Huntsville gazette., 1894-12-22
DEMOCRATIC DlssENsIoNs.
The Wings ot the Party Do Not Flap
in Unison.

in Unison.
The only source of comfort for the
democrats in the matter of thcirrecent
terrible defeat is the theory that they
were beaten by the stay-at-home vote.
They point 70 the fact that their party
did not anywhere poll its full strength,
and claim that this indicates only that
a large number of democrats neglected
to vote without intending TO promote
republican success: but they do not
tell rs why all these democrats re-
manned away from the polls, The
campaign was certainly an active one,
and the Importance Of the election was
well understood, Every democrat
knew that the question involved was
that Of indorsing or condemning the
course Of his party since it assumed
control of the government. There
could not have been a stronger induce
ment presented for man to vote who
believed in that party and wished To
see it prosper; and yet we are asked
to accept the idea that tens of thou
sands of good democrats deliberately
staid at home and allowed the repuh-
licans to achieve one of the most
notable victories in the history of our
politics Ii viii not do to say that
they were simply indifferent, Or that
they did not see the necessity Of casting
their ballots. The average democrat
is best known BY his eagerness TO vote
as often as possible; and when he
misses an opportunity of that kind we
may be sure that he is influenced by
! considerations of more than ordinary
force and significance.
In the present instance the explana-
tion lies In the fact that the democrat
ic party is hopelessly divided against
itself. 1t has two wings that cannot
be made to flap in harmony; the an
tagonism between them Is SO pro-
nounced and acrimonious that either
Of them is less willing to see the other
succeed than to permit the party as
party TO be defeated. The main
| causes Of dissension are the tariff and
the currency, and the line of di-
vision is as much sectional one
as that which used to exist on
the slavery issue. 1t is well known
that the eastern democrats arc quasi
prutcctionists and anti-intiationists,
while the western and southern dem
ocrats are tariff smashers and free
silverites. These differences are of Il
kind that cannot be compromised. and
the more they are discussed the wider
the breach becomes. Thus the ties
that bind men to the party are loosened,
the advantages of discipline are lost
l,f ~ irxr htr NJ
conference and unanimity. The recent
campaign was one Of constant pulling
at cross purposes on the part OF these
two elements. They were not united
upon principles or policies, and the
result was not only a large desertiou
from the party. but 9tul larger re-
fusal to vote because of the feeling
that il was better for the republicans
to win than for democratic tritiing and
duplicity to be encouraged, There is
little hope Of improvement ia this re-
spect. The eastern element Of the
party entertains views that the west
ern and southern contingents viii not
adopt; and it is just as certain that
the opinions held by these latter con
tingents will never be adopted by the
eastern element. 1t is an irreconcila
Bile separation, an irrepressible con-
fict. The democrats who stayed at
home this year are likely TO do the
same thing two years hence; or, II
they vote, the majority Of them will
be more apt to support the ticket "
some other party than that of the one
with which thev have heretofore
| acted.-St. Louis Globe Democrat