Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-03
THE LATE ELECTION.
COL. oFERRALl,s VIEWS REGARDING
THE DEMOCRATIC TORNADO.
The Mckinley Bill, tho Force Bill, and
the Silver Question-Grover Cleveland
the Democratic Candidate in '02.
From Our Regular Correspondent


Charles T. OFerraIl was at the Capitol
early this morning. He was met by the
DISPATCH correspondent and greeted
with the query: "Well, Colonel, l sup
pose you are here to resume your Ia.
bors 2"
ooh. yes" was his reply.
"What do you think of the result OF
the late elections ?"
ait is. in my opinion, revolution.
The Republicans are naturally endeavor-
ing TO assign reasons for their defeat,
but they are as varied as the colors IN
the rainbow. They want to bolster
themselves up and infuse some little
spirit into tho rank and file of their
party. One will declare that the tariff
was the cause Of it (; that the people
were not educated, and they took fright
at the increase of prices. He forgets
that he and his party cut of debate on
the tariff bill in the last session, assigning
as a reason that the people we're so well
educated on that subject it would be a
waste of precious time to discuss 1t.
Another will declare that it was the fail
ure Of the Senate TO pass the force bill,
thereby confessing that the people OF
the North were as much opposed 10 this
infamous measure rs the people South,
for the heaviest gains by far were in the
northern and western States. Another
| will insist that State issues had much 10
do with the result, when it will be found
that in nearly all of the northern and
western States the Democratic gain on
the congressional vote was larger than
on the gubernatorial vote. For instance,
the Democratic pluralities on fifteen
| State tickets show net gain OF about
| 2lj,0 900, while the Democratic pluralities
on the total congressional vote Of these
fifteen States indicate net gain OF
nearly 5000 1t will thus be seen
that many moro Republicans voted
against the Republican party on ma
tional than on State issues.
| DIDN'T WANT TO BR AROUSED
"Another will insist that the Republic
cans were not aroused that the stay
at-home' men OF their party defeated
them. Well, for the sake OF argument,
let us admit it. Why did they stay at
home and the Democrats 80 to tho
polls? :,
Zone party cannot well be aroused
| without arousing the other. In the South
the negroes can be easily handled and
few NIGHTS, prayer-meeting or two, and
Sunday preaching will suffice TO get
them to the polls, and the Democrats
might at any time be caught mapping,
but for their constant vigilance. But IN
the northern and western States 1t IS
quite different, and there can be no ac-
tivity Of our party without arousing the
activity of the other party.
1f Republican in Michigan, Kansas,
Iowa, Minnesota. or Illinois was not
aroused il was because he did not
want TO be aroused ; if he stayed at
home it was because the old party cries
Of rebel supremacy, rebel brigadiers, re-
| memberthe horrors Of Andersonville and
stand by the old flag had lost their rally
ing effects and he found work to do on
the day of election and he did 1t, rather
than 60 to the polls and vote for the grand
old party as had long been his want
AMUCH LARGER VOTE.
"Bnt the fact is there was no apathy,
and the vote was larger than it had been
for many elections in an off year. In
| eleven northern and western States here
tofore Republican in the presidential
election of 1894 the total vote was
4. O43. 4S3 in the congressional election
of 1886 it was 1892 Oj, a decrease OF
451, 278 or a little more than IL per cent
OF the vote of 1891. In 1888 the total
vote for President was 4,093, 707 IN
1890 the total vote for congressman was
3, $50, 9lS, or a decrease of 2Oi, $50, or
| fraction over per cent. OF the vote OF
1888. This does not look to me much
| like there was apathy on the part OF the
| Republicans. 1t looks as though there
must have been great interest manifest
ed 10y the voters.
"In 1883 the Republican majority in
these eleven States was 202, 225 III 1890
the Democratic majority over the Re-
publicans and Farmers Alliance was
| 4O,017 in these same States, and when
the alliance vote is placed in the Demo
cratic column, where it belongs as OPP
posed to Republican policy, the MAORI
ty will be increased very many thou
sands"
TIE PROMINENT CAUSES.
"What do you think we're the promi-
nent causes of the result, which you
term revolution 2"
"In the West it was principally the
Mckinley bill and silver question. In
the northern States the Mckinley bill.
In the South tho Mckinley bill and
force bill. In the country at large the
Mckinley bill, silver question, and force
bill and the tyrannical, autocratic, and
revolutionary proceedings OF the last
session of Congress under the leadership
of the most desperate man that has ever
occupied the Speakers chair. Why you
know that Reed was actually the Con-
Cress during the last session. He die
tated legislation, controlled debate,
stined the voice OF The minority, and
ruled the House with an iron rod. The
people Of this country love its institu-
tions and are jealous OF their own
rights. No dictation can live IN this
land, and the plain people of the country
will never submit to autocratlc power,
and the man who attempts it or the
party which endorses it will sooner or
later go down under their wrath.
DEMOCRATIC SUCCESS IN 1892.
"You are. then, hopeful of Democratic
success in 1892 ?"
al am not only hopeful but sanguine.
If the Democratic party acts with oven
ordinary wisdom L cannot SEQ how the
Republican party can recover much OF
their lost ground. The fight was made
and the victory won upon well-defined
line of principles. The Republicans who
voted the Democratic ticket were men OF
intelligence and character and were not
influenced by pecuniary gain or sordid
motives. They repudiated their old faith
and espoused the principles of Democ-
racy, and if the Democratic party Is true
to those principles upon what ground
need we fear that these men will return
TO their old party?
DESPERATE EFFORT.
ado you not think the fight will be q
hard one in 1922"