The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-11-08
OUR DEFEAT.

sweet are the uses OF adversity which
like the toad
Ugly and venomous, bears yet precious
jewel In his head"
The overwhelming overthrow Of the
Democratic party on Tuesday is fraught
with invaluable lessons to IT, If il will
only consider the case calmly and can
didly. and with an earnest purpose TO
find out just what were it's causes and
what Is necessary it shall do to regain
that confidence OF the country which IL
has so absolutely lost. TO consider the
case intelligently. the Democratic party
must look canddly at the situation in the
fall OF 1892 when ii had secured the
whole and the trustful confidence OF the
people. The Republicans had four years
before that been given by a conhdng
public undsputed control of the country's
entire destinies, and, instead Of using its
power so as to secure all citizens of the
United States "A position In which the
laws would affect all alike II perverted
It's powers TO enactlng laws that would
give some men advantages over others;
1t framed statutes In the interest of the
rich and powerful. and in disregard of
those of the poor and II adopted, in one
aimed at perpetuating the Republican
Larty in power through system of de-
bauching the people by one sort of pur-
chase or another. Such betrayal of
trust. such an abuse of power for selfish
and corrupt ends Disguised the whole
country. and 1t turned eagerly to the
Democratic party. which held out prom
ises of equal laws, justice to all. purity
OF administration and economy in gov
eminent, and threw itself into It's arms
with a trust and a confidence without
parallel. That was the situation when
the Democratic party came into power in
1892
That the total collapse which overlook
the Democratic party on Tuesday is the
result OF Tammany frauds. the income
tax, general Populistic doctrine and OF
the terrific panic and consequent ruin
which spread all over the land after the
Democratic party came into power. is too
plain TO admit of argument. 1t is very
true that panic and ruin were caused by
the Sherman silver purchase law, which
was a Republican measure. But the body
OF the people always look TO the sub
stance and not the form Of things. They
knew that, Republican measure though
II was. II was measure passed by the
Republican party as the only possible
brake upon the wheels of Democracy's
free-silver chariot When 1t was passed
the Democratic party was threatening
the country with an absolute free sill
yer law. and the Sherman law was all
that the opponents of that measure
he
suit Of the Sherman law. a bin for free
coinage would have involved the country
In many fold greater ruin. Notwithstand-
ing all the attempts 10 mislead them. the
people OF the United States have perfect
~ well understood this case all along
They knew perfectly well that free sill
yer had Its main power as Democratic
measure. but, II anything had been want
ing TO bring absolute conviction of that
fact home 10 their minds. that thing was
supplied when they saw almost every
Democrat In each branch of Congress
stand for a whole summer refusing to re-
peal the apocious Sherman law, whilst
Il was bankrupting prosperous businesses
all over the country. prostrating trade.
turning millions of men and women out
TO starve, and covering the whole face
of the land with ruin The people pene-
trated all the thin wells that II was at
tempted TO throw over the case; they
knew that the cheap dollar had produced
the hayoc; they knew that the Demo-
Gratis were responsible for the cheap dol
lar. ard they held the Democratic party
responsible last Tuesday r. the monu-
mental folly Shat il had allowed TO as
sumo cen rol over Its counses. The re-
suit does rot surprise us. II is rot posi-
bic to drive us out OF the Democratic
party. for. so long as there is breath In
our body. we shall be found clamoring'
for . rule in this country that will make
the laws bear in exactly the same way
upon Ill men-and that 10 Democracy.
hut NJ have no difliculty In saying that
W nay eeuaasntly expect the dsfsst Of