Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-11-09
WELLINGTON, THURSDAY, NOR. Q
A wholesome Lesson.

SuchNis largely the admonition of the |
electionAreturns. 1t is lesson that was |
needed and there could not have been a |
better time to administer it. The result |
is in considerable measure as welcome
to the fair-minded and self-respecting
Democrat as to the jubilant Republican.
Disregarding for the moment the
other features of the day, every one
must concede that the general outcome
has been encouraging to the Republi-
cans. This was to be expected. The
country has been suffering from pro-
tracted season of depression amounting
almost to panic, Not nearly so bad as
the Republican panic of 1S73-let us be
duly thankful for this much-but bad
enough to unsettle business, close some
mills and factories, put others on
short time, throw many men out
OF work and cut down the wages
of many others. 1t is easy enough
10 demonstrate that these misfortunes
were the natural and unavoidable re-
suit OF Republican legislation, but dis
contented and disemployed men do not
always stop to put the blame where it
rightfully belongs. They have, many
Of them found themselves thrown out of
employment altogether, or their hours
of labor, or their wages, or both, re-
duced, and they have simply taken cog
nizance of the one fact that these things
have happened under a Democratic ad-
ministration, forgetting for the moment
that the Democrats have thus far had
opportunity to repeal only one piece Of
the pernicious legislation inherited from
Republican Observation-Disclosures sill
yer purchasing clause of the Sherman
act-and that the Mckinley tariff, with
all its monstrosities and inequalities,
still remains in force as the law of the
land.
Mingled with this has been some ex-
preston of condemnation, indirect it
may be in the main though none the
less palpable, Of the protracted impo-
tency of the Senate. The frittering
away by that body of SO much valuable
time-while the people and the business
of the nation were calling so loudly for
immediate relief-was very widely re-
sented, and justly so, and many and
earnest were the denunciations of the
do-nothing policy that so long domi-
mated the Senate, and actually threat
ened to eliminate in a cowardly and
treacherous surrender of the majority to
the minority; catastrophe from which
the country was only saved by its good
fortune in having the right man, the
man for the emergency, in the White
House,a really Democratic House of Re-
representatives., an incorporating press
and, finally, a thoroughly aroused public
opinion that made itself heard and re.
spected. OF course that senatorial sur.
render would have proved futile for this
is country in which the majority will
rule in the end, but it would have further
protracted the struggle for financial re-
Mobilization which had already been
drawn out until the plain people of the
country were sick of the delay and dis
gusted with the men responsible for tht
failure to act. Often was the expression
heard, and from Democratic lips; al
the Republicans had control of the
Senate they would have done somethin:
before this" When the Senate did final,
-, 1t was too late for the country t,
begin to feel the recuperative effec
before the elections. Had the Senat
done its duty, as it should have done,
month earlier, fewer Democrats would
have voted the Republican ticket il
some Of the States Tuesday.
Hard times always tell against tn
party in power" says contemporary
and at the door Of senatorial impotenc,
must be laid share of the blame 70
inexcusable prolongation of the har
times. There is wholesome side I
this lesson, and the voters have chosei
good time to teach it.
So far as the tariff is concerned, tn
Democratic administration is not yet o
trial on that issue, for the simple an
sufficient reason that it has not "
touched that legislation. We are sti
living under precisely the same tart
system, unchanged in word or lette
that we inherited from the McKinle
Congress, and are likely to go on Twin
under the same tariff for at least 81
months to come; so that it is nonsen
to talk about tho result of the election
as a rebuke to Democratic tariff polio
that has not been tried and cannot |
tried until it has been formulated in
legislation. Two years from now wi
be time enough to take the verdict
the people upon Democratic tar
policy.
But the contest of Tuesday is full
other features that are wholesome al
gratifying in the highest degree
Americans who set honesty, indepen
enee, manhood, integrity, above me
partisan success; men who would I
rather see their party defeated than
honored and betrayed. In New Yu
the disreputable machine which p
sumed to cram Objectionable men a
methods down the threats of JUS
indignant voters has been smash
at least for the time beil
Judge Maynard has gone do,
and pulled down the whole De
ocratic ticket with him. II
is defeat chat brings with it nothing
dishonor. 1t is defeat, by Democra
votes, of attempted misrule and {