The Washington times., 1894-11-19
DEFEATED But UNDAUNTED
Democratic Politicians Look the Fu-
ture in the Face.
LESSON OF THE LATE ELECTION
Bailey and McMillin Reyiew the Past and
Future of the Party-Efect of tee Stay
at-home Vote-No Tims for Funeral Ora
tions-senator PETER Defends Populists.

Senators and Representatives are arriving
in town slowly and may not be expected here
numerously until after the Legislative dis
patch of the Thanksgiving turkey. Not more
than half dozen of them had located here up
to yesterday, and several of these are now out
of town again for a short time
Naturally the Democratic members of
either branch of Congress are averse to en-
tering into post mortem examination of the
late unpleasantness, but some of them were
induced yesterday by TINES reporter to as
sist at au autopsy, the result of which is
given below.
Among the takers were Mr.. Bailey, of
Texas
u believe" he said, ''that our overwhelm-
ing defeat is mainly due TO an almost uni
versal dissatisfaction among the Democratic
masses with the manner in which we have
| dealt with finances and the tariff. For twenty
! years the Democratic leaders declaimed
against the great crime Of 1873. and it is not
I surprising that Democratic voters were dis
appointed when the very first act by which
| our party sgnaIized its .return 10 power was
| to assign silver to precisely the same position
it occupied undor the act of 1873.
"Our tariff bill while not all il might be
was much better indeed than the people have
| been led to suppose. But when Democratic
speakers attempted to defend it they were
| confronted with the criticism of our friends
against it. Mr.. Cleveland lad denounced it
/ as a piece OF party perIidy and party dis
! honor, and this denunciation was conveyed
/ to the country by Mr.. Wilson.
| mo argument therefore, could reconcile
| men to a measure which the Democratic
| chairman of the Ways and Means Committee
| had repudiated and which a Democratic
President had refused TO sign. This being so,
we could not have expected anything but
| Democratic apathy.
1.-The dissatisfaction in our own party is
proved by the fact that our opponents have
| not as rule, increased their vote. but that
many OF our people have everywhere refused
! TO go to the polls
In the present Congress, and for the first
/ time in its history, majority OF the Demo-
! cratic party voted against the free and un-
| limited coinage of silver, and never before In
/ its history has 1t encountered such disaster.
| If there were at any time any serious danger
| of silver basis every man OF sense knows
| that this could not possibly happen during Mr..
| Clsveland's term of Office. Therefore it ap-
| pears to me that if the voters of this country
| really feared the Democratic party because it
/ fayors free silver they would, all the more,
| be ready to indorse it while it opposed that
| policy, for they would hope in this way to
| encourage it and persevere in that cause
Mr.. McMillin, Of Tennessee, also expressed
! himself on the past and future ofthe party.
II think might suggest " he SAID, Ito those
| people who are getting out their black gar
ments to attend the funeral OF the Democratic
| party that they are, to say the least, some
| what previous.
''There will be no funeral and perhaps 1t Is
| best to wait awhile before ordering the
| hearse. AS to the causes am sure that more
voters stayed at home than would have
turned two elections. but there need be nc
/ fear Of the result when the voters feel that
an emergency requires their presence at the
! polls.
"I have no fear for the Democratic party sc
| long as it is guided by desire to advance
the best interests of the pople, to uphold the
| Constitution, and to maintain a government
/ OF, for. and by the people. and shall discus:
| the causes OF defeat when the remedies fol
them come up in the most important way
that is legislative remedies"
Senator Mitchell, of Wisconsin, would no
| be interviewed.
Senator Sherman was in his character
istically suaye and affable mood. He would
with pleasure, he said. talk in The TIMES, bu
he really had nothing new to say. and th'
general subject of the recent election hal
been fully discussed by the politicians on boti
Sides
Senator PETER was seen at the Oxford. 81
discaimed the statement alleged to hav'
been made by him, that the Populists wer
inclined to align themselves or coalesce witt
either of the other two parties. On the con
trary, the Populists would maintain thei
party integrity and would vote on all ques
tions. whether suggested by Republicans o
Democrats, which commended themselves a
good per So to the Populist mind.