New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-10
4 POINT OR TWO WORTH CONSIDERING.

.In % far as the Democrats triumphed on
T,c.day in Oneida County" remarks 1.-THE
Jrt;ca Herald, in reviewing the local campaign,
" they owe their success to stay-at-home he-
nublicans." An examination OF the returns
from Oneida entirely snbstantiates this state
ment. Although Mr.. Bentley, the Democratic
ConpressiOnaI candidate was elected by few
hundred majority, still, SIS "The Herald" points
out. che falls sixty-One short OF receiving as
many votes as Mr.. Wemple (Dem) had for Con-
tDlIer last year when he was beaten in the
county 1871; he has 2,1S1 fewer votes
than Grover. Cleveland mad in 1888 when the
Republicans gave Benjamin Harrison 1865 ma
iority, and he has 2,431 fewer votes than John
ID. Mcmahon (Dem.) had for Congress two
years ago when James .. Sherman (Rep) had
1892 majority in the county"
These figures tell their own story-they tell
it in italics SO that he who runs cannot miss its
significance. The Republicans of Oneida simply
beat themselves at the ballot-bOx last week.
They neglected to put forth their whole
strength their full vote was not polled. The
disastrous consequence was that Congress
sional district which could easily have been
held was captured by the Democrats. If Oneida
was the only county which had made such a
record it would hardly be worth while to
direct the general attention OF Republicans
throughout the State to the figures in question.
But the frozen truth is that the Oneida returns,
so far as they are an indictment OF the fidelity
of Republicans to the welfare OF their party,
have their counterpart in not a few other dis
tricts in this State. Why was Benjamin Ii.
Williams defeated in the, XXXIld? Or Colo
mel Davis in the XXXIIId? How did it hap
pen that Tracey received such bouncing ma
jority in the XIXth? As one surveys the po-
litcal field he is prompted to ask these ques-
tons and several others Of like tenor, while the
same answer fits them all. That the Republic
cans Of New-York held their own neither in the
Congressional nor the Assembly districts is due
in a very large measure to the stay -at-hOme Re-
pubhcans.
But why did these Republicans stay away
from the polls last Tuesday? During the of
political months the Republican county CON-
mittees and the other organizations which are
entrusted with the management CT the party
ought to find out why-in case they do not know
already-and they ought to address themselves
to the important work OF converting these pas
sive Republicans into Republican voters and Re-
publican workers. Ii this sort of post-eec-
ton campaigning is earnestly and judiciously
prosecuted we can gain next November all we
lost last Tuesday-we can elect Republican
Senate and Assembly and crown our labors by
placing Republican in the Governors chair.
II it is not thus prosecuted the result Of the cleo
tons of 1891 may be the complete triumph of
the rum power-a Legislature Democratic in
both its branches, Governor whO hike his pre-
decessor Hill, will be dstinctively whiskey's
Governor. We trust the committees will re-
ceive this suggestion in the spirit in which it is
given. The Republicans got a bad whipping
this time, q very bad one. But the setback can
be turned into signal advantage if, instead of
simply mourning our losses or simply resolving
that we must do better next time, we set our
selves to probing for the causes of our defeat
with view to finding and applying the neces-
sary remedies This year in one district the
leadership too closely represented boss-ship, in
a second the nominations were unfortunate in
a third the conflicting caims'' of counties for
recognition" were not adjusted to the general
satisfaction, and 80 OH. Now there is no reason
why these prov0cations to Republicans to stay
at home on Election Day should operate in the
next campaign. Let our friends in the districts
where there has been trouble of any sort get
together and talk over their differences with tho
loyal determination to settle them and to pur
sue a policy which will prevent their recur-
renee. We confidently believe that the great
mass of Republicans, all genuine Republicans
will say amen to this. And if perchanoe there
are Republicans of another Sort the party has
no use for them.