South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1892-12-02
ceasoIa.lon Cor az Rearsllcan,.

az NtN IOIA Gun ansly ZsG the
situation brought about by the cleo
ton and the great and radical
change in the politicel complexion
OF the goyornment, in response to
the efforts OF Republican editors,
county chairmsn and Repu blican
politicians generally TO explain it
all. The San offers these words of
consolation to the mourncrs
For the frat time since Abraham
Lincoln was inau "a -ated as Presi-
dent on the 4:h OF March, 1861,
the Republican party will retiye
from the control OF the Federal
Government when Mr.. Cleveland
is inaugnrated on March, 4. 1893.
This has been a period of thirty
two years. During that time, it is
true, the Democrats have succeeded
In gaining the mastery Of the House
OF Representatives, and twice they
have elected the President-Tilden
In 1876 and Cleveland In 1884 but
the Republicans have held the SEN
ate and have been able to check
mate the Democrats when the lat
ter were dominant in the other
branches OF the government. Now
the Republicans have lost all, the
Presidency, the Senate and the
House of Representatives.
Thus the Republicans will be
hereafter, aud for many years here
after probably, the party of the OPP
position. They will be no lon ger
the party Of execution, but The par
ty of criticism. After holding the
control for about generatisn they
had grown to feel, not uunaturally,
that the Federal Government be-
loDged to them as a sort of divine
right and that they alone were
competent to COL duct it. The
great majority Of the people Of the
Union are OF a different mind,
They feel themselves entirely capa-
bic of managing the business. and
as the Republican methods of gov
eminent have made them Demo
Gratis, they propose to run it after
Democratic methods and in accord
anee with Democratic principles.
"That, in. substance" says tho
Sun, sis the causa of the Republi-
can disaster on the Sth OF this
month, and hunt and analyz, as
much as they may, our afflicted Re-
publican friends can find no other.
The American people are tired of
Republicanism." 1t adds
The consolation we offer to the
vanquished party is that after the
4th of next March it will have an
opportunity to take rest from the
cares OF government which it has
borne so long. 1t can stand off and
watch how the Democratic party
bears the strain. It can exercise
the functions of opposition criti-
clsm. We have been in that posi-
ton ourselves for a good many
years, and we can assure our des
pendent Republican friends that it
has many enjoyable compensations.
We cannot offer them the hope that
the Democratic party will furnish
them grounds for opposition as
stimulating to every hostile energy
as those VIII ich have been furnished
to US by the Republicans for their
own party has attacked and viola
ted every piinciple Of popular gov
eminent most de-r to US because
most essential for the preservation
of our democratic institutions.
These principles will be restored to
thor proper and dominant place,
and as they are unassailable be fore
the people, their restoration will af-
ford no opportunity for effective
Republican opposition. The as
sarlt on them in the past has been
covert and subtle. The people
were slow in awakening to a con
ception of it's momentous conse-
quencCs, but now their eyes are
open to the inieuity. Hereafter
the attack must be made in the full
light Of day.
Ia the usual progress and the
routine OF legis' alton, the Repub-
LEANS, however, will find opportu-
: mites to exercise the functions of
an opposition party, which will keep
their wits from rusting. Not hay-
ing any responsibility thomsel Ess ;.
they will seek to harass the ID, mo-
Gratis in the execution of the trust
committed to them by the people.
Let them DO this to their souls
content. So long as the Republic
cans remain the party Of the oppo-
sition We have TO fault to find. Nor
are we distressed for the Democrat
I &c party because Of such an opposi-
ton, alert and skillful though it
be. The heavier the load Of re-
sponsibility the Democracy has 10