The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-11-27

II
IN be a hrst-ciass cracker OF jokes at All
| after-dinner gathering, but as prophe'
| no has already proven himself worm
| failure. He once upon time, not very
| ,onr ago. announced that he expected 10
| ,,rn,sh MIR. Cleveland with an epitaph
| =, the banouet of the New York Chamber
| NJ Commerce but when the time came ior
so doing he discovered that Mr.. CieVe-
land WAS the livest man at the assem-
hlare. while he himself was among the
dead. Nevertheless, notwithstanding TINS
most signal failure Of his as a politcai
soothsayer. he again essays that role
md has undert aiken to predict what VIII
be the future Of the Republican party
In assuming TO do this MIR. Depew de-
clares that the Republican Will still be
the marty OF progress and Of high tariff,
not of the Mckinley tariff, which even
he admits is dead and buried, but OF
tariff with Protection as its first feature
and revenue its second. Then, the idea
Of the Force bill is TO be finally aban-
doned and. with these notifications, he
declares positively that the party VIII
not only rise again from its ashes in 49,
but that it will rise to be the party OF
tho American people.
Mr.. Depew, in again so rashly risking
his reputation as wise and sagacious
seer, has certainly not consulted the
light of past history. Had he have done
so he would assuredly not have spoken
so recklessly. He has forgotten that Re
publican successes at the polls have been
very doubtful and based on very slight
foundations since Grants second election.
In 1876 Mr.. Tilden, the Democratic nomi-
nee was clearly elected, but was defraud-
cd Of his seat by carpet-bag Returning
Boards in the South backed up by Fed
eral bayonets. Mr.. Hayes was thus fraud
ulently seated but he has never since
received anything but contempt from
even his own party, and his name
will go down TO history as the first, and,
it is 10 be hoped last. man, who ever
consented to faint with fraud the nigh
Office Of President Of the United States.
In 1880 Mr.. Garfield WAS fairly elected
because he was believed to be a better
statesman than General Hancock, who
had nothing to recommend him but his
brilliant services on the Union side IL
the war between the Northern and South
ern States, and the people had already
tired of military Presidents. Grant gave
them enough Of that. In 1884 the Demo
Gratis were successful, and the Republi-
cans, although they threatened II, did
not dare to again attempt to
steal the Office from them. In
1888 we see the Republicans again
in power, although in a large mi
nority Of the popular vote, and this time
their success was directly traced TO the
most shameless corruption of the ballot
box ever known, added to the ignorance
of the people on the subject Of Tariff Re
form. But in 1892 the Democrats not only
watched closely the corruptionists so as
TO prevent them from successfully car
rying on their nefarious practices, but the
people fully understood their true inter
ests, and the Democrats swept the coun-
try. leaving their Republican opponents
in such a beggarly minority as to be
hardly worthy Of being designated by
higher name than that of a political
faction.
So we see that. since the close Of
Grants second administration, the Demo
Gratis have fairly elected three Presidents,
while the Republicans. by the aid Of
force, fraud and corruption, have only
been able to secure three. We have
therefore, seen the Democracy steadily
growing in power and strength, while
the Republicans have constantly grown
weaker and weaker. until the only hope
Of success left them was either to buy
elections or to seize them.
Now, upon what does Mr.. Depew base
his roseate predictions of Republican
greatness in the future? Upon nothing
but his own vivid Imagination. lie has
indeed made such reputation as jester
that his prophecies will be mainly looked
upon as a good joke, while his signal
failures in the predicting line already
have justly entitled him to be regarded
as a political Virgins.