Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1894-11-10
4 VERDICT BY the PEOPLE.

A VERDICT BY THE PEOPLE.
The Post does not pose as an I-told-
you-so wiseacre. The Post has never
pretended to be other than an intelli
gent observer and an honest chronicler
of public events. The fact that yes
terday's elections justified our fore
bodings of three months ago proves
simply that we saw things as they
were and told the truth about them at
the time It has been clear to US from
the beginning of the year that the
Democratic party was Disappointing
the hopes and FORGETTING the confidence
of the people. That party did not full
fill its promise as to tariff legislation
at least. not willingly-for only the
courage and devotion of few Sena-
tors restrained it from the most radi-
cal and ruinous violation Of that
promise. and saved the country from
an agitation that would have been
disastrous 70 every one of its material
interests. AS matter of fact, it was
made Enthusiastically evident that the
party tendencies were perilous and
its guidance utterly reckless. The
people became alarmed and they have
expressed themselves in no uncertain
terms.
From purely political point Of view,
also. the Democracy went into the
campaign fatally handicapped. They
undertook contest discredited and
repudiated by their own chieftain.
MFR. Cleveland S letter to Hon William
l.. Wilson stigmatized as perfidous
and dishonorable the tariff bill--a
purely party measure-subsequently
enacted into law by both houses of
Democratic Congress, and sent them
before the country branded as traitors
and delinquents by their own leader.
They were stripped OF their arinor and
robbed of their defense-not by the
enemy. but by their commander-au and
sent into the thick Of the fray naked
and helpless. Not only that, but they
were divided among themselves, in
firm Of purpose and incoherent as to
their organization Abused by the
Mugwumps. tainted by the Cuckoos,
rent asunder by dissension, and des-
titute Of chart or compass. they were
like some abandoned derelict, the prey
of every current, the sport of every
vagrant breeze.
1t is no wonder that the Democrats
have been overwhelmed in every part
of the country where there was pos
sibility of their defeat Without a
leader, without the hope and courage
that come of harmony, discredited in
the house of their friends, and dis
armed before the opening of the bat
tie, they would have been superhu-
man had they triumphed They have
fought calamity, wonderfully; but
theirs was forlorn hope from the be-
ginning and only miracle could
have saved them. Set against each
other by foolish leaders, stimulated
to suspicion and recrimination, en-
FILTERED and alienated by scandal and
detraction, they were mob rather
than an army-an intestinal melee
rather than the demonstration Of a
propaganda.
We think the country is to be con-
graduated. As things stood there
was nothing to be gained by differ
ent result. The people lorged for
peace and industrial repose. They
wanted an interval Of tranquility
Beset on one side by Democracy and
and their Populist allies that threaten
ed perpetual agitation. and on the
other by the Republicans. who were
pledged to the order OF things Just re-
versed by popular demand. they had
no refuge save in the disabling Of both
parties and the introduction of dead
lock. under whose benefcent innu-
ences they could breathe at ease. In
changing the complexion of the
House of Representatives the people
have made themselves secure They
are now guaranteed three years of
peace, barring the little mischief that
the Fifty-third Congress may still
achieve, and they have notified the
Democratic party that its pardon in
the future depends upon its repentance
and its acts of explation.
| The American people can always be
trusted. They at least have not lost
the art Of governmental Washington
Post.
/ .