The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-11-14
raE rlOAL WAVE.

American history has no record OF 80
sudden and complete political reverse
as the Democratic party has suffered this
year, says The Columbia State. A Con-
gressional majority Of nearly q hundred
has been changed to minority Of more
than hundred. States which went
heavily Democratic in 1892 have given
Republican majorities une1arnpled even
in. war times. It Is most signal and
sweeping defeat for the party which but
two years ago received the rwhelming
endorsement of the people.
Where shall we find the cause of this
reyolutionp To what acts of omission or
shall we attribute It? The
vote has been very great everywhere, 80
the result cannot be attributed to Demo-
cratic Indifference. The Republicans
have developed no new policy and have
done nothing to attract anew the conf
dence of the people, go their success now
Is not to be taken as evidence of the
growth, of Republican Ideas. It is clear
that the vote which defeated the Demoo-
5racy on Tuesday was cast by Democrats;
men disgusted with their party and wish.
ing to rebnke it by the most direct and
simple method, The majorities given
the Republican candidates go far beyond
the numbers Of the recognized indepen-
dent vote.
3 The factor which contributed most to
the defeat of the; party was, unquestiona-
.bly, 1.-The hard times. Men out of work
and Impoverished men earning reduced
wages, men selling their products for
diminished prices, Testified to their dis
eatisfaction by voting blindly against the
party in power. The dominant party In
simes of public distress always gets hurt.
It is instructive among unthinking peo-
Pile 70 shit something when they suffer.
y Eut q yet larger class OF voters had
reasons for their action, and we think we
can surmise them. They, saw the Demo-
crats,> pledged to radical reduction Of
tariff taxation, attain full control Of the
government and waste, eighteen months
before they agreed to pass even COM
promise protective tariff measure. They
saw the House. pledged by the Demo-
cratic platform to the repeal Of the State
bank tax, deliberately violate its faith.
They saw the Senate controlled by
handful of selfish men levying tribute on
the people to enrich the trusts. They
saw the President compel the perfor-
nance or zone party pledge-the repeal of
the Sherman law-and then stop short,
T9lQSlu2 10 IQ6k6 tt0u q HuBBoSGlOu lO1
the ful6lment Of other pledges coupled
with that one. They saw the leaders at
war with each other on issues which the
platform had made distinct. and unable
TO agree on a clear cnt policy of financial
reform.
We cannot blame them for being dis
gusted with such aelfshness, indifference
tos the public welfare and imbecility Of
conduct. They had not had time to feel
the benefits of the tariff change, while
they had experienced all its bardships
and had passed through an unexampled
financial stringency which nothing was
done tn relieve.
They have elected 10 make the Repub-
lican rather than the Populist party their
that they love high
tariff and o contracted currency, for they
repudiated these policies in 1892, but BIZ.
cause they deemed the Republican party
the safer 10 vote for. They were not yet
ripe for communism.
Ifthis defeat shall teach the represen.
tatives Of the Democratic party in Office
that it is the best policy to keep pledges
made in platforms, and shall make Con-
gress and President unite next month in
8 plan for the settlement of the currency
question upon liberal lines, it will prove
q blessing to the parry and the country.
We earnestly hope that out Of defeat and
disgrace this good may come.