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


VIE LESSON CT FfEC~ ION.
retrospective glance over the political
field of battle ccrtifes to us some facts OF
the widest Importance and the deepest
interest. 1t is perfectly clear that the
fight on the Republican side was for the
two propositions that our tax legisla-
ton should be based upon the principles
OF excluding foreign manufactures and
giving a monopoly Of such manufac-
lures TO Amerit ans, and that the white
people OF the South should be compelled
by Federal power to permit their State
governments to be controlled by negroes,
under the leadership of Republican adj
venturers These were the two PROPOSE
lions for which the Republican party con-
tended In the recent election, on these
two it staked It's entire future, and on
both the people have overwhelmingly pro-
nounced against them. They have gone
TO the country on these two questions,
and the country has, with consensus
that approaches unanimity, rendered a
verdict against them.
AS far as human judgment can fore
see, this ought to end the Republican
party. Founded by men Of great minds
and large human sympathies TO bring
about the abolition OF human slavery
in this country, thereby making
powerful appeal to the moral sense OF
great masses Of men, it was able to per-
petuate itself from the ending OF the war
to this time, through the honest belief
of a great body OF the people Of the North
that the enfranchised slave stood In need
OF foreign aid to secure him against OPP
pressions, which his old master would
otherwise force upon him. The smart
Alexis of the party. whose capital In
trade has been the shin-bones and worn
out coats of such men IS Abraham Lin
coin and Salmon p. Chase, brought 10
that moral sentiment which the negro
kept alive the aid Of the passions and
resentments of the war and the corrupt
ing influences that system of monopoly
breeding plutocrats was able to develop.
This moral sentiment, REINFORCED by
series, are what has kept the Republican
party alive 10 this time.
But the country has thought over the
matter calmly and deliberately, and this
election proves that it either does not
think the negro in danger from his old
master or-what is more probable-that
If he is, he must shift for himself, as
every person worthy Of the name Of ciu-
zen must do 1t proves that the country
has determined that all the negro can look
! for TO the Government is liberty and
equality before the laws. and that after
! that he must look out for himself and
seek for himself his equal part in shaping
and defining his local laws and institu-
lions as all other citizens must do.
The result is the Republican party is
now shorn Of its moral Inspirations. The
kernel is gone and it is now nothing but
the shell.
We take this 10 be the great lesson Of
the election and, in that lesson, TO the
good of America, we will have the ending
and extinction of the Republican party.
Deprived of the moral element that
gave it virility and life. time and decay
will do the rest for the Republican party.
Henceforth it has nothing on which to
live, but bargains, debauchery and hate.
We believe, therefore, that this Republ-
can party has received mortal blow.
So much for the consequences Of the
election.
Turning now to the other side let us ask
what were the active forces that secured
the Democratic triumph?
1t is easy TO determine these. There can
be no doubt that the tariff played a great
and an important part. Pennsylvania 5
majority Of 1900 for Harrison would
prove this If all other evidence were
wanting. The pet Of protection stood
nobly by her protector. But when we
consider the marvellous results in the
West no room for doubt is left. The
people out there do not even get the
benefit Of 1t can be considered a benefit
from any point of view OF having pro.
tected monopoiists. They are simply
taxed by the tariff for the benefit OF
Eastern manufacturers, without any re-
turn at all. Their votes show their re-
sentiment of this. But beyond this it is GER
tain that the Force bill cut great figure.
The people were made TO see and under
stand that this measure did not confine
Its threats TO the South. They came to
understand that II was a deadly blow
aimed at local self-government in every
quarter of the Union. and that It's pas
sage threatened the rights OF Chicago's
citizens equally with those of the cit!-