The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-11-13
A VERDICT OF THE PEOPLE.

Inc washington FOSG, independently
contained the following editorial, the
morning after the eledtion, IS to the
probable cause of the great landslide.
We think it is correct in part, but can
not agree with all Of it:
The Post does not pose as an told
you SO wiseacre. The Post has never
pretended to be other than an intelli-
gent observer and an honest chronicler
of public events. The fact that yester
days elections justified Jul forebod-
ings of three months ago proves simply
that we saw things as they were n
told the trutA about them at the time.
1t has been clear to us from the begin
ming of the year that the Democratic
party was disappointing the hopes
and FORGETTING the confidence of the
people. That party did not fulfill its
promise as to tariff legislation-at
least, not willingly-for only the cour-
age and devotion of a few Senators re-
strained it from the most radical and
ruinous violation of that promise. and
saved the country from an agitation.
that would have been disastrous to
every one of it's material interests.
AS a matter of fact, il was made I'M
mistakably evident that the party's
tendencies were perilOus and It's guild
ance utterly reckless. The people be-
came alarmed and they have ex-
pressed themselves in no uncertain
terms.
From a purely political point of
view, also, tie Democracy wen into
the campaign fatally handicapped.
They undertook a contest ~discredlted
and repudiated by their own chletUaln.
Mr.. Cleveland's letter to Hon. Will
liam L. Wilson stigmatized as per
fd1ous and dishonorable the tariff bill
"a purely party measure-suOse-
quently enacted into law by both
Houses of a Democratic Congress, and
sent them before the country branded
as traitors and delinquents by their
own leader. They were stripped OF
LuSlT dILlOE anu 4OOOCN "a OAO4A w
fense-not by the enemy, but by their
commander-and sent into the thick
of the fray naked and helpless. Not
only that, but they we're divided
among themselves, infirm of purpose
and incoherent as to their organlza-
ton. Abused by the Mugwumps,
tainted by the CuckoOs, rent asunder
by ~dissension, and destitute of chart or
compass, they were like some aban
doned derelict, the prey of every u
rent, the sport of every vagrant
breeze.
1t is no wonder that the Democrats
have been overwhelmed in every part
of the country where there was a pos
6ibility of their defeat. Without a
leader, without the hope and courage
that come of harmony, discredited in
the house of their friends, and dis
armed before the opening of the bat
tie, they would have been super hu
man had they triumphed. They have
fought galIantly, wonderfully; but
theirs was a fOrlon hope from the be
ginning, and only a miracle could have
saved them. Set against each other
by foolish leaders, stimulated to sus-
piciOn and recrimination, embittered
and alienated by scandal and detrac
ton, they were a mot rather than an
army-an intestinal melee rather than
the demonstration of a propaganda.
We think the country is to be con
graduated. AS things stood there
was nothing to be gained by a different
result. The people longed for peace
and industrial repose. They wanted
an interval of tranquility. Beset on
one side by the Democracy and their
Populist allies that threatened per
peUual agitation, and on the other by
the republicans, who were pledged to
the order of things just reversed by
popular demand, they had nc refuge
In the disabling of both PARTIES
and the introduction of a deadlock,
under whose beneficent influences
they could breathe at ease. In chang
ing the complexion of the House of
Representatives the people have made
themselves secure. They are now
guaranteed three years of peace. bar
ring the little mischief that the Fifty
third Congress may still achieve. and
they have notified the Democratic
party that it's pardon in future d~epends
upon its repentance and its acts of ex-
plat on.
The American people can always be
trusted. They at least have not lost
the art of government.
THE SCAMPS WERE PLOTTING.
The Washington, N. O., Gazette of
OR -,,LIILo1 49, eno-- j.