The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1894-11-23
The Cause Of It, as Seen by Others.


Vice President Stevenson, being
questioned concerning Democratic de-
feat, says of it:
My opinion can be briefly stated.
The result is due in part, to the fnan-
cial depression which came upon the
country soon after the Inauguration of
Mr.. Cleveland. While the Democrats
were in no way responsible for this,
they were made the scapegoats. 1t
was also due in part to the delay of
congress in passing the tariff bill. Had
the bill become a law ninety days
earlier than it did, it is quite probable
that the business conditions of the
country would SO have adjusted them
selves that the political result would
have been different"
ambassador Bayard says of it:
have had grave apprehensions
as TO the result of the recent elections
for some time. 1t was by no means an
absolute surprise to me. l don't want
to run afoul of these gentleman who
were responsible for the delay in the
passage of the tariff bill, but, as / say,
the path of duty is unmistakable, and
the necessity for pure Democratic
tariff legislation was never so great as
it is now. The bills for free raw ma
terials should be passed Immediately,
and then the country will be able to
contemplate the Democratic idea of
the tariff in full working order for two
years before another national election
rolls around If this is done, / have
little fear that the verdict will be salts
factory in 1896"
| Chairman Wilson, with character
istic fairness and ability, accepts the
invitation of the PHILADELPHIA In
quirer to give his views at large in
the issue of that paper dated Novem-
Der I2th. So full of hard, common
sense and sound, logical argument is
his letter upon the true causes and
effects O. recent Democratic de-
feat that hE.e but the prejudiced can
hold that his views are i'll founded or
illogical. 1t is by far the best solution
yet given that we have seen from
either republican or democratic
source; but for want of space and the
length of his argument we should be
pleased to reproduce his entire letter.
He admits that there were strong
forces prevalent that shaped and
brought about the result, being OF
more Importance than the unpopular
ity of individual candidates. And says
the greatest of all these forces was the
severe industrial depression which had
hardened the lot and lives of so many.
Hard times, he declared was more
than any party could withstand and
retain control, and he cited repeated
historical instances to show it con.
clusively. This deplorable fact he re.
garded as one of the weak points OF
popular government.
| The wisest administration of gov.
eminent snd the most wholesome laws
he declared to be unavailing with
labor unemployed, farm products low,
and the financial system disorganized.
Popular discomfort, though brought
about by the inequitable laws of the
ousted party may easily be used as a
powerful leverage to regain control.
Its tremendous effect is well known 10
both parties, and it was certainly used
to advantage by the calamity howler
during this campaign. He remarked
that "the counsels of calamity are
seldom wise, and that vast multi
tude of voters rush blindly to the
assault with no correct idea of what
they are to gain, but having the con-
sciousness of their own hurt they are
eager to punish somebody for it, and
that somebody is always the ruling
party. To-day the Republican party is
the beneficiary of popular discomfort,
in the past Democracy has Jared quite
as well. And in common with other
progressive nations we, too are pass
ing through an era of change, an era
of unrest, an d tumultuous agitation.