The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1893-11-16
THE PANIC AND THE ELECTIONS

A large number of Democratic Jour
nails In the West and South are holding
PRESIDENT Cleveland responsible for the
disaster of Tuesday last.
we do not share In that belief. 1t is
true that the extra session of Congress
injured the Democratic party In this
election, but this was only an aggrava-
ton OF condition that existed long
prior to the assembling of Congress.
Every student of American politics
knows mat no party la power has ever
been able to win q victory in the midst
OF panic. The panic of 1873 defeated
the Republican party in nearly all the
states, ON Massachusetts to Califor-
mia. L IA such strong Republican
States as Kansas, Pennsylvania and
MassachuseIgS ere carried against the
Republican parl. Gen. Grant was
then President, al had approved the
financial legislation, and endorsed the
monetary policy that precipitated the
panic. But the publican press of
the country did L '.old him RESPONSE
BILE for the overwh, ming dsfeat of his
party.
We speak of the French as very
tickle, mercurial people, but the Ameri.
can people are the most tickle and mer-
curial people on either side of the At
lantic. Our elections prove this.
Even in good business times the
political revolutions in this country are
marvel to English and French and
European statesmen. Take the elec-
tions of 1890 when we had good crops
and fair business, all over the country.
And yet the Mckinley bill beat the Re-
publican party In great Republican
States like Kansas, Iowa and Massa-
chusetts and gave the Democrats the
largest majority in Congress in the en-
tire history of the country.
Look at the great State of New York,
when Grover Cleveland carried it for
Governor, by over 10000 plurality.
There was no panic then, and there
was bigger revolution than we see in
New York this year, In the midst of
panic.
There is another unique phase of ouI
popular elections. The party in power
usually loses the election the year it as
sumes power. This has been almost
the universal rule in Ohio. For in
stance, in 1873, the year following the
reelection of President Grant, arise
up" William Allen (Dem was elected
governor, reversing the tremendous
majority given Grant the year before.
In 1877, the year following the election
of President Hayes, Richard M. Bishop
Dem.) was elected governor. Gov.
Hoaoley (Dem.) followed the election
of Garfield; and in 1885, the year fol-
lowing the first election of Grover
Cleveland, Joseph B. Foraker (Rep.)
was elected governor.
In 1888, President Harrison carried
Ohio by a majority of 10000. but in
1889, the year of his Inauguration as
president, James E. Campbell (Dem.)
was elected governor, reversing the
majority given Harrison and beating
Foraker by almost II, 600 majority; ana
this with all business conditions un-
changed.
The present election was held in the
midst of panic, for which no intelli-
gent citizen holds the Democratic party
responsible; but the party is in power,
and the unthinking classes that consti-
tute the floating vote in this country,
always hold the party in power respon-
sible for the conditions that exist, no
matter how they were brought about.
All the signs of the times indicate a
restoration of business confidence, and
renewal of industrial pursuits. Let
no De ocrat despair of the future. The
elections of Tuesday do not record
the sober judgment of the American
people.