The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1894-06-13
The Oregon Victory.

From the New York Tribune.
The Dutch have taken Holland" says
Senator Vest. Il would be an insult TO bis
intelligence to suppose that he was trying
to tell the truth about the Oregon election.
To him, as TO other Democrats, the result Of
that election must be extremely significant.
As Maine has been for many years barOm-
etsr Of political opinion at the East, 50 ris-
ing or falling pluralities in Oregon have dis
closed much Of coming events at the West.
Bat within the last few years the divisions
Of party have been so peculiar that ''the
largest plurality ever given in Oregon now
has a. very definite meaning. When the
same state gave about : 600 Republican plu-
rality at the June election in.IsSS all knew
that it foreshadowed Republican victories at
the West, for in 1884 il had given only :, 200
and in 1850 but 67l plurality. The repeated
elections Of the Democratic and Populist
Governor, Pennoyer, showed that the lowest
kind Of demsgogism was rampant in Ore
gon, and the Overwhelming defeat Of his
personal ambition for the Senat0rship, and
the election Of a Republican Governor by a
large plurality, are sure and cheering signs
Of reaction against nonsense and dishonesty
in a state which has produced as much Cox
eyisIn as almost any other.
Two years ago at the June election Repub-
lican defeats in the West were fairly indicat-
ed by the result in Oregon. The Populist
fanaticism polled 1900 votes, the Demo-
Gratis 5000 and the Republicans 81 600, and
the partial fusion on q Presidential Elector
in November resulted in the choice Of one
elector for Weaver. Bat dispatches now in
P0pulist votes on legislative candidates has
been Overwhelmingly beaten, and the Re
publican candidate for Governor has about
$1,000 votes, against about 1900 for the
Populist, out Of total vote Of 50 600. This
result indicates great change of voters for
so small a. state. II a tenth Of the whole
number of voters in a state turn from one
side TO the other, II means in a state like
New York O.O0O majority, and in a state
like Ohio about double the 81 600 plurality
given for Governor Mckinley. When the
Dutch take Holland" after that fashion,
there is not Northern State in which the
Republican party may not look for double
the biggest IL .j0rity il has ever obtained.
The mere size Of the majority is not The
most significant part Of the result. The
Democratic party has just taken up new
line OF defense. Il has abandoned, aPpar-
entity beyond all hope Of recovery, every
state east Of Ohio, and has set itself TO cap
ture Populist votes at the West aud South.
II is nov too late TO change front again be
fore the Presidential election. Even if the
income tax should be stricken from the rev
euue bin by Democratic Senator'S the heavy
Democratic vote for it in the House would
remain to show the purpose of the party.
The warfare upon the great industries Of
Eastern States has taught vast body Of
workers by personal loss or suffering what
il means 10 trust the Democratic party. But
having s;aked everything on lis chance Of
attracting the P0pulist votes at the West,
the Democratic party now finds that it has
no ground to hope for success in a single
Western State.
The dispatches indicate that the ReDubli-
cans have polled in Oregon about 0)) more
votes than they cast two years 40, drawing
part from each Of the opposing factions. bat
they also indicate that the Pcpulists have
been gaining in many counties while the
Democrats have been losing heavily. Il is
as il $4,000 Of the Democratic voters in
New York should cast their ballots directly
for Republican candidates. Doubtless ma
ny Democrats Of intelligence and practical
business knowledge have been disguised BY
the leanings Of their party toward P5pnlist
foolishness and knavery, bat at the same
time more ignorant voters OF that party
have been led sstray by the utterances Of
Penhoyer and Others Ike him. Gains 10 the
Populis,s from the Democratic ranks appear
TO have more than made up for the loss Of
many former Republicans, who have doubt
less learned their folly and returned 20 polit-
ical sanity. But precisely the same tenden-
cies have appeared in other Western States.
Oregon IS heard more distinctly than the
other states west Of Ohio only because it has
spoken more loudly. The lesson it teaches
is that 10 fishing for P0pulist votes the De,a-
Ooratie party is almost destroying itself