The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-11-08

The Democratic party was severely de-
fested yesterday, owing 10 . variety of
causes. In Massachusetts, and Ohio the
'shard times undoubtedly greatly swelIed
the Republican vote. In recent speech
ex-speaker Reed said:
81 have recently taken short journey
across the state 81 Massachusetts, and /
say q condition Of things that have never
seen before. my life OF observation not ex-
tending beyond the thirty-three years OF
Republican rule. saw the chimneys no
longer smoking; heard no longer the
Springfield found that the iaboring
men in that town had time enough
in the middle Of the afternoon 20 assemble
and make large portion OF ths
4 600 intelligent citizens whom 1 had the
honor TO address. At Holyoke found
that the mills were running upon hslf-
time, because the proprietors OF those mills
could sell only half of their product. and
consequently the laboring men In that
city could sell only half of their labor.
The manufacturer may keep half OF his
product for better times, but the Iabortng
man cannot keep his half Of his unused
labor for any future day. That loss has
taken placs forever"
The idle workinguran In Ohio, whether
he believed that the financial wreck was
due TO the silver purchase bill or the
threat OF q revolutionary tariff reform.
voted the Republican ticket; IL he be-
iisyed ''the hard times" are due to the
silver act Of 1890 he remembered that the
Democratic senate with FIVE majority re-
fused for two months to repeal 10 and that
its final unconditional repeal in both
houses Of congress was only secured by
Republican votes; ifhe believed that the
"hard times" are due to the threat of reyo-
iutionary tariff revision and reform he
voted the Republican ticket IS protest
against the enactment of any such tariff.
The Democratic national platform de-
nounced the protective tariff policy and
declared that if the people elected Cleve-
land the Democratic party would wipe out
every trace of that policy. The Northern
worklngmen who voted the Democratic
ticket year ago did not believe that the
platform would be carried out to the letter.
They trusted 20 the conservatism OF
Grover Cleveland. but the behavior of the
Democratic senate In the matter OF silver
repeal has shown that the president cannot
control his party, and in his brave aud
incorporating fight for the repeal Of the
silver bill he showed by the language of
his message that he felt Obliged TO rely
upon the Repub leans rather than on his
own party for victory.
President Cleveland 10 not distrusted by
the people, but the Democratic senate has
defeated the Democratic party by its
shameful exhibition of its total ineapacity
10 gorera. President Cleveland has not
been able 60 control his party thus far in
the matter Of silver repeal. and il Is quite
probable that he will not be able TO con-
troll II in the matter OF tariff legislation.
The South controls the Democratic party
in both the house and the senate; the
South Is either unable or unwilling To
understand the folly of enacting a sec
tional tariff. The South as sn agricultural
region largely devoted 10 cotton produe-
ton is perfectly willing TO place Northern
products on the free hst. aud to rob the
Northern manufacturer of protection, be-
cause the average Southern voter wants a
high price for cotton and wants cheap
made foreign clothing.
The Northern woskinrman sees clearly
that Cleveland cannot control his party
that the South sits in the saddle in con-
gress. and he has therefore cast his vote
against the Democratic party as a protest
against the impendsn. withdrawal OF pro-
lection from American Industries and
American labor. The action OF the Demo.
cratic senate over the repeal bill, with is
display Of utter ineapaci,y TO govern. and
the threat OF an anti protective tariff ara
the chief causes OF Democratic defeat.
The election yesterday marks the begin.
ming OF the end. Tie people have de-
ciarrd their dissrust OF the ability of the
Democratic congress 90 govern; and their
dlstrust 81 President Cieyelsni's ability "a
persuade his party TO legislAss with praetl.
csi wisdom. conservatism aud patriotism.
Gov. Mckinley campaign carried itself,
bat the fght in Massachusetts, vas bitterly
contested 20 the end. ana 20 sx-speaker
Reed the Republicans Of Massachusetts
eve their thanks. for the Springfield
Rspvsiioaa (uera. } eonfesses that the great
Republican congressman from Maine was
the washorss Of the Republican battle.
No RAN On either side made so welshtv an
impression as Tom Reed did upon the
working classes. Il - not TOO much to
say 81 Mr., Reed thai he Is worthy 20 wear
the mantle Of statesmanship dropped
by James q. Blaine. for be Is one Of the
strongest and most versatile brains
today IN tas whole field OF American
polsgics.