Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1891-11-25
A Survey of the situation.

In the language of the Evening Wis
consin, "the result of the state elections
is of SO mosaic a character that each of
the great parties will derive some con-
ISOLATION therefrom." There was hardly
chance to plant hope of Republican
success in New York. The tremendous
Democratic majorities in New York and
Brooklyn seem to make it next to an
impossibility for the Republicans to
carry the state in an off year. When
these two cities pile up 10000 or $4,000
Democratic majority, it requires extra
ordinary effort and splendid harmony
of action among the Republicans OF the
rural districts to overcome such an
opposition vote. There was very little
Mckinleyism in the New York cam
paign. The Democrats everywhere in
the state, especially in the two great
cities, needed the cry of Cleveland and
Hill that the state must be carried at all
hazards In order to put it in line for
1872. Even the disgruntled county
Democracy, which had had all kinds of
indignities heaped upon it by Tammany,
was alarmed and forgot its resentment.
Cleveland in all his speeches and in his
innumerable letters and interviews kept
reiterating, eff you lose this year you
will lose next year." It had its effect
River, and this influence was Just as ap-
parent in the rural districts as in the
shadow Of Tammany Hall, and the re-
suit was big majority for Flower. 1t
seems that nothing but presidential
campaign Will wake up the Republicans
in the state of New York, and herein
lies the difficulty of the Republicans
carrying the state in an off year.
The Republican victory in Ohio is
significant. There the Republicans
made square issue on protection.
They were bold about it. They did not
monkey with side issues, or turn the
campaign into one of personal abuse.
1t was fair and square. Mckinley and
dollar, or Campbell and low tariff and
free and unlimited coinage of debased
silver dollar. Gov. Campbell evaded
the silver issue, and plunged into the
tariff discussion, and was badly beaten
at the polls. 1t is strange fact that
Mckinley lost votes in the cities where
the greater number of workingmen
lived and to whom protection is a
special blessing. Had it not been for
the farmers Mckinley would have lost
the state.
There is silver lining to the political
cloud in Iowa; the Democratic gov
ernor, Mr.. Boies, is reelected, but the
remainder of the Republican ticket is
elected, and the legislature is Repub-
lican on a joint ballot. The prohibition
law and the railway influence have
thrown Iowa among the doubtful states
in an off year.
Massachusetts used to give splendid
Republican majorities, but Of late wears
they have been cut down to almost
nothing, and three times within few
years the Democrats have elected their
candidate for governor. The principal
cause of tnls is the rapidly increasing
Democratic vote in Boston. The COM
plexion or the vote in that city has
changed amazingly during the past
twelve or fifteen years. The Irish and
French Canadians are settling in that
city by the thousands annually, and al
though it is the Republican policy to
give them steady employment and
good wages, they insist on voting the
Democratic ticket. 1t is queer state
of things when protected workingmen
vote the free trade ticket. But in the
present instance, the Democratic can
didate for governor is very popular
young man, his administration had been
commendable, the party did not resolve
| for cheap money, and therefore many
young Republicans rallied around Rus
sell and elected him, while all other
Democratic candidates for state offices
were defeated.
Kansas has redeemed itself by giving
| overwhelming victories to the Repub-
| licans. At the late election. out of a
| total of 424 county officers, the Alliance
party did not elect more than 80, while