The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-11-16
WAS A BIG SURPRISE.
POLITICIANS ARE ALL DUMBFOUNDED
AT THE RESULTS.
Nobody Appears to Know Just How it
Happsnsd-It Was Not Tariff, Nor
Was it Silver, But Simply Short
age OF Democratic Votes.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 8.-The result
of the election has been received with
surprise by all political parties here.
The unexpected happened in so many
instances, in no case were the predic-
tions of Democrats, Republicans or
Populists fully verified The chief
surprise of the Democrats arises not
from the fact that they were defeated,
but the defeat was sokgeneral in all
doubtful states and wi Republican
majority so overwhelming. A grain OF
comfort is accorded them in the defeat
of the Populists in Virginia and the
election of O'Ferrell to the governor
ship, but the blows have been
crushing in the states of New York,
Massachusetts, New Jersey, Ohio and
Iowa, that even the success in Viz
ginia is hardly paraded as triumph.
Expressions from nearly all promln-
ent Democratic leaders ct the capital
several days ago showed that the Dem
ocrats were prepared for defeat in
those states where the free coinage
element was strong and disappoint.
ment over the passage OF the repeal
bill was intense, but it was hardly
expected in ''sound money" states,
New York and Massachusetts,, that the
Democratic majority of the past would
be so ruthlessly moved down. Despite
this, however, all prominent Demo-
cratic leaders unite in ascribing the
general defeat throughout the country
to two causes, dissatisfaction of the
agricultural element over the financial
question and widespread apathy OF
disappointed office seekers who have
failed to realize the fruits OF the last
Democratic victory. In the state of
Ohio alone was the tariff question
prominent in the discussion.
But here, too, the Demo-
Gratis were routed by the
same inexorable Republican majority.
In Iowa the defeat of Boies, import
ant not that it means Republican
governor in that state and a Republ1-
can United States senator next winter,
but it practically removes Boies from
the list of Western candidates for the
presidency in 1896. The Judgment OF
the party leaders approved the first
declaration of Boies last summer, that
he would not be candidate for gov
ernor at the fall election, and when he
finally reconsidered and entered the
race for a third term, it was felt that
he had everything to lose and little to
gain from the campaign to follow.
The Populist's still contend that
late returns will show that their party |
made a far better showing in the
various states than conceded them in
the earlier dispatches. In Virginia
they succeeded in terrorizing the DEM
ocrats for the past two weeks, but the
leaders, of the latter party rallied from
,he panic in time to make an unpre-
effort to get out a full vote,
md it looks as though the Populists
would have stood much better
,hance for victory by making a still
light Populist senators and represent
ltives in the city anxiously await the
attest news from Nebraska and Kan
as and expect cheering news from of
icial returns.
One element of the defeated Democ
acv views the Republican victories
With philosophic resignation. This
clement comprises the free coinage
Democrats who so bitterly re-
preached the president for forcing the
'epeal bill through congress and who
or weeks have been predicting the
disloyalty to the plat
'orm would be rebuked by crushing
lefeat in all the great state elections
this fall. These men now point to
defeat as the result of the
oarty's departure from its faith in the
recent extraordinary session, and are
already preparing to coax the major
ty back to the good old faith when
the regular session couvenes in De-
,ember. Chairman Bland will intro
1uce free coinage bill at the first bill
lay of the session and free coinage
men expect to be united in demanding
It's prompt consideration
The president did not sho " that in
tense interest in returns last night
that would indicate conf
ience in a Democratic victory.
Early in the evening the pres
ident went to his country home in
stead of remaining at the executive
as usual on election night,
and the returns he received were only
those of sufficient importance to be
to Woodley by his private
as the latter received them
from the telegraph wire at the White
House. Several members of the cabi-
net drove out to the presidents house
early in the evening, but none thus
far have given expression as to the
causes Of the general defeat. The |
p esident is not discouraged by defeat,
as he constantly repeated to those
members of his party who had been
predicting Democratic defeat as the
result of the administrations finan-
cial policy that time would vindicate
the party aud show that the majority
was right in demanding immediate and
repeal of the Sherman
act