hope,
the results in their broad sweep and
numerical changes, were probably not
less surprising to the victors than to the
defeated.
There were other surprises in store for
the Republicans which were not less
great nor less astounding than the result
in PENNSYLVANIA and in the various Con.
gressional districts of the country. In
| the East three of the strongest States
stole clear away from their moorings,
and in the West two others followed
their example.
Everywhere the story is that of losses
! piled on top of losses, and ever increas-
ing, and, it is only not quite so bad in
other Republican States as it is in REM
sylvania, Massachusetts, New Hamp-
All sorts of reasons are given on either
side for the Congressional revolution.
Such a result was wholly expected
and unhoped for. 1t was the high
prices wrought by the Mckinley bill,
| and the proposed Force bill, say the
| Democrats: it was local issues, gerry
Wandering, misunderstanding of the
Mckinley bill, and the apathy and dis
content of an off year, say the Republicans.
1t was all these things and others com
bined, each contributing its lesser or
larger share to the cyclone which went
over the country on Tuesday last.
According to the returns of the cleo
ton for members of the House it seems
that the Democrats have elected more
than two-thirds of the entire member
ship of that body, which will consist of
332. OF this number the Democrats ap-
pear to have elected 230, which is 90 in
excess of two-thirds of the whole. A
number of these are Farmers Alliance
men. How many of them will CO.
operate with the Democrats cannot now
be ascertained.
A quorum will consist of 1G7, and it is
safe to assume that the Democrats will
have a sufficient number of members
elect to control the organization and to
shape legislation.
1t was feared prior to the election that
the Alliance men would hold the balance
of power and be able to prevent the cleo
ton of a man as Speaker who might be dis
tasteful to them, but the unexpected and
unparalleled success of the Democrats re
moves this apprehension and will place
that party in full control of the Hous,
and make it responsible for all acts o
omission and commission. 1t would per
| haps have been better for the future o
the Democratic party had it been les
successful and its majority limited to ;
much less number than appears to hav,
been chosen.
| The disaster has been not only sever,
on the Republicans numerically, but il
the character of the losses. Compare
lively few Of the Republican leaders q
the present House will be found on tn
roll of the next. Four Republican men
bers of the present Ways and Near
Committee, Mckinley, Bayne, l.
Toilette and Gear, and three member
of the preparations Committee, Car
non, Butterworth and McComas, wi
be in the next House. Rowell, of III
tee; Mason and Adams, of the sam
|
dier, of Massachusetts; Morrow and ID
Haven, of California; Grosvenor, o
Ohio; Cutcheon, of Michigan; Dunnell
of Minnesota; Perkins, of Kansas; Cas-
well, of Wisconsin, all of whom are
strong men, and most of whom have
served several terms, will be missed
when the line of battle is formed be-
tween parties.
On the other hand the Democrats have
| retained all their strong men, and, un.
| less there should arise among them 9
strife over the leadership, the Republi
can leaders are likely to be outgeneraleC
as well as outnumbered.
Since the close of the war and the re
turn of the rebellious States no party
has had such prepOnderence in the
House as the Democrats will have in the
next Congress.
The Democrats assume to be inspired
with the hope that in 1899 they viii
carry the country on their Presidential
and Congressional tickets as they die
two years after the political tidal wave
| of 1882. But what they will do will de
pend largely or solely upon the wisdom
shown during the next two years b,
| Harrison's Administration and Congress
! For part of that line the Democrats will
will be in control of the National House
and they will do much to help or hur
their chances in the Presidential year.
This contest of 1892 will stand ot
fall on its own merits, not on those o
this year. The Democrats have gainec
great advantages of position, but they
can hold them only by deserving to d,
so. The people have again proved tina
they are the arbiters of parties; tina
they, and not self-appointed politica
leaders and party managers, are the con
trollers of public affairs. They will
prove it again in 1892, and from now un-
til the great national contest ends each
party will be wise to consider and dc
only those things which will best serve