Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-11-07
THE TIDAL WAVE.
Press Comments on tho Republican
Disaster.
WHAT TIE LEADING PAPERS SAY,
Democratic, Republican, and Independent
Views Of The Situation.
A DEMOCRATIC LANDSllD {
Don Il Mean Cleveland and Blaine Again in
ls9. !..--DOss II Mean crisp or Some
Other SOuihtruu for Spfakfr'

iltlca contest are certainty ia oiu'A "i'~'
such fight and such victory. Indeed.
these public events are chiefly beneficial
to the people in so far as they add to the
sum of political experience and leave
behind them lessons in practical wisdom.
According TO this view the recent olec-
tons are particularly suggestive.
There is but one way to interpret the
results arrived at in Tuesdays ballot
ings. II was the policy Of the Fifty-trSt
Congress which was on trial, and which
has been repudistcd by the people. No
ordinary revision of public opinion
could have swept doubtful districts ms by
a storm, and even invaded the strong
holds OF the dominant party IN Congress.
II will not do TO raise the claims OF an
"off year" and the apathy OF voters IN
the face Of a contest like this.
In many localities q large vote was
cast, and intonso interest was felt IN the
result. The inference is plain, then,
that the recent policy Of Congress, par
ticnlarly as embodied in the Lodge oill,
the arbitrary action Of Speaker Iced,
and his sustsinment by the Republican
majority are repugnant to the people
and they have said so in the only way
left for them to speak.
While il is probable that the Mchln-
lev tariff bill had its effect on the result,
II can scarcely be claimed that that mea-
sure was responsible for the tidal wave
that swept the country on Tuesday. Inns
country is too big and too great not 10
adjust itself to any reasonable system OF
taxation. but it is also too big
md too great to tolerate ty-
nanny on tho part Of relentless
majority. While Speaker Reed IN
ms titie-role of Gar typitied spe-
cies of pluck that inconslderate men
admire he likewise manifested brow
beating quality that fair minded men re-
volt against. The people want no man
10 preside over their House OF Represen'
tatiyes who assumes to rule q helpless
minority as il they were the declared
enemies OF their country. The people
havo properly rebuked the party tha'
countenanced the despotic antics OF q
man who has 50 suddenly found Ills
greatness nipped IN the bud.
The Lodge bill is not only repuisive
to the South. but 10 the fair minded men
OF the North. who have so spoken III nc
uncertain tones. The time has passed
for sectional legislation. and an extra
session Of Congress called at this tIme 10
pass that obnoxious measure would be
suicide for the Republican party.
1t is not 10 be doubted that tho Re
publican party will learn valuable les
SON from the mistakes OF the past few
months, just as the Democrats have
learned wisdom from their own errors,
and that the same Old fight between the
same old parties will be on again III W.
A NATIONAL ELECTION.
Now York World, Democratic
II was national contest that closed
with Tuesdays election. Exceptin Penn
sylvania the people voted on Federal
issues. Everywhere the lines were
drawn On the deeds and misdeeds OF the
Harrison Administration and OF the
Speaker and his followers in the House
of Representatives. From one end Of
the country TO the other the talk Of
the street, of the shop, and OF the facto
~ has been OF the tariff. OF Reeds rules
OF the proposed seizure OF the Genera
Government by means of the force bill
Similar vigorous denunciations OF the
Mckinley bill are to be found IN the
Democratic platforms OF Minnesota ano
Wisconsin, where the Democrats have
made large congressional gains.
In all these western States the farmers
were either active through their organ
lied alliance or remained passively a
home, permitting their old party to b.
beaten.
A great wave OF national politics swep
over the country, and the result demon
strates beyond the shadow Of doubt Of
which side Of the controversy made def
mite by the Republican Administratio,
and the Republican Congress are th
people Of the country. The victory
Ike that of Gettysburg. 1t was wo
by the intelligent and courageou
men OF the rank and file. The
did their own thinking and cam
10 their own conclusion. That oplI
ion was 20 united, shows both til
stress and pressure OF the emergency
and also that when the American vote
Is finally aroused he thinks clearly al
acts decisively. The people have al
nounced that they are opposed TO u
Mckinley bill, TO Republican extrav
DALE orh,traru yulQa tO rO
ton boroughs. They are against MI
nopoly and plutocracy, and IN ever
district where Democratic congressma
has been elected tho verdict is again
the party which has made an ailian'
with the money power.
THE PEOPLES VERDICT IN THIRTY-Nn
STATES.
New York Herald. Independent
A thousand thanks to the Republican
OF the Fifty first Congress. They pass
the Mckinley bill just in time.
IL they had had the reckless audaci
10 pass the force bill also they won
probably have been entirely wiped 0
In this election.
In the political history Of this count
no party ever received a Steiner rebu
OF the polls.
The people never before so fully vi
dicated their claim to practical comm
sense or their ability TO pass ludgme
on the policy which will afford I
greatest good to the greatest number.
Thirty nine States expressed an OPP
ION. and their vote is a thunderous pl
test against the Mckinley prices for
necessaries Of life, against q restrict
market for American products,
against starvation wages for the labor
classes.
When the Fiity.frst Congress ct
vened 1t was composed Of l6l Democr
and l69 Republicans
This majority OF eight was afterws
increased 10 twenty. four by the trl
and device Of unseating Democrats
closely-contested districts.
The patent fact that man v
honestly elected counted for nothir
Without ceremony or decent rees
for evidence no was summary ous,
and bis place given to a CLAIMANT VIII,
vote would be seryiceable 10 a pinch
The surplus quickly vanished into Il
air. Frye Of Maine promised that
his party gota whack ct ii nothing wo,
be left but hole in the proun1 y