The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-11-09

Ex-Presidsnt Harrison in his mastery
recital OF his views regarding the results
of TUESDAYS election, said: ut was the
most extraordinary political revolution
the country has ever Witnessed" These
are strong words. but they express the
well-considered opinion of sound scholar
in the history of American politics and .
sound statesman who is exceedingly care
FIJI not to say more than he means; a man
Of judicial quality Of mind who is sure Of
his facts and never talks at random.
Gen. Harrison is right The election Of
last Tuesday vas no ordinary political re-
verse that happens the ''ofi' year in poll
tics TO great political party. The battle
of last Tuesday was not simply the skir-
mish which prscedes the pitched battle of
1896; 4. Was the battle itself. A Rspubli-
can administration 10 rs sure to be elected
in 1886 as the coming OF an eclipse or
comet whose return has been announced
by the astronomers.
The battle Of 1895 was really fought and
won last Tuesday: in November, 1896. our
contest with the Democracy viii be q mere
perfuncsory affair; We shall 20 through
the presidential battle as matter of form.
knowing beforehand that victory IL sure TO
perch upon our standard.
IL 10 easy for Democratic journalists, who
are now trying to whistle a. they walk
through the graveyard of their party, to
pretend that their party hurts are nothing
but superficial flesh wounds and nero
scratches from political briars, but tho in
telligenf. well-read, intellectual Democrat
knows better, he knows that his party
was knocked out" last Tuesday; that ii
has not even lighting chance for victory
in 1ss6
1t is true. beginning with 1870, that In
the congressional elections which occurred
two years after the people decreed
change of administration. there has in
variahly been rea1tion against the sue
cesslul party. often extending 80 far as to
cost IL the control of the house Of repre-
sentatives. The Wings swep, the country
in 1870 choosing I53 representatives,
against los Democrats. but in isA2 the
Wings carried only 81 districts. while the
Democrats secured l42 Ia 1874. when
Polk was elected president, the Democrats
elected l42 of the rs representatives. but
In 1876 they lost the houss to the
Wings. la IsaS the Wings elected
the president aud came within half dozen
votes Of controlling the house, but In Is5o
there we're only IS Wings in the house
against ls0 Democrats aud s Free Sellers.
Il. al. =.
dent aud secured 49, or more than two
thirds OF the "a representatives, but in
iSsS-sT the Republicans secured control
OF the house. eleeting Banks speaker
by plurality vote, and vet Banks was
succeeded in 1857 by South Carolina
Democrat. aud he By a Republican in isga.
The secession Of the Southern states 10
1851 Jeff the house overs hslming,y Repub-
liosn. bat in is62 the Democratic member
ship was doubled. In 1sT2 the Repub-
LEANS under Grant swept the country.
and vet two years later In 1874 the Demo
Gratis captured the house and elected the
speaker. In isS1 the Republicans swept
the country and captured the house. bu.
in isS2 the Democrats captured the house.
When Cleveland was elected in lisa the
Democrats secured 80 Of the SIS rspse.
sentasiyes. bat Ia 1855 shsy obtained only
iea. Ia isSs tAs Republicans captured the
heuss by small margin. bag in 1880 they
were issrfally defeated. securing only s.
or barely ons-foaEth Of the So representa-
tive.
These figures are sufficient to show that
political reactions have heen frequent
since 1870; that there has never been a
time. after change Of administration,
when the victorious party made a. good
. showing in the mld-serm elections as
when IL secured power. and more than
enee the changs has been 80 great as 70 -
. political revolution.
The accession Of 'snrneoasn John Tyler
aeneralirei the whigs In issi-ss. the
Mexican var hurt tia Democrats al the
North In isad TIE death 81 President
Taylor dsmoTalirsa the whlss Ia Isso and.
loaded down wish the odlaaa Of The Cay
and Webster s'eomproniss" measures. 1t
seat down in IsS2 spaFnsd b. the slave
rower ~ eoartea to the verge Of dtsaoner
and aissrusssa By the anis-slayery senss-
neat Of the free states.
The repsal Of the Missouri Compounds
created the Rspahlicsh party. TIE re-
sp7aslhslisy Of she Democratic party for
tAe Northern opposition - Llaeosas var
peliey kept that rsrty OUT % pe~er for
twenty years alter the civil wAs. IL IS
clear thai some o. these political reactions
against tbs national administration in sas
nsi-ssFEa sasesssas have essa ef . super