Smyrna times., 1895-11-13
THE POLITICAL REVOLT LAST WEEK.

A week has elapsed since the elec-
ton. and il has been a week of thought,
following a similar landslide last year.
What is the matter? is the question;
what has brought it about? The Re
publicans expected no such victory,
and the Democrats are appalled, at their
defeat only two States out Of dozen
Virginia and Mississippi saved, with
such rOck-ribbed States as New Jersey,
MARYLAND and Kentucky going over to
the opposition by from 10000 to 10000.
And this in the face of the thousands
of pictures of mixed-schOols and the
blood curdling statements of the dire
results that would surely follow
change of parties in the politics of these
States.
If such appeals to prejudice did not
serve to keep the voters i'll line as 1t
has heretofore with unfailing effect, it
showed there was something deeper
than racial matters and even deeper
than "Bossism," as exemplifed in
German.
The party in power is always held
responsible, rightly or wrongly, for
the condition of the country, and the
great business depression has naturally
been terrible load to carry, but in ad-
,lition to this has been another weighty
issue, that of finance and the free silver
craze.
Two potent causes of popular OppO-
sition operated to again overwhelm the
Democracy. These were, first, the
demand of very large proportion of
Democratic voters, specially in the
South and West, for the free and un-
limited coinage of silver at the ratio OF
IS to I, and, second, the new tariff act,
which extended the free list and re
duced duties upon many domestic
manufactures. 1t is true that during
the present year the clamor for fret
silver. even in the strOnghOlds of thos'
who demanded it, grew less loud anC
persistent and lost the support of mul
titudes of Democrats in all parts of tht
country, and it is similarly true tina
the National Administration stood llk
a rock against the assaults of the fre
silver members of the party. But tn
Democrats were not united in suppOr
of the policy of financial Administrator
and the party consequently suffered
because of its devided sentiment. Il
Kentucky the Administration made it
most vigorous assault upon the fre
silver heresy, but the candidate fo
Governor carried the party down wit
him for free silver.
The most significant thing with re
gard to the elections is that they seer
to give assurance of Republican success
in the national contest of next yeal
The great Republican triumphs in Ne'
York, Massachusetts, Ohio, Iowa an
New Jersey apparently settle the ques
ton as to how their electoral votes vii
be cast in 1896. As those States hav
gone this November, they are likely o
certain to 90 next November.
One Of the notable victories Of til
campaign was the defeat Of Bossism i
Maryland. This was the great issu
there and upon it the Republicans wO
in State and city.
The defeat of the Fusion ticket /
New York city, must be regarded q
deplorable for the reason that it d'
monstrates that the worst political ell
ments are stronger at the polls thel
than the best ones.
When we went to press last week IL
returns were only partially know
The majorities were about as follow
Republican - Pennsylvania, 1900
Ohio, $4,000; New York, so, 900; low
10000; Massachusetts, $4,000; Ne
Jersey, $1,000; Maryland. 10000; Ka-
sas, 10000; Kentucky, $1,000, with Il
Legislature evenly divided, GS mel
hers each, and two Populists; Nebrasl
5000. Utah, 1900. DemOcratic-Ni
sissippi, 30, 600; Virginia, 10000.