Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-11-08
FREELAND, NOVEMBER s, 1894


The result of the vote of Tuesday is
Waterloo for the Democrats in all but
very few sections of the United States.
Republican victories and Republican
gains are reported from all parts of the
country, and many of the staunchest
and truest friends of Democratic princi-
plies have gone down to defeat, not being
able to stem the tide of dissatisfac-
tion which set in nearly year
ago. The cause of this widespread
defeat of Democrats can hardly be at
tributed to the fact that the voters of
the country have learned to love the Re-
publican party any more than they did
two years ago, because an analysis of the
vote shows that the greater part of the
overthrow was accomplished by Demo
Gratis themselves, aided by those who
hitherto had believed that the party in
power would be faithful to its platform
and carry out the principles of govern
ment as outlined in the ante-election
promises of 1892.
The opinions expressed are almost
unanimous in placing whatever blame
is to be given upon the last congress, or
rather upon the Democratic majority of
that body. The delay and apparent
inability of many Democrats to properly
appreciate their duties and responsible
ties to their party and the country could
pYnnptnH n alNt,ly ynl
The United States now has an enormous
number of Independent voters who will
as promptly overthrow one party as
another to advance their own beliefs
and teachings. This element for the
past six years, since the Democratic
party has shown signs of taking a radi-
cal position on the tariff question, has
voted with the Democrats and undoubt-
edly placed the party in complete power
two years ago.
Certain leaders, however, refused to
recognize the promises that were made
to shatter the system of protection, and
they bitterly fought against placing on
the statute books the very laws which
the party before the election had
promised to pass. That treachery of
such nature could pass unpunished was
too much to believe, and the vote of
Tuesday is plain evidence that the free
traders of America have the strength to
give the Democratic party its just deserts
every time it proves recreant and unfaith-
full. Unless the party leaders had been
taught lesson that would cause them
to remember in the future that party
platforms are to mean just what they
say, and that when Democrats are
installed in power they are to carry out
the principles upon which they were
elected, unless that was done the result
would have had to be considered
victory for the weak -kneed and cowardly
politicians who controlled the last con-
gress and made the organization worthy
of all it received on Tuesday.
This defeat will purify the party and
compel its leaders to take decided and
consistent stand upon one side or the
other of the tariff. If the men who pro-
propose to lead for the future intend to
make the Democratic party continue as
the second protectionist party of the
country they can do so, but as there is
already one body of voters teaching
the doctrine of legalized robbery there
is not much to be gained by having that
excuse for living. Should they, how
ever, take a manly position and make
free trade" their rallying cry, as was
done in 1892, the old ship of Democracy
will sail into Washington again in 1896
with flying colors.