New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-06-08
TIE OREGON TICTORY.

TIE OREGON IICJOHl.
"Tbn Dutch have taken Holland" says Sen
otor Vest II would be an insult to his inteli-
geuce to suppose thatshe was trying TO tell the
t,utb about the Oregon election. To him, as to
other Democrats the result Of that election
must be extremely significant. AS Maine mas
hoon for many wears q barometer Of political
opinion at the East. so rising or railing plurah-
ties In Oregon have disclosed much OF coming
events at the West. But within the last Few
years the divisions Of party have been SO pc
cuar that 1.-THE largest plurality ever gwen III
Oregon now has n very deilnlte iheinInE'
Whom the Same State gave about 1000 Rcpub-
ucan nIurolitv at the June election in 1SSS all
know that II foreshadowed Republican victories
NJ tho Wcst for in 1884 It had given only 200
and in 1850 but GIL plurality The repcated
elections Of the Democratic and POpulist GOV
ernor. Pcnnoycr, showed that the lowest
kind of dcmagogism was rampant In Ore
CON and the. overwhelming defeat or MS
norsonol ambition for the SenatOrship. and the
election of n Republican Governor by large
nlurality. are sure aud cheering signs OF
reoction against nonsense and dishonesty, In
State which has produced as much Coxeylsm
as almost any other
Two wears ago IN the June election Repub-
Ecan defeats at the West were fairly Indicated
hv tho result in Oregon. The POpulist farati-
csm polel 1900 votes. the Democrats -9""
and the Republicans 3l.c@. and the parual
fusion on a Presidential Elcctor IN November
resulted in the choice Of one ElcctOr for Weaver.
But dispatches now indicate that the fusion OF
Democratic and PopuliSt Votes on legislative
candidates has been overwhelmingly beaten,
and the Republican candidate for Governor haS
about $4,000 votes. against about 24,ooO Tor me
Ponulist. cut OF a total Vote OF 10000. ms
result indicates n great change Of voters Tor so
small q State If n tenth OF the whole number
of voters in Il State turn from one side 10 thr
other IL means in State like newborn -Jo'-
600 majority. and in State like Ohio about
double the 1000 plurality given for Governor
Mckinley. When "the Dutch take Holland
after that fashion. there Is not Il Northern Siate
In which the Republican party may not look Tor
double the biggest majority II has ever 90
tanned The mere size OF the majority Is not
the most significant part Of the result. Inc
Democratic party has just taken up new lihe
of defence 1t has abandoned, apparently be-
yond all hope Of recovery. every state east OF
Ohio. and has set itself TO capture PopuliSt votes
at the West and South. II is now too late 10
change front again before the Presidential cleo
ton Even If the income tax should he stricken
from the revenue bill by Democratic senators.
the heavy Democratic vote for II In the House
would remain to show the purpose Of the parry.
The warfare upon the great industries or East
ern States has taught a vast body OF workers
by personal loss or suffering what 1t means 10
trust the Democratic party. But having staked
everything on its chance Of attracting the fop-
ulist votes ut the West, the Democratic party
now finds that IL has no ground to hope Tor sue
cess in a single Western state.
The dispatches Indicate that the Republicans
have polled In Oregon about 5000 more votes
than they cast two years ago, drawing part
from each Of the opposing factions, but they
also indicate that the Populiss have been gain
ing In many counties while the Democrats have
been losing heavily 1t is rs If 10000 Of the
Democratic voters in this state should cast their
ballots directly for Republican candidates.
Doubtless many Democrats OF intelligence and
nracticaI business knowledge have been dis
a1lsted by the leanings Of their party toward
Populist foollshness and knavery but at the
same time more ignorant voters OF that party
have been led astray by the utterances Of Pen
mover and others like him. Gains TO the Pop
ulists from the Democratic ranks appear TO have
more than made up for the loss Of many former
Republicans who have doubtless learned their
folly and returned to political sanity But pre-
csely the same tendencies have appeared In
other Western States Oregon Is heard more
distinctly than other States west Of Ohio only
because 1t has spoken more loudly. The lesson
It teaches is that in fishing for POpulist votes
the Democratic party Is almost destroying
itself.