Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-11-16
,ybitney,s View of Election.

Ex.Secretary of the Navy William
C. Whitney has written for the New
York Horld this entertaining analysis
of the election results, and the proper
course for the democratic party:
Last Tuesdays voting was, in my
opinion, negative-not positive. The re-
suit was democratic defeat, but not
q republican triumph. The people
had no intention of resembling their
emphatic and well-considercd repudia-
ton of vicious republican policies. They
could not, however. refrain from, and
cannot he blamed for, expressing their
dissatisfaction with existing condi-
tons. So they voted against the par
ty in power.
ut is true that the democratic party
was not responsible for the conditions
But they existed nevertheless. The
long period of financial depression had
reached and destroyed the prosperity
of the country. Recuperation had be-
gun, but was not yet accomplished.
Capital was still timid. Commerce
was Frustrated. Trade was at stand
still. Exports had decreased with i'm
ports. Prices were low and taxes were
high. Credits could not be obtained.
Mills were closed. Money was scarce.
Uncounted thousands were idle. The
national treasury was bankrupt. Dis
content filled the land.
For score of years the republican
party had disregarded the immutable
laws of nature, and, having i'm
posed artificial conditions OF finance
and taxation upon the country and in
creased enormously the burdens of
taxation by the most lavish govern
ment expenditures, had brought the
country to a point where there was
bound to be a great reaction from long
prosperity. 1t came in the natural or
der of things in the interim-after the
reversal Of policy had been decreed
and before it had been accomplished.
The party to suffer was the party in
power. 1t had no opportunity to put
in force a new policy and show It's bene-
fetal effect, but discomfort from what
ever cause is visited, naturally upon the
party III power.
"In one respect only can the DEM
ocratic party be held responsible for it's
own reverses Repeal OF the iniquitous
financial law left by the republican
party upon the statute books was be-
lieved to be essential to relief, and
more time was required for the per-
formance of this duty than the i'm
patient country considered necessary.
The delay was exasperating and harm
full, and the enactment finally took
place too late to counteract the effect
upon the party. So much for the
causes, so far as they were not local.
The effect in my view should be, and |
believe will be beneficial in result.
"After such period of distrust as
we have just experienced, stability in
the condition of trade is the first es-
sential of a return to prosperity. Con-
gress owes it to the country not only to
reform the tariff, but to reform it at
once in a conservative and careful
spirit, but at once. Redemption of all
party pledges is necessary. Bot quick
redemption of this greatest of party
pledges is more than necessary, more
than sound policy, more than wise
partisanship. 1t is patriotic duty. In
accordance with the speed and wisdom
with which this duty is discharged will,
in my view, be the future of the demo-
cratic party"