The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-11-12
Echoes from the Election.

Echoes from the Election.
A funny freak in the afterscene Of
the election on the 3rd was large sized
rooster displayed in the columns of the
Dispatch, over the splendid Democratic
victory in Virginia. 1t was a victory
won without an opposing force. Similar
decisions were announced in all the pa
pers outside of Virginia, through the
telegraph, of Democratic gains in Vir-
ginia," when really scarcely anything
but simon pure Democrats and Alliance
Democrats, were mentioned in the can
vass.
The shrewdest of politicians make
huge mistakes in important campaigns.
In New York, the Republicans made the
mistake of combining their assaults al
most exclusively on Tammany, while
they neglected to properly canvass the
rural districts, where the backbone of
the party is located. AS u result, the
Democratic candidate for Governor lost
a few votes in New York City, while the
Republican candidate fell far short of
the Republican strength in the country
giving the State to the Democrats by
the largest majority cast in that State
since 1882, when Cleveland was elected
Governor by 1872, 900 plurality.
In Pennsylvania, the Democrats made
the mistake of trying to hold the Repub-
lican party responsible for the corruption
oonef ortwo Republican city officials, who
were prosecuted through the courts Off
icered by Republicans, and whose crimes
were as fiercely denounced by one party
as the other. The people do not take
to that kind of politics; and concluded
that the Republican party did no worse,
to say the least, than the Democrats,
because a city official had proved re-
creant to his trust and stole Republican
as well as Democratic money.
In Iowa the Republicans made the
mistake of shouldering the Prohibition
elephant, which had crushed them down
in previous years, as it disfigured them
this year. 1t was purely local issue,
and those Republicans who do not be-
lieve in legislating ON the appetites of
men made it a point to say SO at the
polls, although it should help their po-
litical opponents. The effects of these
several mistakes in party bosses, brought
out in bold relief the hard common sense
of the people, who awaited of the occa-
sion, when it could do no other harm, to
rebuke them for want of discernnent.
Another lesson to be drawn from the
result. is that the people are determined
to get rid Of Bosses. Pennsylvania had
so effectually set down on Boss Quay,
last year in electing a Democratic Gov
ernor in State with $4,000 Republican
majority, that bossism was relegated to
the rear this year, with the result of an
old time Republican majority. In New
York Plattism had become as conspicu
Gus and domineering as Quayism was in
Pennsylvania The small Republican
vote in the rural districts, where spirit
of independence more generally prevails
than in the cities, emphasized the dis
gust of the Republican masses with boss
methods, and impressed lesson that it
will be profitable to study and observe
hereafter.
Ohio bas never been invaded by the
bossism represented by Quay and Platt.
Intelligence is too widely diffused in that
State for it to take root. The contest
there was squarely fought out upon
cardinal ideas, dividing the two parties.
Each was represented by an able and
honest leader, who neither shirked nor
evaded the issues made by the conven-
tions that nominated them. They
hewed to the line, apparently Indifferent
as to the consequences, holding princi-
pie paramount to expediency, and will
ing to stand or fall with their convic-
tions.
If the younger men now coming to the
front 10 take the place of those who will,
in the course of nature, have to give
way, will ponder these lessons they will
learn something by them They will learn
that honesty is the best policy even in
politics and to inject honest convictions
into a campaign and maintain them,
must sooner or later bring their reward.
Defeat under these conditions brings no
disgrace Truth crushed to earth will
rise again, and the public man who adj
heres to his honest beliefs and boldly
asserts them, will carry with him the re
spect of political friend and foe. whether
defeated or successful. The case of Gov
Campbell of Ohio illustrates this, in that
there is not Republican in the country
who does not admire his political cour-
age and integrity, although the cause
for which he worked met with popular
condemnation.