Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-11-08

slightest disbursement that their
splendid work went for naugbt this
year in the general slump.
There was a steady reslstless under
current Of counteraeting influence at
work that was quiet, unknown, unsus-
pected even, but none the less vast aGd
broad in it's sweep as the continent
These influences, which no amount Of
party work could have turned or stayed
even for an instant, are comprised in
The phrase "bard times. Il is the
easiest thing in the world to influence
disconnected or suffering people
against the party that happens
TO be 10 power. It made not
the least difference that the late
hard times were altogether OF Repub-
Iican origin and occurred with Repub-
lican laws In full blast; it made not the
slightest difference that as soon as the
Grst Democratic law in thirty years
was made things began 20 improve; a
miracle would have had little effect 10
stemming the tide that had set in
against the party in power, which,
though as innocent Of all response
biIity for the late depression as
the man In the moon, nevertheless
had TO suffer Cor it in the loss Of
the entire vote Of that large class
Of people who hold the ad-
ministration always responsible for the
material condition of the country. The
politicians who at every campaign ap-
peal TO the ignorance OF this class, are
largely responsible for its existence as
political factor which is not TO be
counted upon by auy system Of pOlIti-
cal calculation because it has it own
private barometer, its individual aud
personal affairs which with the
regularity aud precision Of an
engines governor regulates its politics
for or against the party 10 power. When
there is pronounced or general business
depression the vote Of this great class,
which is as quiet and undemonstrative
as it is suDremely confident in It's own
narrow method OF judgment, goes in a
lump, regardless Of all other consider
atoms, against tho party 10 power. This
element, which should not be confound-
ed with the floating or independent
class, who ara governed by different
motives and considerations, is what
the Democratic party has had to
contend with this year and no amount
Of work, short OF an actual miracle
which would have filled all pockets
with dollars stamped and certified with
the emblem Of Democracy would have
availed or changed the course Of
this mighty, sweeping, resistIess tide
which from the Atlantic to the Pacific
has carried all unreasoningly and indis-
crimlnately before il.
Great as the landslide has been, how
ever, il IS, from its very nature, not at
all discouraging TO Democrats who un-
derstand It and the influences that
brought 1t about, With the full return
OF prosperity, this same vast vote will
be as safe for the Democracy as it was
actively antagonistic to it 10 the late
campaign.
Meanwhile our hats go of to the
brave and stalwart hosts Of Dem
ocracy who stood by the party
through thick aud thin. More
power 70 them, SAYS the REGISTER!
Their labors will not go unrewarded.
Let these stalwarts Of Democracy re-
main firm, as we know they will, in the
true faith. Let them keep a good heart
and the indomitable party Of the plain
people whose principles are fixed and inn
mutabls as the laws Of nature will have
regained every inch Of ground lost
through ignorance aud false pleading
by the time the next election day rolls
around.