Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1894-11-14
Mr.. Wilson on Politics.


committee on ways and means, gives
his views Of the causes of Democrat
ic defeat in the recent elections.
After declaring that it is neither
discreet nor a dignifed thing for
member Of a defeated party to at
tempt to explain his own or his par
tvs defeat, he says:
None the less, however, it is the
duty of the Democratic party after
such a reverse to make deliberate,
honest and unsparing scrutiny into
the causes and forces which wrought
its overthrow and into the condition
upon which it may regain its ascen-
dancv with the American people.
Undoubtedly there were local IN
auences. as there we're individual
candidates. and factional fights that
contributed to and emphasized the
general result, but it must be admit
ted that there were strong forces
everywhere operative that really
shaped and brought about the result
The greatest of all these forces was
the severe industrial depression that
for a wear or more past has hardened
the lot and made anxious tue lives OF
a large section of our people. Hard
times is an enemy before which
no political party in America has
ever been able to make successful
stand when in power.
This is, and perhaps always Will
be weak point in popular govern
ment. When labor is out OF en-
plovment, when the prices of farm
products are low, when our financial
system is disorganized, the wlsest
administration Of government and
the most wholesome laws do not avail
to save party from mporary and
disastrous overthrow.
Moreover, the whole teaching OF
the protective system trains men TO
depend, not on individual effort, the
plain virtues of industries. thrift and
temperance for business prosperity
and material comfort, but on gov
eminent aid and laws of congress.
Let me add also that we, together
with all our progressive nations, are
now passing through an era OF
change, Of unrest and Of somewhat
tpmnItnous AGITATION. The rapid
adoption of the great instrumental
tiles of modern industry and trade
the complete revolution which these
are bringing about in prediction and
distribution, their steady oblltera-
ton of immemOrial handicrafts, their
distortion Of many industries-all
these, together with the unsettled
relations between labor and capital,
have swept us in to an era where for
some years it may be Increasingly
difficult for any one party TO hold on
to the federal government for any
long time.
without attempting to apportion
the responsibility for the hard times
between the two parties, but stOutly
disclaiming any large share of it for
the Democratic party, l pass
from these congratulations to the
second point, and that is the defeat
of tariff reform
Il do not believe the people have
rebuked or discarded tariff reform
in their action last Tuesday, for
when l look over the whole country
l do not find that TO have been the
common ground for their action.
No question was ever so we'll and 50
thoroughly fought out in popular dis
cuSsiOn before them as the question
of reforming and reducing the tariff.
In every campaign from that of 1886
10 that Of 1892 it has been the great
issue, and in every campaign eX-
cept that Of 1888 the Democratic
party has won q decided victory on
that issue.
TO contend, therefore, that the
people have now chastised the Dem
Ocratic party for doing what they
put it into their power to do is to
question their honesty and intelli-
gence If they have inflicted chas-
tisement because Of its dealings with
the tariff il has been rather because
the party did not carry out with suf-
ficient promptness and thoroughness
the work they committed to il, aud
because they have held the whole
party responsible for the action of
few Of its representatives in thwart-
ing, delaying and manning this great
work
The long and indefensible delay
in the Senate, the sinister suspicious
that gathered around certain sched-
ules and duties there framed no
here more vigorously denounced
than in the Democratic press of the en-
tire cOunty-klndled q diSappOint-
ment and a disgust among the rank
and file Of the party that led to
apathy and even misjudged hostility
in the recent elections.
1t is hazardous, Of course, TO in
dulge 10 hypothetcs, but l have no
doubt that had the bill, which passed
the House on February lst, passed
the Senate as early as April or
May, in substantially its original
shape, the result in Missouri and in
many other sections Of the country
would have been reversed and the
Democratic party might even have