The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-11-28
JOHN C. sHANKLIN.
The Opinion of the Editor of the
Evansville Courier.


To the Editor-Sir: Your inquiry as to
democratic defeat at the recent elections
has been received and respectfully sub
init the following reply:
First of all, the hard times Of the last
fourteen months had brought discomfort
and in many cases real privation to the
people. In such an emergency men have
not the patience to go to the bottom Of
things. Immediate circumstances are
charged with the responsibility, and the
impulse is to change them at the first
opportunity. I think the official returns
In all of the states show that many demo-
Gratis remained at home, while others
modify gave vent TO their dissatisfac-
ton by voting the republican ticket
Secondly, the long and tedious debate
which followed the presentation of the
new tariff bill in the senate, finally result
ing in the enactment Of law which fell
far short of democratic pledges, was the
cause of widespread disappointment. and
even disgust, among that large class OF
Independent voters who had acted with
democracy IN 1892 because of their sin
cere opposition TO so-cailed protection.
Their resentment was intensified by the
suspicion that certain senators calling
themselves democrats had sacrificed their
personal honor and political principles to
profitable alliances with trusts, especially
the sugar and whisky trusts.
Thirdly, Il must be acknowledged even
by its best friends that the financial poll
icy Of the administration is in direct op-
position to the views Of those sections Of
the country to which the democratic par
ty has been accustomed to look for its
TnaJorides- There can be no doubt that
the unconditional repeal Of the silver pur-
chasing clause of the Sherman law, the
veto Of seigniorage bill and the issuance
Of bonds had the effect of driving many
democrats into the support of the peo-
plo's party, while they drew no compen-
Sattng number of votes to the democracy
n very large majority of voters of all
parties in the West and South are IN
questiOnably in favor OF free silver coin
age They regard the issuance of federal
bonds in time Of profound peace as a
most dangerous, and from their point Of
view, indefensible exercise of power.
Any of the above reasons would seem
TO furnish an ample explanation for the
results Of the 9Th inst Taken all together,
now that the excitement of the conflict
has passed away, the wonder is not that
the democracy was overwhelmingly de-
feated. but that we were able to preserve
any party organization at all. That it
has been done is but another proof that
correct policies and just principles are
immortal OF course the usual apathy
and Indifference of those who had been
disappointed in the distribution of federal
patronage and the retention of many re-
publicans in honorable and profitable DO
sitiOns also had their influence. With all
respect to civil service reform, il IS not
probable that the time viii ever come
when members of a successful party will
calmly acquiesce in the retention of mem
bers Of the opposing party in offices of
trust and distinction. There Is an appar
ent insincerity about it that fOrmulates
itself into the ever recurring question,
why should we vote a party into power
upon pledges of purifying the public serv-
ice if men are to be retained in public
station whose ideas of personal and official
obligation have been acquired under the
very system which it is proposed to re-
fOrm2
JOHN GILBERT SHANKLIN.
Evansville, Nov. p.