New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-21
THE AB.SENTEES.

II is no new thing that the Republican voters
are more inclined than the DemOcrauc 10 III
d,,oa in Iaziness indifference and new party
in nOn-Presidentlal year. Inc
fact is no credit to them, but it is facr. Reck-
oning only the votes in Northern STATES since
Southern returns are no evidence as to the
number of votes actually cast, the aggregate
in the Presidential election OF 1884 was
3.bss.s3o Republican and 3,155,557 Demo
cratic. But at the State and Congressional
elections in 1886 the aggregate was 3,144,l56
Republican in tn same States decrease OF
12.4 per cent, and 2,SO9,62O Democra'e'
decrease of only rs per cent.
The returns of the recent elections are not
vet complete, but those already published III
dicate curiously similar results. The aggie-
gate Republican vote cast in the States OF which
full returns are published proves to be l'o
per cent less than the Republican vote cast
in the same States at the Presidential election
of 1888. But it has been stated by prominent
officers of the Farmers Alliance at the west
that four fifths of its voting strength was drawn
from the Republican party. In the states mus
far reported that proportion OF the aiilahce
vote is &C. per cent of the total kepupihaii
vote in 1885, SO that there is left suppoSeu
loss by laziness. indifference, and all other
causes, of only ia per cent OF the entire ne
nublioan vote. 1t is coincidence that in these
same States the loss in 1886 compared WIN
1884 was also Just LA per cent
On the other hand. in these same States the
Democratic vote cast at the recent elections
was per cent less than in 1888. But allow
ing fifth of the Alliance vote to have been
t.x
Democratic. the total loss OF the Democrats oy
laziness indifference. or other causes except
The Alliance, was bat 6 per cent. Ii happens
that in the sar,e States the Democratic vote
fell off from 1884 to 1886 just Go per cent,
proportiunateiy a little less than the decline In
all the Northern States, just as the Republican
loss in these was also little less than in all
the Northern States.
These curious figures bring to light one fact
which has been strongly suspected, but not
vet clearly demonstrated, namely, that there
WIS no considerable transfer in these States OF
Republican votes to Democratic candidates, as
Free Traders have boastingy proclaimed. "The
people rose in their might" it has been said,
:. and voted for Democrats to rebuke the Re-
publican party, and Congress- and the Nc
Kinley bill" They did nothing of the sort, at
as vet been recorded. About the usual excess
of Republican over Democratic voters stayed
at home and neglected their duty. small
fraction OF them joined in the Alliance expert
ment. only to discover that the Democrats have
all the fruits of victory. But of indignant Re-
publicans. who voted for Democrats, except OH
local issues and for local candidates, there is
no sign. In fact, the returns thus far show
that there cannot have BEEN any appreciate
force Of such voters.
1t may be as well for the various newspapers
which have been loudly demanding a change
of National policy On the ground that Repub-
lican voters have condemned the tariff and the
Election bill and the like, TO look into the
| facts I'm any case less than a tenth OF the
Republicans absented themselves from the polls
or acted with the Alliance or any other party
except their own, Tor all reasons whatever
other than the ordinary indifference of an off
year. The question is whether less than a
tenth of the voters should be invited to dictate
policy to the remaining nine tenths.