The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1894-11-16

/ In a letter to the press Hon. W. l..
Wilson gave his views of the defeat Of
the democrats In the Feesnt elections.
After declaring that il is neither dis
erect Nor dignifed thing fora member
of defeated party TO attempt 20 explain
his Own or has party's defeat, he Saws:
''None the less, however. il is the duty
/ Of the democratic party, after such a
reverse. 10 make deliberate honest and
unsparing scrutiHy into the caHses which
wrought its overthrow AMI znto the con-
/ ditian upon which 1t may regain its as
tendency with the American people
/ Undoubtedly there were local influences
and faetiOnal tights that contributed 70
! and emphasized the general result. but
/ it must be admitted that the4e were
strong forces everywhere operative that
really shaped and brought about the re-
suit. And the greatest Of all these forces
was the severe industrial depression
4 that for year or more past has hardened
I the lot and made anxious the lives of a
large section Of our people Hard times
IS an enemy before which no political
/ party IN America has ever been able 70
make a successful stand in power.
This is and perhaps always viii be a
weak point In popular government
I When labor Is ont of employment. when
/ farm products are dow, when our iinaH-
/ Cial system Is dis0rganiZed. the wisest
administration Of government do not
avail to save a party from temporary
and disastrous overthrow,
Moreover the whole teaching of the
I protective system trains men to depend
not on individual efforts, the plain viz
unes of industry, thrift and temperance
for business prosperity and material
comfort, but OF government aid and laws
of congress. Let me add also that we
together with all progressive nations
are now passing through an era of
! change or unrest and of somewhat
irumnltuOus agitation The rapid adop-
/ tiOn OF tine great instrument OF modern
industry and trade the complete rsYO
! luton which these are bringing about
! IN production and Distribution. their
steady obliteEation Of immamOrable
handieEafts, their dislOcation of many
iUdustries-all these together with the
unsettled relations between labor and
capital; have swept US intoan era where.
fer some years ii may be increasingly
difheUlt for amy party TO hold on 10 the
government q very long time.
"Nithont attempting 10 app0rtien the
responsibilities for the lizard times
between the two parties and stoutly dis
elaimlng any large share of il for the
ANaAAANNANAAAA NAAAf4 4 NaHa AABAl EnEHE
generaIiEatiens 10 the second, aud that
Is the defeat of tariff reform.
81 do not believe that the people
have Febaksd tariff reform in their action
last Tuesday, for when look ever the
whole country ! do not lind that to have
been the common ground Of their action.
No question was ever 30 well and 80
thoroughly fought out IN popular
discussion before them as the question
of reforming and reducing the tariff
In every campaign from that Of 1885 10
that OF lS12, II has been the great issne
and iaeFery campaign except that of lfss8
the democratic party has wen a decided
victory on that issue. To contend
therefore. that the people have ehastisetI
the democratic party for what they put
them into power TO do is to question
their intelligence. If they Indicted
ehaslisement bee2RBe Of It's dealings
with the tariff 1t has been rather because
the party did Dpt carry 1t out with
Sufficient prOmpIDess and thoHOaghness,
and the whole party was held EespOnsI-
BILE f0F the action Of few Of its repre-
sentatiYes an tAWafting, delaying and
manning thls long work
THE long and iBdesignable delay IA
the senate, the sinister suspicious that
| gathered around certain sehedules and
duties as they are framed now; the ; ig-
Orons Recommendations Of the democratic
press, the disgust among the rank and
file Of the party that led to apathy and
even misguided hostility in the recent
elections.
FIt il hazardous Of course. to indulge IN
! hyPathetles, but have NO doubt that
1 had the bill which passed the house en-
the LIST OF February passed the senate as
early As April or May in substantially
its original shape. the result u Missouri
and IN many other sections Of the country
would hare bean reversed and the demO-
cratic party might even haVa weathered
the industrial storm with credit if net
success.
Net emily did this dong delay aud the
humiliation Of the hpnse bill chill and
anger tho dem0eratic lnasses 8saf il kent
the business 81 the naRnfry III the torture
Of suspense and uncertainty, thus lnEdens
Z ing and sxasperatilg the erieis.
''Evefy ons knows thai such reseiiORs
W0ala not mean peace, but a 1eFre and
HnEelrRfing renewal oi the cid struggle. Z