The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1894-11-17
AS WILSON VIEWS DEFEAT.
Republicans Great Victory No
Triumph Over Tariff Reform.
THE EFFECT OF HARD TINES.
Dilatory Methods of the Senate Rebuked
by the Democraey-He Prophesies
a Very Dark Future for Pro-
lection.

recent election. After declaring that
it is neither discreet nor a dignified
thing for a member Of defeated
party to attempt to explain his own
or his party's defeat. he says:
None the less, however. is it the
duty of the Democratic party after
such reverse to take a deliberate.
honest aud unsparing scrunity into
the causes and forces which wrought
it's overthrow and into the condition
upon which it may regain its ascen
dancy with the American people.
Undoubtedly there were local influ-
ences, as there were individual can
didacies and fractional fights, that
contributed to and emphasized the
general result, but it must he admit
tedthat there, were strong forces every
where operative that really shaped
and brought about that result. And
the greatest of all these forces was
the severe industrial depression that
for year or more past has hardened
the loo and made anxious the lives
of 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 perhaps and always will
be weak point in popular govern
ment. When labor is out of employ
ment, when farm products are low,
when our financial system is dsor-
ganized, the wisest administration
of government and the most whole
some laws do not avail TO save
party from temporary and disastrous
overthrow Moreover, the whole
teaching of the protective system
trains men to depend not on indi-
vidual effort, the plain virtues of in
dustry thrift and temperance, for
business prosperity and material
comfort, but on government aid and
laws Of congress. Let me add, also,
that we, together with all other pro
gressive nations are now passing
through an era Of change, of unrest
and of somewhat tumultuous agita-
ton The rapid adoption OF great
instruments of modern industry and
trade, the complete revolution which
these are bringing about in produc-
ton and distribution, their steady oh
liberation ofimmemorial handicrafts,
their dislocation of many industries,
all these, together with the unset
tied relations between labor and cap
ital, have swept US into an era where
for some years it may be increasing
ly difficult for any one party to hold
on to ethe federal government for
any long time.
without attempting to apportion
the responsibilities for the hard
times between the two parties. and
stoutly disclaiming any large share
of it for the Democratic party, | pass
from these CONGRATULATIONS to the
second point, and that is the defeat
of tariff reform. | do not believe
the people have rebuked or discard
ed tariff reform in their action last
! Tuesday, for when | look over the
whole country | do not find that to
have been the common ground of
their action. No question was ever
so well and so thoroughly fought out
in popular discussion before them
as the question of reforming and re
ducing the tariff In every campaign
| from that IF 1909 70 81 1 900 -
has been the great issue, and in ev
cry campaign except that OF 1888
the Democratic party has won de
cided victory on that issue.
ITO contend, therefore, the people
have now chsstised the Democratic
party for doing what they put into
their power to do, is to question
their honesty and intelligence. If
they have inflicted chastisement be
cause of its dealings with the tariff,
it has been rather because the party
did not carry out with sufficient
promptness and thoroughn ess the
work they committed to it, and be-
cause they have held the whole par
ty responsible for the action of a
few of its representatives. in thwart-
ing, delaying and manning this great
work. The long and indefensible
delay in the senate, the sinister sus-
picions that gathered around certain
schedules and duties as they are
framed, nowhere more vigorously
! denounced than in the Democratic
press Of the entire country, kindled
a disappointment and a disgust
among the rank and file of the party
that led to apathy, and even mis-
judged hostility in the recent cleo
tions.
at is hazardous, of course, to in
dulge in hypothetios, but l have no
doubt that had the bill which passed
the house on the first day of Febru-
airy, passed the senate as early as
April or May in substantially its
original shape, the result in Nilsson
ri and in many other sections of the
country would have been reversed
and the Democratic party might even
have weathered the industrial storm
with credit, if not success. Not on
ly did this long delay, and the mu-
tilation of the house bill, chill and
anger the Democratic masses, but it
kept the business of the country in
the torture of suspense and uncertain
ty, thus hardening and exasperating
the crisis, and storing up wrath
against the whole party for the ac-
tion of a~small number of its pub
lie servants. The bill, as finally
passed, though ga vast improve
ment'' on the Mckinley bill, was
still so obnoxious in some of its feat
ures that the president allowed it to
become law without his signature,
and it had ben in operation too
short time before the elections for
the people to see and appreciate it's
benefits.
Again, l do not accept the view
that tariff reform hasssuffered de-
feat, because | have not anywhere
found Republican candidates advo-
eating a repeal of the law. They
have denounced it in general, and
acclaimed against some rates which
they deemed locally Objectionable,
but nowhere presented an af1irma
tive platform demanding its repeal
and return to prior conditions, In
tariff reform, as in reforms generally,
it is the first step that is the hard
est, and | have always contended in
congress and on the hustings, that