The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1894-12-15
DEMOCRATIC olssENsloNs.
The Wings of In, Party DO Not ElaI
In Unison.

The winxs of th- Party DO Not FlaI
Ia Unison.
The only source OF comfort for the
democrats in the matter OF their recent
terrible defeat is the theory that they
were beaten by the stay-at-home vote
They point TO the fact that their party
did not anywhere poll its full strength.
and claim that this indicates only that
large number OF democrats neglected
60 vote without intending TO promote
republican success; but they do not
tell us why all these democrats re-
manned away from the polls The
campaign was certainly an active one,
and the Importance of the election was
well understood. Every democrat
knew that the question involved was
that Of indorsing or condemning the
course OF his party since IL assumed
control OF the government There
could not have been n stronger induce
ment presented for man 10 vote who
believed in that party and wished 10
see it prosper; and yet we are asked
10 accept the idea that tens OF thou
sands Of good democrats deliberately
staid at home and allowed the repub-
licanS TO achieve one OF the most
notable victories i'm the history Of our
politics IL will not do TO say that
they were simply indifferent, or that
they did not see the necessity of casting
their ballots. The average democrat
Is best known by his cagerness to vote
as often as possible; and when he
misses an opportunity OF that kind we
may be sure that he IS influenced by
considerations Of more than ordinary
force and significance.
In the present instance the explana-
tion lies in the fact that the democrat
ic party is hopelessly divided against
/ itself IL has two wings that cannot
4 be made TO flap in harmony; the an
tagonism between them is so pro-
I nounccd and acrimonious that either
OF them Is less willing 10 see the other
succeed than 10 permit the party as n
\ party Co be defeated. The main
causes OF dissension are the tariff and
the currency, and the line OF di-
Y vision Is rs much sectional one
as that which used TO exist on
the slavery issue. 1t Is well known
that the eastern democrats are quasi
protectionists and anti.inflationists,
while the western and southern dem.
ocrats are tariff smashcrs and free
silverites These differences arc OF a
kind that cannot be compromised and
the more they arc discussed the wider
the breach becomes Thus the ties
that bind men TO the party are loosened,
the advantages OF discipline are lost
and defeat is invited by lack OF
conference and unanimity. The recent
campaign was one OF constant pulling
at cross purposes on the part OF these
two elements. They were not united
upon principles or policies, and the
result was not only IA large desertior
from the party, but still larger re.
fusal to vote because OF tho feeling
that II was better for the republicans
TO win than for democratic triiling anc
dupli6ity TO be encouraged. There II
little hope OF Improvement in this re
spcct The eastern element OF the
party entertains views that the west
ern and southern contingents will no
adopt; and IL is just as certain tina
the opinions held by these latter con
tingents will never be adopted by tn
eastern element. IL Is an irreconcila
bic separation. an irrcpressible con
nict The democrats who stayed a
home this year arc likely to do thu
same thing two years hence; or, !
they vote. the majority Of them vii
be more apt To support the ticket o
some other party than that OF the on
with which they have heretofor'
a0ted.-St Louis Globe Democrat.