The herald., 1894-11-12
Professor Wilson Tells How
1t Happened.
Hard Times Responsible fol
the KOut.
No Party in Power Can Weather
Such q Storm.
Ho Does Not Believe the People Have
Ksbuked or Discarded Tariff Re-
form-Thsy Preferred tho
House Bill.
By the Associated Press.


New YORK. Nov. lin a letter to
the Press from Washington, Hon. VIM.
L. Wilson gives his views of the cause
OF the Democratic defeat. He writes:
"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 government.
When labor is out OF employment, when
farm products are low. when our inan-
cial system is disorganized, the wisest
administration of government and the
most wholesome laws do not avail to
save a party from temporary and most
disastrous overthrow.
Moreover, the whole teaching Of
the protective system trains mon to de-
pend, not on individual effort, the plain
virtues of industry, thrift and temper
ance, for business prosperity and mete-
rial comfort, but on government aid and
laws OF congress. Let me add, also,
that we, together with our progressive
nation, are now passing through an era
of change, OF unrest, and of somewhat
tumultuous agitation. The rapid adop-
tion of the great instruments of modern
industry and trade, the complete revolu>
tion which these are bringing about in
production and distribution, their
steady obliteration ofimmemorialh handi-
crafts, their dislocayion of many indus-
tries-all this, together with the unset
tied relations between labor and capital,
have swept US into an era where for some
years it may be increasingly dlftiouls for
any one party to hold ON to the federal
government for any long time.
II do not believe the people have re-
buked or discarded tariff reform in their
action last Tuesday. In every CAM
paign since 1886, except that of 1888.
the Democratic party has won decided
victory on that issue. To contend, there
fore, that the people have now chastised
the Democratic party for doing what
they put into their power to do is to
question their honesty and intelligence.
If they have inflicted 0hastisement it
is becsuse the party did not
carry out with sufficient promptness
and thoroughness the work they com.
mittsd to it. The long and indefensible
delay in the senate. the sinister suspi>
cions that gathered around certain
schedules and duties as they are framed
now kindled disappointment and dis
gust among the rank and file of the party
that led to spathy and even misjudged
hostility in the recent elections. I have
no doubt that had the bill which passed
the house ON the first days of February
passed the senate ss 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 Democrats
mig,t even have westhered the indus-
trial storm with credit. If not success.
WASHINGTON, Nov. .11.-Chairman w.
L. Wilson stopped over in Washington
today and left tonight for New England.
where he delivers three lectures. He
denied published report that he was
to succeed Attorney General Olney in
the cabinet.
Nothing has been said to me on the
subject, nor is there likely to be, for
Olney is better at
torney-general than l would be-"