The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-08-08
rorULrsn IN rHx SOUTH

The defeat Of Koib in the Alabama state
election il subject for national congratu-
iafion. KoIb is personally unft 20 hold
He has badly tarnished business and
hnarcial record. and II he had his just
dues ought 10 be in prison: that at least Il
the character be bears on the testimony OF
men who are familiar with the history of
has career in Alabama He is corrupt
demagogue. and is supported By the sane
classes in Alabams which have furnished
Tiilman in South Carolina with his most
ignorant and pernieions votes Con-
gresham Oates, who has been elected
governor, is an able lawyer and fair
minded man, as he demonstrated in his
report rs chairman of the congressional
committee Of investigation sent 70 con-
slider the Homestead riots.
The election of 0ales is the triumph of
man who represents the most inteiligens
aud conservative class of Southern Demo-
Gratis as distinguished from the PopuIists.
The result of the Alabama election shows
that Populism is waning at the South. In
Georgia, too, it is losing ground.
Populism is dwindiing away even in
Texas 1t Is greatly reduced in numerical
strength in Virginia, Missouri and Ten
nessee. 1t may hold its own for q time
longer IN South Carolina, North Carolina
and Arkansas. but on the whole il Is true
that Poprlism has seen its best days in the
South, as we'll as in the West aud North
vest. Ithas certainly lost ground greatly
in illinois. Indiana. Minnesota. Nebraska.
k@fsas and Oregon. 1t has lost ground
necaasethe people begin to see that 1t is
visionary, where IL is not absolutely incen-
diary; its practical effect has been to in
crease public lawlessness and popular dis
content among the ignorant; the ill-bal-
anced or unarraHged minds who have
become saturated with It's cheap sophistry
and epidemic insanity.
Populism redsces It's victims 10 state
Of general paresis or e1cites them to q
condition OF acute, violent mania. Pub
lie peace and content. public Prosperity
Populism thTiyes for q season. The indo-
lent. the ignorant, the inefficient, the
fantastic jabber as constantly and as stu
pidly as did the most radical and most
ridiculous Of the French Jaeobins OF 1893
Populism has been n serious blight to the
prosperity and peace Of Colorado, Kansas,
Illinois. Nebraska and California Popu-
Iism In the form of Pennoyerisn has only
r&eently been beaten in Oregon; and in
the presidential election of 1892 it polIed
nearly 10000 votes in Washington. Popu-
lism in the November election OF 1892. car
risd Idaho, Colorado. North Dakota. Nevada
and Kansas, and polled over 5000 votes
in Nebraska
Today the Popuiists probably could not,
with the exception OF Nevada. carry any
of the states they won In November, 1s92
Oregon has already repudiated Pennoyer-
Ism and all its works. Populism is per-
haps today stronger in South Carolina
than it was in November, 1899, for since
that date Gov. Tillman has become an out
spoken Populist but with this exception
Popnlism has grown in no state and has
fallen OFF greatly in all the states where il
Mas strong in lS92
In November. 1892. Populism poiIed over
. million votes; today il probably could
not pol half that number, because 1t has
shown its hand. Where there is riot and
serious public defiance of law and the
rights Of property. there you find Popu-
lists in the midst inspiring the ignorant
and malicious to organize war against the
public welfare aud consoling the frantic
and Ehe imbecile in the hour of defeat.
IL Is Populism that has prompted the
money-saving people of the old states OF
the East 10 blacklist" some OF the money.
borrowing states of the Vest. Kansas.
Colorado, Nebraska have conspicuousIy
suffered in this wayi enough states 10
serve as object lessons TO all voters in this
state against picking up and shoaldering
the box OF civil troubles, under whose
burden these states have suffered until
they are al ready 10 drop it for the
future.
Popalism Is not dead. but has received q
mortal wound. ItmAy seem TO die slowly
II may bleed internally. but its race has
been run; the American people are at bot.
tom business people, and Populism is s
blight 10 rusinesss because IL fayors an.
sound money; because Il is instinct with
the rankess Kind Of socialism; because in
practice II is tho bitter, ignorant enemy OF
law. order. peace, prosperity and every.
thing that stands for a wise and humane
| civilization.