River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1894-03-22
GAINS FOR THE REPUBLICANS.
What the Local Elections Are Already
Showing.

What the Local Elections Are Already
Showing.
Democrats would have been encour-
aged, after the large gains made by
the republicans in the town elections a
year ago, If there had been something
like a reaction this year and falling
of in the republican vote. Last year
the town elections were influenced
very largely by the feeling of resent
ment and Indignation which so gener-
ally prevailed at the high-handed ac-
ton of the democratic legislature in
the passage of laws whose sole purpose
was to strengthen the hands of demo-
cratic bosses and perpetuate the party's
control of the state. Mr.. Cleveland
had not been inaugurated; the demo-
cratic congress had not yet entered
upon the task which has since engaged
it-of promoting national prosperity
by striking down the industries of the
country. The results of the '"wn cleo
tions in 1898 could hardly be ~alled an
indication of a change in public opinion
upon the national policy of the demo
cratic party or the capacity of that
party to administer the federal govern
ment. Though pointing. perhaps, to a
slowly dawping perception on the part
of the people that they had made mis-
take in November. 1892. they were not
of national significance. They meant
primarily a popular uprising against
boss rule, and boss legislation to per-
petuate boss rule, in this state.
II this demonstration had been fol-
lowed by diminution of interest and
something like apathy it would have
been in accord with the natural law of
action and reaction. And il is unusu-
ally significant, that after the large
gains of last year the tide of opposi-
ton to democracy should continue to
rise, and t'lat the results of the recent
town elections should show not only
no falling of in the republican vote,
but still larger republican gains over
those of 1898. 1t accentuates the
verdict of last year against the local
misrule of the bosses, and adds thereto
the Judgment of popular condemnation
upon the national policy of the admin
istration and the democratic party in
congress. 1t may, and undoubtedly
will, be said that the election OF
supervisors and other local officers mas
no bearing upon national affairs, and
that considerations of tariff or cur
rency or the foreign policy of the adj
ministration do not enter into it. But
all the same ii Is an undeniable fact
that the estimation in which the party
in power in the nation is held by the
people is shown in greater or less de-
gree by their attitude toward the can
didates of that party in the local cleo
tions. II they have lost confidence in
the party they are quick to show it at
the first opportunity. The vote of last
November was an emphatic condemna-
ton of the national administration and
the party in control of congress, as
well as of the bosses, who had misgov-
erned the state. The recent town cleo
tions give further emphasis to that
vote.
1t means that the people realize how
great a mistake they made in 1892,
and that they do not intend to stop
with administering a single rebuke to
the party in power, but to follow it up
with unmistakable proofs of their
utter condemnation. From the day of
Mr.. Cleveland's Inauguration the tide
Of popular disapproval of his policy
and his party has been rising without
interruption or ebb. Never in the
history of this country has an admins
tration encountered In the first year OF
its existence such a succession of de-
feats and disasters.-N. Y. Tribune.