The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-11-10
ROANOKE. VA, NOVEMBER 10, 1899.
THE CAUSES.

With the full extent of the Demo
cratic victory OF Tuesday yet unmeas-
ured it is easy to see the main reason
the success of the rival organization.
No one cause can BIO pointed out which
is alone entitled to the credit. In q
country so vast as the u nited States.
with so many and SO widely varying in
forests, with political mechanism of
such complex operation the cause which
preponder ated in one section was
minor factor in others.
Republican weakness begins with the
exaggerated features of the Mckinley
bill, which forced too plainly upon the
thinking element of the masses the fact
that the consumer must pay the bounty
given to the protected manufacturer by
the percentage which tho tariff enables
him to add to the price OF his goods.
Then, too, small fraction OF his en-
ployes had begun 20 realize that the in
creased price of the article did not Of
necessity mean increased wages to
them.
A feeling gained ground in the Re-
publican ranks that Mr.. Harrisons nom
ination was too largely procured by tho
active participation of Official bcne-
fcaries OF the adm inistration The nom
ination Of Whitelaw Reid alienase ted
some thousands OF workmen to whom
his attitude inimical to organized labor
was d!stasteful.
President Harrison has oiade an ad-
mirable administrative officer. No moro
scandals have attached to his appoint
ments than is usual in any administra-
ton. His public utterances have been
models of diction and force. lie has
been intensely American and patriotic.
His one great error was the fostering of
the force bill issue which solicited tho
South beyond the possibility Of disinte-
grafton, when more conciliatory course
would have left the South open SO the
already startling encroachments Of the
Third party.
The administration was further under
the MISUNDERSTANDING OF having been
at odds with such party leaders IS Reed
Miller, Plat, Quay, Malone, Dudley,
Huston, Alger, Farwell ard Clarkson,
whose hearty support had won in 1889.
In the important States of Illinois
and Wisconsin the Germans, already /
alienated by Republican dallying with
Prohibition, were driven out OF the |
party by legislation interfering with
their schools.
The Democracy was headed by man
who has proven stronger than his party
at many crucial points. THE TIMES be- |
lieves that the powerful individuality
OF Grover Cleveland was asgreat an eio-
ment OF success as am issue which an
pealed So'a Northern State. To this /,
added the great advantage of the popu.
lar side in the tariff argument, nomi.
nation forced by popular will, and tho
tactical advantage OF confr )nting an al.
versary attacked in the rear by the
Third party, whose adherents could only
be won by arguments the use of which
would have killed the Republican party
in the East.
The fight ragged over line so long
that its defense was a physical imposai-
bility to the Republicans. Gaze at tho
the map. From Connecticut to the
Mexican line not " Republican State
touches tho ocean. There is not Site
in the Mississippi valley that remains
staunch to the, r .publicaa p.r u even
though Iowa till gives its candila.as
ler electoral vote. The great corn