The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-10-30
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 80, 1890.
THE NATIONAL ELECTIONS.

There is now an interval Of only four days
before the Congressional elections will be
held in every part OF the United States.
Already, though the result 10 be is neces-
sarily unknown, the contest is virtually de-
cided la favor Of one party or the other. Ia
the brief time yet 10 elapse, not much can
be done to mould public opinion. The
speaking from public platforms and the dis
tribution of documents upon which the
Democrats have relied for success, are now
about concluded. The Republicans are
still calling upon the manufacturers for
contributions 10 their corruption funds, but
ii would appear as il the fat had been fried
out OF the larger proportion.
In spite Of the loud noise which the Re
publican party has been making every.
where, in spite Of the political progresses
of its Reeds and its Baines, in spite Of its
lavish use Of money and general employ
ment Of improper means, there are many
indications that it will receive a substantial
defeat in the approaching elections. All
the signs so far observable point to the
triumph Of the Democratic party by ma
jority sufficient to give it working control Of
the House Of Representatives.
That the outlook is so favorable for Dem
ocratic success should be a cause for gen
eral congratulatiOn 10 every citizen of the
United States who has the best interests of
his country at heart. Ii is hardly an exag-
geration 10 say that the perpetuity Of our
free institutions will largely depend upon
the issue Of November the 9Th. The Ameri-
can people will then be called upon, sfter the
clearest presentation Of the different sides
of the questions to be voted upon, 10 decide
as TO whether they approve Of the course Of
the Republican party and the measures
which ii has passed, or which it still pro
poses TO pass, or whether they heartily con-
denim that course as well as those measures
IL they shall approve, then our Govern
ment will for an indefinite time be CON.
mitted 10 the hands Of party which is
determined to run it exclusively for the
benefit Of a class, and that class the one
which 10 likely 10 have the least regard for
the spirit Of our institutions. This would
mean the final destruction of the whole
framework of our national system. for ii
would be only a matter Of time for the
moneyed Olisarchy, which would inevitably
lie created, 10 establish itself more firmly
by means less capable Of change than the
laws on the statute book. There would De
seen in the United States a condition OF gen
eral affairs far worse than what has in re-
cent years been observed abroad. Year
after year, decade after decade the specta-
Gle would be presented of the rich getting
richer and the poor poorer. Our national
life would decay in its very sinew and fibre
and only the strong hand Of absolute power
would save society from ruin.
II the Democrats shall triumph in the
election, Mt once a spirit Of renewed con-
tldence in the firness and healthiness of our
general life would spring up. 1t will then
be seen that the American people can be
relied upon to discriminate, in spite of ap-
peals 10 their passions and preJudces,
between what is destructive of their ma
tional institutions and what is conducive 10
the strength and permanence of those insti-
tutions. Every man who has the welfare
OF his country at heart will unite in the
prayer that the vIcotry Of the Democrats on
the ith Of November will be overwhelming.