New-York tribune., 1892-11-21
THE GENERAL DISCONTENT
TALKS WITH THE PEOPLE ABOUT THE
LATE ELECTION.
THE OBSERVATIONS OF A CORRESPONDENT
WHO HAS WALKED THROUGH TIE STATE
ASKING FARMERS AND wORKINGMEN
WHY THEY VOTED FOR CLEVELAND

defeated party is supposed TO accept with philosophical
resicnst the rejection of pet policies and with the
calmncss Of the fatalist. tell itself that IT "was
10 have been The reasons given for the result oil
the recerr election they are diiicr-
ences in the minds of the parties. some say
mat the desire for free trade is the of the Re
publican overthrow Others, that the thing that did
it Is The Mckinley BIN; others again, that the people
want the repeal of the Bank Tax law; hi, to him
mat looks beneath the surface is ample evidence
that the defeat OF the Rpubcan party IS not mainly
due 10 the "unpopuartyn OF its candidates. nor 10
the which the people said to bear for Grover
Cleveland; to the Mckinley bill. nor TO any desire
on part of the people for free trade not because
free silver Is or is not wanted. Not through the
superb generalsdp" OF the Democratic National Com
nttee victory gained, nor was the battle lost
through the "lamentable incompeency" OF the Repub
hcan readers. The chief cause OF Republican deeat
and Democratic victory is the modern tendency
toward socialism.
rms statement by means implies that the social
lstic propaganda taken firm hold upon the citizen
Of the United states, that Its tenets have but TO
he sored Tn American soil TO bear an abundant mar
vest The people have not subscribed TO the mild
doctrines OF Henry George. TO the more radical
and incendiary plans John Burns do they place
confidence in the ability stability OF the leaders
Of the "New Order of Things" They have not the
slightest desire to overturn existing government; the
,avngs OF the Anarchists they repudiate altogether
But since 1S13, on BLACK fTlOaN, poIitINdi
social conditions in the United States have been those
of nnouet and discomfort among certain thousands
The Grcenback party then had its origin II Is
within the decade however that social discomfort
has manifested itself more markedly In the formation
OF political parties. all Of which, according 10 the
leaders of them, destined 10 glorious iutures'
when the Democratic and Republican parues shouiu Dc
wiped out OF existence.
This unsettled state of affairs showed Itself in the
formatiGn of the Grcenback party, the Labor party,
the socialisHc party. the Farmers Alliance ana
enally, in the Peoples party.
THE RISE OF THE PEOPLES PARTY.
The true reason for the formation Of the Alliance,
peoce,s party in the North, West and south is not
difficult 10 find. When the tide of immigration and
settlement turned toward the great wheat ana corn
fields Of Iowa. Nebraska North and south Dakota,
every natural condition favorable TO the growing
Of abundant crops which brought the farmer golden
return for his labor. But beginning with 1854 the
crons in many sections Of the Northwest failures
This unavorable condition lasted until 1880 when
great demand cereals from Europe. and enormous
crops harvested In America turned the food Of pros
pery back again 20 the farmer VINO had hr FIX years
suffered because Of poor crops During these years OF
hard times the farmer had encountered himself Win
numerous and necessary debts. so that the profits of
the pro porous years Of 500 and 1891, as well those
Of this year gone in payment Of accrued interest
and,the liquidation, in part, Of vast mortgage indeb
edness After having been obliged 10 stint himself
for several years 1t Is but natural that when chance
presented itself he should desire TO Sursit upon te
plenty rather than be Obliged because of his indebted
ness 10 pay the first money which had come TO him
from several years OF toll those whom he owed II
Is bt natural. too, under such conditions that he
should have embraced a project which as he under
stood It, Eft the burden from his shoulders and
put it upon the back OF the Government 10 make
money "easy" and 10 render Indebtedness not hard
ship, but rather something which might be wiped out
as easily rs 1t could be incurred.
TfIE. DIsCoSrENT IN THE EAST.
The result in Wisconsin shows clearly that the
wounds received In the battle over the Bennet law ad
not vet healed and the agitation over the repeal OF
the Edwards is the of Republican disaster
In Illinois; but such issues as perverted the mnds
OF Republicans in Tire Northwest, and in Wisconsin
and Illinois. matters OF controversy III the ola
line Republican States OF ONO and New-Hampshre.
The political veteran who has battlel In these states
for MANY campaigns is puzzled where TO seek the
cause Of such overwhelming disaster. To cry Doodle
is to bring ridicule upon the party but 10 give the
Nc Xinley bill as The only main cause l. to snow
only superficial knowledge Of the existing CONDITION
OF affairs.
To find out why the people voted as they did one
must ask them. II is they that have Piled up these
great naio<itic and seemingly have Icpni'ated Re
publican doctrines and put the seal of dsapprOval
mon what the Republican party believes has gwen
this country uncXamped prosperity Let any man
who believes that the popularity OF Grover Cleve-
land the demand for free trade, or any policy which
f. shown In the Democratic PLATFORM other than that
which eu1ylodies the general statement that the Dem
ocras will give The country better times Is the cause
of Republican deieat ask the people why they voted
AZ they did and he will find that 1t IS this tendency,
unconscious and entirely undevelOpeh, toward social
ISM which has given the Democrats victory. " Is
not permanent lasting. far as 1t exists in seem
ing antaconism TO Republican policies In le30
cyclone of disapprovng votes IS just as likely to sweep
over the Democratic camp as IL mas thiS year uc'"S-
tated the Republican stronghold
Eut A. lis one thing to make statement and aD0her
10 prove II. In order 10 ascertain what IL was tha'
brought defeat 10 tue Republican party TOOK u1p
through tle states Of NewYOrk ana vermont ana III
1--we days interviewed several hundred laborng peopo
md men who In business In small way IN
various mercantile pursuits and who voice the opinion
and continents of thousands in similar walks Of nfe
Talk with many was prOhtless. They had hotHihg
against President HARRISON nothing In particular
that they knew Of against Protection They diu hoe
vote the Democratic ticket because they were
with the greatness Of Mr.. Cleveland or WIN O'e
smndness of bis views or with the policy OF The
psr1v a. presented in the Chicago platform They
said they wanted better times and more money
They wanted cheaper clothing, cheaper fuel cheaper
H.rvblry hut they wanted 10 sell what they h"d 10
sll whether II be labor or GOODS at 'ae ins"oo'
possible ,.,ice They did not because they could not
denv that The countrv AS "A whole had grown vastly
prosperous under Republican Administrations. rhey
were not sure that the Mckinley bill or previous
anns had any thing do with the bau 'ines "ch
they declared exist. Tie labOrer could pot say bn
what the store articles had decreased largely
In the last quarter Of century IN iac'' many 'i
theIn could remember when articles OF common con
SUMPTION and use cost much ulan they DO 10
day while the products Of the farmer ana the st0cs
Of the sboIQleeper. the farmer and the uAuoshfn
Obliged 70 affirm, sold not many years ago
at lower price and with less profit than today
The farmers acknowledge that perhaps the clements
may have had something 10 do with poor crops, 'nnV
the opening Of the farming territory OF the North