Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1892-12-01
Consolation for the Republicans.

Republican editors. county chairmen,
local leaders, and politicians generally
are occupying themselves for the mo-
ment with efforts to discover and an
alyze the causes of the overwhelming
defeat of their party We shall not
undertake to interfere with this indus
try, for it is harmless to the victorious
Democracy, and it affords some distrac-
ton from the grief and modification of
the afflicted. Let us rather proceed
more humanely by offering few words
of consolation for the mourners.
For the first time since Abraham
Lincoln was inagurated as President
On the 4th of March, 1861, the Repub-
lican party will retire from the control
of the Federal Government when Mr.
Cleveland is inaugurated on March 4,
1898. This has been a period of thirty
two years. During that time, it is true,
the Democrats have succeeded in gain
ing the mastery of the House of Repre-
sentatives- and twice they have elected
the President = Tilden in 1876 and
Cleveland in 1884; but the Republicans
have held the Senate and have been
able to checkmate the Democrats when
the latter We're dominant in the other
branches of the Government. Now the
Republicans have lost all, the Presi-
dency, the Senate, and the House of
Representatives
Thus the Republicans will be here
after, and for many years hereafter
probably, the party of the opposition.
They will be no longer the party of ex-
ecution, but the party of criticism
After holding the control for about a
generation, they had grown to feel, not
unnaturally, that the Federal Govern
ment belonged to them as sort of di-
vine right, and that they alone were
competent to conduct it. The great
majority of the people of the Union are
of different mind. They feel them
selves entirely capable of managing
the business. and, as the Republican
methods of government have made
them Democrats, they propose to run
it after Democratic methods and in ac-
cordance with Democratic principles.
That. in substance, is the cause of the
the Republican disaster on the Sth of
this month, and, hunt and analyze as
much as they may. our afflicted Repub-
lican friends can find no other. The
American people are tired of Republi-
canism.
The consolation we offer to the van
quished party is that after the 4th of
next March it will have an opportunity
to take a rest from the cares of govern
ment which it has borne so long. 1t
can stand off and watch how the Dem |
0cratic party bears the strain. It can
the functions of opposition and
criticism. We have been in that posi- |
ion ourselves for good many years, |
and we can assure our desponent Re-
publican friends that 1t has many en-
oyable compensations. We cannot Of
Ter them the hope that the Democratic
party will furnish thom grounds for
as stimulating to every hos
lie energy as those which have been
furnished to US by the Republicans: for
heir own party has attacked and viol-
ated every principle of popular govern
nent most dear to us because most es-
'ential for the preservation of our Dem
,cratic institutions. Those principles
will be restored to their proper and
dominant place, and as they are unas-
ailable before the people, their resto-
alton will afford no opportunity for eff
ective Republican opposition. The as
ault on them in the past has been COW
'rt and subtle. The people were slow
n awakening to a conception of its
consequences, but now their
yes are open TO the iniquity. Here
lfter the attack must be made in the
ull light of day.
In the usual progress and the routine
# legislation. the Republicans, how
'ver, will find opportunities to exercise
he functions of an opposition party,
which will keep their wits from rust
ng. Not having any responsibility
they will seek to harass
he Democrats in the execution of the
rust committed to them by the people.
,et them do this to their souls content.
10 long as the Republicans remain the
arty of the opposition, we have no I
ault to find. Nor are we distressed ,
Or the Democratic party because of #
uch an opposition, alert and skilful /
nough it be. The heavier the load of +
the Democracy has to :
AIRY, and the more critical and vigil =
Mt it's political opponents, the better G
will be for the party. Its moral mus q
lie will be strengthened.-N.T 7. Sun. 9
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