The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1894-11-17

followed in all ranks of the party,
dividing it in factions. 3-The delay
IN passing suitable bill for the
reformation of the tariff, by reason of
which the merchants and manufacturers
of the whole country were kept in sus
pense for more than year, business
enterprise entirely crushed, prices
rendered uncertain, and the country
filled with unemployed wOrkmen.
4-The crusade against the north and
east, to which the people of the south
and west were constantly exhOrted,
creating alarm in commercial circles"
John S. Blackwel!-ssYou ask my
opinion as to the causes that led to the
defeat of our party at the late election.
| would prefer to remain silent, and,
with patience, await the better time
coming. Yet, may be pardoned for
frankly stating some of the causes
which. in my opinion, caused our
defeat. First, the financial panic, for
which the administration was unjustly
and ignorantly held responsible by n
large class of voters, was one of the
causes. Second, the alienation of
democratic confidence in, and friend
ship for, Mr.. Cleveland, by his appoint
ment Of republicans to Office, and
especially his selection of certain cab
met officers who have always been and
are now enemies of democratic prin-
ciples, doctrines and traditions. Third,
the failure of Mr.. Cleveland to call an
extra session of congress early in 1898,
10 revise and reform the tariff, repeal
the Sherman law, and enact, IN lieu
thereof, free silver law, as required
and demanded by the platform upon
which he was elected. Fourth, the
refusal of Mr.. Cleveland to honor,
recognize or appoint any democrat to
Office who came recommended by a
senator or representative differing from
Mr.. Cleveland on the unconditional
repeal of the Sherman law. Fifth, the
opposition of Mr.. Cleveland to the free
coinage Of silver on any terms unless
agreed to by international conference.
Sixth, Mr.. Cleveland's letters to MIR.
Wilson and MIR. Catchings were very
unfortunate, and had much to do m
promoting discord and bitterness in the
party, and at the same time served al
good campaign documents for the
republican party. There can be nc
excuse offered for these abusive an(
unprecedented letters. Seventh, thu
veto of the seigniorage silver bill wal
unfortunate, and caused us the loss o
many votes. Eighth, the tariff bill, a.
passed, was the very best We could ge
under the unfortunate circumstances
and democrats were surprised, dissat
isfied and resentful at the failure o
Mr.. Cleveland to sign it. Ninth, th'
rank and file of the party became dis
gusted with the wrangling among tn
! leaders Of the party, and especial.
with the unpardonable treason of a few
so-called democrats in trying to defea
, such legislation as was and is demanded
by our last national platform, and
becoming. 50 disgusted, such voter
refused to vote. II we would be sue
cessful, we must, in good faith, redeem
, each and every pledge and promis
made 10 the people in our platform
And when we come together with tn
determination to so act and SO legis
1
> crown our union and efforts"
Mr.. s. N. Wilson, chairman of tn
county democratic committee, wa
seen, and reviewed the causes that To-
I to q decreased vote in this county, an
the general defeat, as follows: 81
comparison of the votes cast in Lafay
ette county in the years 1892 and 1894
, shows that there was decrease of 81
! in the total democratic vote, decrsas
! of 155 IN the republican vote, and a
) increase of 191 in the populist vote
which small increase, at . time of &
much discomfort and calamity bowling
= ought certainly to he very discOuragin
# to the populist leaders. OF this gal
o in the pOpulist vote, 130 were ut tt
h mining towns of Lexington, Higgin
e vile and Corder. Hence it is safe
IS count that not over One-half of Il
d populist gain came from the dem,
,, cratic vote, and as study of the vote
ic cast, this year, at the various precinct
shows a strictly party vote for Il
h state ticket, (on which these cOmpal
ID sons are made,) it is positively show
Dy tuc IcIuiu tuut uOt lCSo tuAu o
democratic voters failed, for son
reason, to vote, on November 6,
N Lafayette county. Early in the pa
ie campaign the democratic county exc
10 utive committee noticed an indifferent
NJ on the part of many democrats in tn
81 county as to the results of the tn,
coming election, and an absence
p that usual interest in the work TO
he done. Hence the committe made di
ne gent effort to remove this indifference
DO and to get the voters to take mo
DO active part IN the campaign. We g
the party we'll organized and in sha
as to increase our majority. A lar
,g number of the best speakers in Lafa
I'd ette county and Missouri spoke
re many points in the county. All
he these speakers were men thorough
e. competent to discuss the political issu
and democratic principles in an ents
at tanning ana profitable way, yet neal
he one-fourth of the democrats in Il
u. county failed to vote. This shorta
n was nearly proportional in every tow
Of ship IN the county, except Lexingt
ss township, which cast about its Fl
Of vote, considering that q large numb
Il. of miners moved away shortly befc
lv the election. You have asked me
Of state at length my opinion rs to t
,;s causes of this failure of SO many den
Gratis to vote, No one cause can