The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-09-05
FRIDAY. SEPTEMBER ), 1890.
hsoIIMHING yERMoNr.

In newspaper parlance a squib is a short
pithy sentence embodying some great truth.
In subtcrfuge il is sometimes used TO dis
miss briefly a disagrccable topic.
Radical papers have made no comment
upon the results Of the election in Vermont.
or have adopted the subierfuge Of squibbiug
Vermont
That profoundly wide-awake journal, the
New York Mail and Express, had two
squibs yesterday with reference 10 Yer
mont. one was: "a good many Vermont
farmers seem to have concluded TO let their
neighbors do the voting for them this fall -
and the other was. 1--WE will win the next
Presidential election almost without strug-
gle"
The first is undoubtedly true; the second
is undoubtedly untrue, and was based upon
the conclusions similar 10 those Of the Bos
ton Journal that 'there were no general
issues nj stake, and IN consequence the
vote was a very light one. The apparent
decrease, therefore, in the Republican ma
JOrity has no political significance"
Both Of these staunch defenders Of cOrruI-
ton and force know that the decrease was
not only apparent but very distinctly ap
parent. The reason for the decrease is, as
the Mail and Express reckons. that a good
many farmers concluded TO let their
neighbors do the voting. The politi-
cal significance is that the Radicals
will not win the next Presidential election
almost without struggle. The vote in
Vermont meant that large following Of
the Republican patty are disguised with
that Party's INSCRIPTIONS, pauperizing
methods. The farmers feel this first. But
Vermont Republicans who have been voting
like automa,ous cannot be expected yet
70 dc anything else but stay away
from the polls, thereby casting half
a vote for Democracy. In all sections
Of the country, however, the farmers are
feeling Just as the Vermont farmers feel.
They differ from the Vermont farmers in
not being hide-bound. In the Presidential
election of 1872 they will not allow their
neighbols TO do the voting for them. but will
cast a whole vote for Democracy
Conceding, however, that they Will but
fol ow the example Of the Vermont farmers,
what will be the significance in 1892; The
Republican vote in Vermont in 1890 fell of
forty-fve per cent. from that Of lS>S. Since
1883 five States have been admitted
TO the Union, and a-e supposed to
be Republican. Taking for granted
that the electoral college will be increased
thereby by fifteen members, and also that
the gains in population in Republican
States viii equal those in Democratic
states, and also that in New York will
again be perpelrated deal by which Hill
was elected Governor, while minority %
votes Were east for Democratic Pres-
dent, there would be in 1902 eigh-
teen Democratic states and twenty
1--WE Republican ones. Thi, would be the
case had not something happened. But
that something changed the vote so remark
ably in Vermont and will change the vote
in othe. Republican States. for no state is SO
intrinsically Republican as Vermont
A reduction Of the Republican vote by -
per cent, upon the basis Of the vote of ISIS,
would mean in California. Colorado, Hi
nois, Indiana, Iowa Kansas, Maine,
Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, Ne
vada, New Hampshire, New York,
Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode
Island, and Wisconsin large Democratic
majorities. A careful study Of the election
returns OF 1855 will demonstrate that this
would mean that every one Of the old States
except Vermont, would be Democratic.
This is perhaps halcyon, but is merely
noted TO call the attention Of squibbers TO
the real significance of Ncrmonts vote.