Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1892-11-19
REPUBLICAN DEFEAT
Causes Therefor.


EDITOR INDEPENDENTLY e see
and hear many theories advanced in
answer to the question, "What struck
US anyhow" in the late election.
The overthrow of the Republican
party has been composed by un-.
ion of all the disaffected elements
and political isms of the country,
rallied for the time being, under the
banner of Democracy, (so-called),
held together byno principle in COM
mon, but by the cohesive power OF
prospective public plumber"
only. The principles of the Repub
lcan party are clean-cut and sg
gressive; viz: LIST, Revenue sufficient
to meet all the demands of govern
meat. judiciously and honestly adj
ministered, to be raised partly by
excise or internal taxation, and the
balance by tariff or tax on impor-
talions so levied as to furnish equi-
table protection 10 American manu-
| features and the wages of labor
against foreign competition-admit-
ting free. all articles of common
everyday use and consumption not
produced in this country, and taxing
luxuries whether produced or not.
Cd, A sound currency based on
gold aud silver ON ration Of equal
and interchangeable value, together
with their paper representatives
whose equal value is assured by the
strong hand of the government hold
ing the securities for their redemp-
| ton
The opposition by which the Re
publican party has ben overthrown.
represents with respect to the LIST,
all shades of opinion from protection
for projections sake to fres-'rade so
absolute as to inclutie the aboli-
tion of all custom houses, and with
respect to the I'd, all the financial
theories from the soundest kind of
sound money to, and including all
the herecies and crazes extant, down
to a IS cent free silver dollar, wild
Cat state bank notes and fiat money
A potent element, indeed am in
clined to think, the most potent ete-
ment of strength with the opposition
was feeling akin to communism
aroused among the laboring masses
and small farmers especially the
debtor CLASSY of the country through
the persistent teaching for years
past by the leaders of the opposition
that there is a comb alton between
the R publican party and the C pi-
talists or money power of the coun-
try, and that through their influence
the rich are constantly growing rich
er and the poor, poorer. This teach
ing has caused or increased the rest
lessness IF labor and encouraged
strikes and violence, which have. in
turn by these same leaders, been
seized upon as evidence in proof OF
their teaching, and used az an infu-
ence to increase that restlessness and
widen the breach. and it will be well
for them if they do not find now too
late, that they have taught their pu-
| pills only t well
Further, the South has been held
"solid' through fear in case of Re-
publican success OF ha ing its el>c-
tion methods revised, which we're fit
tingly illustrated by Mr.. Hemphill,
of S c., in his address here on the
evening of the 5th inst. in which he
said. The Republicans have $4,000
majority in S c., but we have no
difficulty in overcoming that MAORI
ty,' coupled with the election re-
turns from the State, showing q
Democratic majority Of over 10000!
Thus we find that through union
OF all these discordant elements in
opposition, the Republican party,
representing a well-de6ned line of
administrative policy under which
and through which the country and
all classes are enjoying degree OF
prosperity never before equal in this
or any other age or country has
been swept from power. The suc-
cessful elements can in no proper &C
ceptation of the term be designated
as political party because the rep
resentative or exponent Of no princi-
pie or well defined line ofadministra-
tive policy; but simply & disorgan-
lied mass of restless opposition to
the existing order of things. Mr..
Cleveland, in his letter of acceptance
studiously avoided endorsing the
platform of the Chicago Convention
| with res pect to the two great living
issues, Wig; the tariff and tue cur
rency.
When this triumphant and now
! jubilant opposition enters upon the
task of ovsrthrowing existing condi-
tions and formulating policy of its
own, it will find within its own or
ganizstion all the elements Of politi-
cal discord and disintegration more
difficult to control and harmonic,
largely because of the lack of spoiis)
than was Barnum's well.fed "happy
family" Mr.. Cleveland has gained
reputation of being a man of con :
victions, with the courage to main
tain them, while Mr.. Stevenson has
the reputation of being wholly des-
titute of political priz ciples based
upon the honest convictions of his
own heart and conscience. 1t may
be-no doubt is-fortunate for the
country that of all the opposition
leaders, Mr.. Cleveland will be the
executive head of the government,
and let us hope that he may live to
administer it to the end of his con-
stitutional term, by which time,
should anything approximating the
principles Of the Chicago platform
be adopted as his line of policy, the
people of this country win be fully
| convinced that protection points the
true road to American prosperity,
honor and glory, while free-trade,
child born in this country Of slavery
should have persisted with it; and
"Fruth crushed to earth, shall rise again;
The eternal years of God or hers;
But error. wounded, writhes in pain,
And dies among his worshippers.'s
GEo. r. LATHAM,
Nov. 18th, 1899.
We only carriAd oyar ono Tad;aa