Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-09-06

verdict OF SO0Q or Dad.
In the second year of Mr.. Cleye
lands first term, that is to say. il
1886, Rhode Island led off on the frs
Wednesday Of April. The republican
plurality in that republican state wa
1896.
At the corresponding election il
April, 1894 the republican plurality
was 6,225. The democracy went all t
pieces. The signal disaster which i
encountered this year was far greater
than appears by the comparison with
1886; for since that time the Rhode
Island 4emocratS have actually carried
the state, last year by plurality OF
1S5.
Next came Oregon. In the second
year of Mr.. Clevelands first term the
democrats carried the state for gov,
ernor, on the first Monday of June,
1886. The democratic plurality was
3,7O2
At the corresponding election last
June, in the second year Of Mr.. Cleve-
lands second term, the republicans
swept Oregon from end to end. They
carried everything. They elected their
candidate for governor by a plurality
of nearly 1000.
How about Tennessee? In that state
at the election on the first Thursday of
August in 1886. the democratic ma
jority over the republican candidates
was about $4,000.
From the corresponding election last
week the returns are not yet complete,
especially from the republican coun-
ties. 1t is known that the eighth con
gress district, which in November,
1886. went democratic by 5000 ma
jol.ity, was carried last week by the
republicans for their judicial ticket
with at least 900 to spare. The midi
cations for the whole state point, to a
greatly reduced democratic plurality
in Tennessee as compared with eight
years ago.
The last basis or comparison up to
date is afforded by the great demo-
cratic state of Alabama. After Cleve-
land had been for seventeen months in
office during his first term, the demo-
Gratis of Alabama elected a governor
by the tremendous plurality of 107,-
621, Nearly eighty per cent, of all the
voters in that state was sOlidy demo
cratic eight years ago.
AT the corresponding election on
Monday of last week, the remnants
of this magnificent organization man
aged after an almost desperate cam
paign to elect candidate for COVER
nor, supposed to have the good wishes
of Mr.. Cleyt md, by 4 majority rrOb-
ably exceeding $4,000. The legislature
is close and doubtful The kOlbiteS
are still claiming the state, but there
is no doubt that Oates has pulled
through; and when we say pulled
through. whether his majority should
fall to $4,000 or mount to 10000 by
the full count, we have in mind Gov
ernor Seay'S majority of 100000 in
1886
Arkansas is still to be heard from,
on Sept ), Vermont on Sept. f. and
Maine on Sept H. Then come the
state elections in most of the states,
and the general elections for congress
in all Of the states, on Nov. g. The
prospect is not encouraging. The
drift is all one way. Since the people
at the polls began to register their
opinion OF the first year of Mr.. Cleve-
lands second term, the results have
not been such as to inspire even in
the most sanguine mind any enthus
iaStic expectation of a glorious and
general democratic victory in NOvem-
Der.
All p4at democrats can do under the
circumstances is to grit their teeth and
go ahead and do their utmost, keeping
their eyes not upon the past, but on
the future. No one man can kill a
great party unless it makes itself :
consenting victim and a willing saci-
flee
WORKMFN, LOOK HERE!
When Thomas B. Reed made his
speech in the house of representatives
on the tariff bill, he took five minutes
to illustrate the principles of protec-
ton in their application to labor, and
this is what he said on the subject:
The truth is that this very question
of rising wages is what makes a good
many men free traders. People with
fixed incomes think that anything
which raises wages is inimical to
them Manufacturers who have for
eign markets are naturally anxious tc
have wages on the foreign standard
and when a great cocoa manufacturer
in Boston and a great agricultural too
maker in Philadelphia proclaim them
selves on the side of free trade we fine
in both cases a large foreign trade anG
along with it desire for foreign
ages for their workingmen.
| confess to you that this question
Of wages IS to me the vital question
To insure our growth in civilization
and wealth we must not only have
wages as high as they are now bu
constantly and steadily increasing
loud applause on the republican side.
No applause for this sentiment, I no
tice, on the democratic side. This de
sire of mine for constantly increasin:
wages does not have its origin in Low,
for the individual, but in love for tn
whole nation in that enlightened SCI
fishness which recognizes the grea
truth that your fate and mine, Nj
Speaker, and the fate of your descend
ants and mine are so wrapped up /
the fate of all others that whateye
contributes to their progress gives
us all a nobler future and a highe
hope. applause on the republica
side)