New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-06
THE RECENT ELECTIONS.

There is little encouragement for the Demo
cratic party in the elections which have recent
~ been held. The triumph at Chicago was not
strictly partisan success, though the Mayor
elect, Carter Harrison, SO represents it Tor cb-
yious reasons 1t was in fact a victory OF the
gamblers and the Saloons and Of those business
men, including real estate owners and specu-
latcrs who calculated that more money could
be made during the Exposition by having the
city run "wide open'' than if the laws were
faithfully enforced. Such success can neither
strengthen nor reflect credit upon the party
which thereby permanently alenates great
body of law-abiding citizens in Illinois and
ether Western States, because it invites the
lawbrcaking element to illustrate before all the
world its notions of city government.
The sweeping Republican victories in city
and town elections in Kansas the singing re-
buke administered to the Populist Governor by
defeat in his own city, and the defeat OF the
Populists Democrats and FusiOnsts in many
towns which they had carried at previous cleo
tions by large majorties, speak the verdict OF
sober and law-respecting citizens regarding the
shameless usuipation attempted in that state
last winter. The lawless seizure OF seats i'll the
Legislature, the formation OF sO-called House
without the faintcst shadow of legality. the
recognition of this body by a lawbreaking Gov
ernor, and the theft of Il seat i'll the United
States Senate, have evidently produced strong
reaction. The vote in the cities and towns was
very heavy, and the public interest so intense
that the victories gained are the more signl!i-
can't Attempts are already made by Demo
Gratis and Populists to represent that the sweep
inc change was mainly due to the admission
of women to vote. but it does not appear that
the Republicans have more wives and sisters
in Kansas than the voters OF other parties, ana
if the conduct of Democrats and Populsts ha,
been such as to disgust their own wives and
sisters the verdict is only the more noteworthy.
In Michigan the Republicans have succeeded
by a handsome majority, and have made great
gains in the cities and towns That state
seems to have well recovered from its attack
of Socialism and soft money, and the decided
change there since a Fusion Governor was
elected appears to indicate the same reaction
in public opinion which is seen IN Kansas.
Wherever the soft money or populist faction.
aided by the Democrats, has succeeded far
enough to be tried in the actual government
of State, the results have been sufficient to
disgust many voters who had supported the
combination.
Wisconsin seems to have given some advan-
tage {, the Democrats, though on a vote not
exceeding half the registration, and il i also
said that party lines were not drawn III most
of the local elections. But tho hottest munc-
ipal contest ever known at st. Louis has re-
suited in the election CT the entire Republican
ticket from Mayor down to Council, with the
exception Of single official IL is stated
that the vote was the largest PEELED there
for years, probably exceeding that of the Presi-
dental election. TIE present Democratic Mayor
is Objectionable to the good citizens OF all
rarties because Of his relations with the same
clement which gave Carter Harrison his vie
tory in Chicago, and the success Of thor
oughly upright and able Republican in st.
Louis should permit an instructive contrast
this wear between the methods OF government
favored by the two parties.
The results show that the Republican party
at the West is already distinctly stronger than
it was last fall. It's opponents have only re-
PEELED voters of the more intelligent and worthy
sort by their fusion in disgIaceful disregard
Of their prCfcssed convictions, and still more
by their conduct in Office wherever they have
kon triod